Washington Evening Journal
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New Brooklyn farm fresh-cut flower business brings smiles
By J.O. Parker, Chronicle Republican
Jul. 9, 2024 10:25 am
Putting smiles on people’s faces is something that Daneen Schafbuch takes to heart.
Step inside her newly opened retail store, New Day Flower Farm, at 1558 Old 6 in rural Brooklyn, and one of the first things customers will notice behind the store counter is the neon sign “God Smiles through Flowers.”
“I just want to make people smile,” said Schafbuch. “That is the whole point behind my business.”
Schafbuch has been raising and selling fresh-cut farm flowers online through a subscription-based flower club since 2019.
“People purchase my flowers online through my website,” said Schafbuch. “People order four or eight bouquets at a time, and I deliver them locally.”
Schafbuch said people purchase the flowers for Christmas, Mother’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions.
As the business grew, Schafbuch decided to branch out and sell her fresh-cut flowers to area floral businesses. She quickly learned that the Amish already had the corner on that market, so she started offering the flowers at pop-up events such as Homegrown Grace, a twice-yearly vendor fair in nearby Victor.
“The pop-up events helped get the word out about my business,” she said.
Wanting to spend more time at home and with family, attend school events and support the farming operation all led Schafbuch to open the new retail store. The store, which is located at the family farm, opened its doors July 11.
The new retail store offers fresh-cut flowers, dried flowers and an assortment of faith-based T-shirts and jewelry along with greeting cards made in Brooklyn.
“I wanted a place where people can come and be able to purchase my flowers and gifts,” said Schafbuch.
Schafbuch said her flower business is a gift from God. “I truly believe that your talent is your gift from God, and what you do with that talent is your gift back to God.”
In the early going, Schafbuch grew her flowers in containers. Later she started growing them from seed.
All of her flowers but one are planted and grown from seed on a half-acre of land next to the retail store.
It takes from 60-120 days to grow each kind of flower she raises. Her flower garden has about 4,000 flowers, including cosmos, sunflowers, zinnias, celosia, gomphrena, dianthus and statice.
The retail store is open Thursday through Sunday, from 8 a.m. to noon.
Each morning, customers can stop and pickup grab-n-go bouquets from the front porch of the business and pay through an honor system.
There is also a u-cut flower option from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, also on the honor system.
People can also order flowers through the business website, www.newdayflowerfarm.com, by phone at 515-205-3145 and by email at smiles@newdayflowerfarm.com.
Schafbuch was quick to add that without her faith, none of this would be possible.
“I really want my faith to be part of the business,” she said. “I place a Scripture card with all of my bouquets.”
She said every morning is new and she enjoys being inspired by all the flowers that bloomed overnight.
“I feel like every day is a new day,” said Schafbuch.