Little Otter Flower Farm was started by and for Max, a young adult with Autism, to grow flowers, people and community. Unfortunately, the unemployment rate among people with Autism is around 85%. We use growing and selling flowers as opportunities to work with people with Autism to develop job skills and integrate into the community. We also provide opportunities for the community to learn about and interact with people with Autism.
We sell cut flowers in bunches and arrangements at our local farmers market, weekly subscriptions, and special orders such as DIY weddings and small events. One of our favorite activities is delivering Random Acts of Kindness arrangements throughout Bedford County. We practice no-till regenerative agriculture using cardboard and brewing our own indigenous microorganisms and weed juice. These are short-term labor-intensive activities with long-term benefits to our soil. We have a passive-solar seed-starting greenhouse and currently grow on about an acre. We plan to grow to about two acres with half perennials and flowering shrubs and half annuals.
In 2022, the Bedford Chamber of Commerce awarded the Little Otter Flower Farm Agri-business of the year!
