In the past month, Clarissa's Homestead has been hit by devastating floods following severe storms in Western New York. What should have been the busiest and most important part of the growing season has instead become a heartbreaking season of loss.
Unlike many businesses, a flower farm has only a short window each year to earn enough income to support the entire operation. Months before a single flower blooms, thousands of dollars are invested in seeds, bulbs, tubers, plants, compost, supplies, irrigation, and infrastructure. Those expenses happen long before any flowers are sold, making the growing season the only opportunity to recover those costs and earn a living.
The flooding has wiped out much of that opportunity.
The dahlias owner Crissy has spent all season caring for have drowned. Her second planting of lisianthus had to be pulled. Most of what was growing in the tunnels won't make it, and the hydrangeas almost ready for harvest have all browned from the floodwater. Even the perennial plantings that have taken years to establish have been hit hard, and it will take time to know what can recover.
For Crissy, this farm isn't just a business. It is her livelihood. It is her full-time work, and she manages nearly every aspect of the farm herself - from planning and sourcing new blooms each year, to planting, weeding, and harvesting, to delivering flowers. Watching months of hard work disappear in a matter of hours is heartbreaking.
Your donation will help offset the financial impact of these devastating floods and allow Crissy to continue operating through the remainder of the season and begin preparing for next year. Contributions will help cover lost crops, replace plants and supplies, repair damaged growing areas, and provide the resources needed to keep this small business moving forward.
If you're unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser is an incredibly meaningful way to help. Thank you for supporting a local farmer who has brought so much beauty to our community. Every contribution, no matter the size, is a reminder that she doesn't have to face this recovery alone.
