Eat First

Locally grown flowers in Central New York

Photo courtesy of Post St. Farm, Franklin Springs

You’ve heard of the farm-to-table movement. But are you familiar with the farm-to-vase movement?

An estimated 80% of the flowers sold in the United States are imported. But a small but growing number of farmers are pursuing their passion for flowers – growing them, selling them at markets, offering flower CSA shares, creating custom arrangements for life’s special moments and inviting customers to pick-your-own parties and “bloom bars,’’ where you can purchase flowers by the stem and build your own bouquets.

Flower farms are popping up all over Central New York. Since spring is here and summer is coming, I thought it would be nice to spotlight some of them. Most of the growers are women and all focus on flowers you’re not going to find at the grocery store, like snapdragons, ranunculus, peonies, foxglove, delphinium, dahlias, celosia, zinnias and heirloom mums. 

Flowers have the power to lift moods and make people happy – whether we’re giving them, receiving them or treating ourselves to a bouquet. This season, why not support local growers and get your flower fix right here, where we’re planted? Mother’s Day is coming up – it’s one of the biggest flower days of the year and “like Super Bowl Weekend for flower farmers,’’ in the words of one local grower. So act soon.

Follow these farms/farmers on social media to learn more about what they do and grow and stay informed about special events. 

Catalpa Flower Farm, Homer: On less than an acre of land near Homer, in Cortland County, Lindsey McDonnell grows a wide variety of perennial flowers for seasonal CSA shares (sort of like a weekly flower club membership you pay for in advance). But that’s not all: She also offers edible flowers for restaurants and has her hand in flowers and floral design services for weddings and other special events. Look for her every other Saturday at the Homer Regional Farmers Market starting in June. And keep an eye on social media for details on Catalpa’s roadside flower stand at the farmette, also starting in June. More information: Instagram, Facebook, website 

Ranunculus photo courtesy of Catalpa Flower Farm, Homer

Post St. Farm, Franklin Springs: This small-scale produce and flower farm near Clinton (Oneida County) is a regular presence at the Hamilton Farmers Market and the Clinton Farmers Market, in season. In addition to specialty produce and blooms (beginning with an early season tulip subscription, plus other options), co-owner Allie Healy Howard pops up at events here and there with make-your-own-bouquet bars. She recently left the world of local journalism to farm full-time with her husband. More info: Instagram, Facebook, website

Forest Ridge Farmstead, Warners: Owner Tabitha Sebastino is in flower mode year-round, starting with spring tulips, then summer stems and fall flowers. Christmas flowers, Valentine’s Day flowers and Easter flowers? She does them, too, bringing in American-grown blooms for customers. Check out her social media and website for information on CSA shares and to find out when her flowers are available at local retail outlets and at her self-serve, honor system roadside farm stand. More info: Instagram, Facebook, website

Brainard Farmette, LaFayette: Brainard Farmette is a small custom flower farm and apiary. Owner Stephanie Brainard is drawn to growing and raising things, from flowers to bees to chickens. She raises more than 20 types of flowers and offers cut flower subscriptions for individuals and businesses, with several pick-up locations in Central New York. Find Brainard Farmette honey at Spill the Tea Cafe, Minoa, and other locations. More info: Instagram, Facebook, website 

Withy Hollow Flower Farm, Erieville: The owners of this sustainably-grown flower farm in Madison County want people to celebrate the special moments of their lives in a flowery fashion: birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, engagements – and, well, just because. Visit the Fayetteville Farmers Market in the summer (noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays) to check out their floral flair. And visit the farm’s website and social media for information on on-farm events and opportunities to visit and pick your own blooms. More info: Instagram, Facebook, website

Catalpa Flower Farm zinnia bouquets at the Homer Farmers Market

The Meadow, Manlius (formerly Bell Creek Farm, Phoenix): The Meadow is a small farm with a focus on specialty cut flowers and vegetables. Owners Kyle Wilson and Ginnie Hsu offer a variety of flower subscriptions, including spring tulips, dahlia bouquets and summer arrangements. Wedding floristry is part of the business and several options are available, from DIY buckets of blooms to full-service packages. The farm is in the process of transitioning from its original location in Oswego County to Manlius. More info: Instagram, website

Farmstead 1868, Cazenovia: Farmstead 1868 is a working lavender farm (and dairy) offering U-pick lavender and premium lavender products (soaps, candles, lotions, bath bombs, etc. ) made with ingredients grown on the farm. If you're a fan of the fragrant purple flowering plant, mark your calendar for this year's Lavender Festival (July 6; pre-sale tickets only). More info: Instagram Facebook website

