OUR STORY

My name is Tori Carver and along with my husband, Jim, we own and operate a little flower farm in the Northeast Georgia mountains.

I often get asked why I started growing flowers. I normally say I just stumbled into it, and there is truth in that, but honestly, I was searching for something.

For me, the first seed of an idea was born out of grief and a lifelong desire to own my own business. My mother, with whom I was very close, died the summer of 2019 and a few months later, I turned 50.  When you lose a loved one and turn 50 within a short span of time, you seriously begin to question your life’s purpose.

I knew I needed to find something to occupy my heart, my brain, and my body. I have always found comfort in gardening, cooking, arts & crafts, and sewing. (I was the nerdy, fair-skinned, freckled face girl who took sewing classes instead of playing sports). I had an idea of a craft involving dried flowers, and in my quest to find affordable dried flowers, I stumbled upon “cut flowers” and the idea of flower farming was born.  I became obsessed. Truly obsessed. Obsessed with starting seeds, obsessed with nurturing each little seedling, obsessed with watching them grow, and don’t even get me started on Dahlias. I had no idea Dahlias were so colorful and diverse.

I also saw flower farming as an opportunity to bring joy to others. Flowers are such an integral part of who we are as humans. Flowers are with us when we celebrate, and they are with us when we mourn.  Life can be difficult and even lonely at times, and it amazes me how the simple gift of a bouquet of flowers can bring such joy and happiness to a person when words sometimes fall short.

I would be lying if I didn’t say flower farming was hard. I have had so many moments of complete and utter exhaustion and told myself it was the stupidest idea I’d ever had and swore I’d never plant another seed as long as I live. But then, after a few good nights of sleep, I’m back at it. I still work my day job as a paralegal, and I am trying to raise active teenagers and keep a household running but let me tell you…. when I walk out in the garden with a bucket of water and snips after a long and stressful day at work, it is the most calming and peaceful part of the day. I’m always sad when the darkness overtakes me, and I have to go inside.

Wherever you are in life, I hope our flowers, faith, and family antics bring you a little joy (and laughter). You’ve found a friend here at Firmly Rooted Flower Farm and we hope you’ll stay and visit awhile.