PEPPERHARROW FARM

Adam and Jenn O’Neal

Adam O’Neal is originally from south Louisiana and spent his childhood days playing in his backyard, the swamps within a local nature preserve. That early exposure to the wonders of nature and gardening grew into a passion for being outdoors and growing things. Adam has been a Master Gardener for many years and has had the pleasure of working and learning in several restored historic gardens throughout middle Tennessee. 

Jenn O’Neal is an Iowa native who inherited her grandmother and mother’s love of flowers. Jennifer was inspired by her summers spent on her grandparent's farm and in her mother’s garden, where she would spend long summer days helping the matriarchs in her family sow, tend, and harvest lush garden blooms. She is a Master Gardener, long-time floral designer, and flower farmer.

Together, Adam and Jennifer own and operate PepperHarrow Farm, a 20 acre farm located in Central Iowa, where they cultivate flowers on 7.5 acres. They are decade long cut-flower farmers, co-authors, and recognized speakers on cut-flower gardening.

Adam and Jennifer’s first book, Small Farms, Big Dreams will be published in February 2022 by BLOOM Imprint. PepperHarrow Farm has been featured in Country Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens (online), BHG-Gardening for Health and Cottage Journal, among other publications. They have spoken at a number of flower farming and regional gardening conferences and host their own popular workshops and events at PepperHarrow Farm. You can find their videos at Pepperharrow Farm on YouTube. www.pepperharrowfarm.com

Show Notes

  1. Consider adding wildflower or lavender fields to your farm. These installations give another avenue of income like renting the space for photography opportunities and creating visitor destination.  

  2. Check into Agritourism for your location.  

  3. Adam and Jennifer like to keep classes small allowing for a more hands on experience and better opportunity for community connection.

  4. Grow your business slowly and grow deliberately.

  5. Set expectations with guests coming to the farm with clearly marked paths and information about the farm activities.

  6. It is perfectly ok and really necessary to Separate your home and farm to maintain your privacy. 

  7. A back up plan for an event is a must.