Wake Robin Farm and Bakery, Jordan: Flowers and flours. Meg and Bruce Schader must hear that all the time. Visit the farm during growing season and you’ll see fields of colorful blooms, like sunflowers, zinnias and larkspur – and fields of wheat and other grains. Flowers are Meg's "love language.'' She turns them into market bouquets sold at the farm on Fridays (3 to 6 p.m.) and on Saturdays at the Central New York Regional Market. The grains are milled into flour, which Bruce uses to make about a dozen varieties of bread sold at the farm and the market. More info: Instagram, Facebook, website 

Cut flowers photo courtesy of Wake Robin Farm, Jordan

Petals in Bloom Flower Farm, Williamstown: Petals in Bloom is a family-owned dahlia farm in Oswego County. Owners Katherine and Miles Lewis grow hundreds of varieties of the striking flowers. They offer a seasonal dahlia bouquet club subscription (blooms are ready in late August, or when Mother Nature says) and U-pick flowers at their farm. They also sell dahlia tubers for home gardeners and hold a Dahlia Fest in the fall. More info: Instagram, Facebook, website

Brushaber Blooms, Pulaski: Brushaber Blooms is a "micro farm" specializing in dahlias. But first come tulips, zinnias and other flowers. Follow Brushaber Blooms on social media for information on its self-serve roadside flower stand. Owner Jill Brushaber gets the word out when paper-wrapped bouquets are available -- and when she has sold out. More info: Instagram, Facebook

Barn Blooms, Wolcott: Suddenly, I feel like taking a drive to Wayne County to visit Barn Blooms Flower Farm. Owner Carrie Wafler offers tulip and summer flower subscriptions and friends say it’s worth the drive to Wolcott to visit her flower stand and pick up a bouquet. Barn Bloom flowers are also featured at Sweets by Sarah Bakery in Fair Haven. In the off season, Wafler makes wreaths, porch pots and holiday centerpieces, which are sold at the stand. More info: Instagram, Facebook, website

 

Nothin’ But Noods Pasta Company (ghost kitchen)

I don’t do Grubhub and I don’t do DoorDash and I don’t do Uber Eats. But I do order takeout food sometimes and I did order dinner from a local ghost kitchen, so don’t say I don’t keep up with the times.

What is a ghost kitchen? It’s a sort of virtual restaurant/food hub that offers pick-up or delivery only: no dining room, no bar, no reservations, no walk-ins. Orders are placed online, usually, or by phone. Delivery is sometimes available, but not always.

After following the Nothin’ But Noods account on Instagram and seeing the weekly menus, I was curious about this new food option. The pasta-to-go business is owned and operated by John D’Amore, a chef who has worked at a long list of Syracuse-area restaurants, including the former Genesee Grande Hotel and more recently Strada Mia. He’s gone solo and shares kitchen space on Brewerton Road in Mattydale with the owners of Phokouttahere (Vietnamese food and food truck) and Fat Brother, which specializes in Laotian and southeast Asian cuisine. 

Each week, D’Amore posts a build-your-own pasta menu on Instagram and Facebook, which is also where he takes orders. Choose your style of pasta (from Rochester’s Flour City Pasta; everything from traditional linguine to squid ink linguine) then choose your homemade sauce (marinara, vodka sauce, puttanesca, pesto, creamy pesto, etc.) and any extras, like meatballs, garlic broccoli and brown butter mushrooms. D’Amore also offers an entree special each week.

I sent the chef a direct message on Instagram to ask him which sauce he would recommend with the garlic chive pappardelle (creamy pesto, he replied) and placed an order for that and a side of garlic broccoli. I requested a 4 p.m. Saturday pickup, pulled into the parking lot and called the phone number provided with my order confirmation. Out came the chef with my food. He handed me a bag and I handed him money. 

In the bag was a plentiful serving of pasta in an aluminum container, a container of extra sauce, two slices of Italian bread, butter, and two small containers with Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes. A separate container held the garlic broccoli. The pasta was cooked to a perfect al dente and could have easily served two. I removed half of it from the container when I was ready to eat and drizzled it with some extra sauce before reheating it. It was delicious – and nice to not have to cook.

Will I go back? Absolutely. I love that D’Amore is using Flour City Pasta (whose owner is a fixture on Saturdays at the Central New York Regional Market) and I want to try his vodka sauce. Next time I’ll probably skip the broccoli, which was too crisp for my taste.

The cost of this feast before tip was $18. That’s reasonable for a restaurant-quality meal-to-go.

Note: Nothin’ But Noods accepts cash only.