Buying food, flowers, and handmade goods is as available today as it has been since everyone grew their own food and mended their own clothes. There are thousands of producers, artists, and creators who have an incredible passion and gift for their goods.
I started Fields of Plenty in 2024, so I am in my second growing season, and I learn something new every day. Like many other young people in agriculture, I knew I wanted to find where I could use my talents and desires on the farm. I love people and new experiences, and I knew that in order to satisfy those strengths, I needed to do something that hadn’t been done in our operation before.
So, I made my own spot—created my own cut floral business and started directly marketing to customers. I started selling custom arrangements and bouquets for businesses, and then opened up farm visits for our customers to come visit the gardens and pick their own locally grown bouquet of blooms.
This year, I have expanded my offerings to fresh florals for events, a few weddings, on-farm and off-site classes, along with growing food in the garden. The food gets marketed through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model. We love our mission of providing nutritionally dense food and fresh florals, so naturally, we decided to plant A LOT of blueberries. Not just any blueberry varieties—the ones that pack the most amount of flavor.
This spring, Austin and I (with the help of over 30 friends and family members) planted 3,000 blueberry plants, and we are excited to share them with central Minnesota for many years to come through U-picks. We will also sell to bakeries and wineries.
I also grow hardneck garlic! Most of this year’s cloves will be planted this fall, and in summer 2026 I will start selling garlic directly to customers and businesses. Fresh food just hits different.
As a food science teacher, I have a special appreciation and understanding of the quality of food and the food processing system. I am proud to grow nutritious, flavorful, and pretty plants for my fellow Minnesotans.
There are many ways that you can purchase locally grown food directly from farmers. Use the Minnesota Grown Directory to find local food and goods. When you buy directly from the producer, you are supporting their way of life without all the middleman expenses. Purchasing locally when it’s available also keeps money in your own community rather than sending it to another area. When we invest in our own community, we make it thrive—not just for our own families, but also for the future people who will call this town home.
Joelle Liddane owns and operate Fields of Plenty Farm near Rice, MN.
