We continue our visits to the local producers we partner with and sharing with you an inside look at life on the farm. Recently we had the opportunity to tag along on a SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) farm tour at Open Sky Farm—and wow, those blooms are stunning! Open Sky is tucked away on the northwest edge of Emmet County and you know it’s worth the trip if you have to travel a couple of dirt roads to get there!
Open Sky Farm sits on 10 acres of land, four of which are fenced in, with about 2.5 acres actively in production. Though it’s a working farm, it’s neat and tidy and full of beauty. The property features several hoophouses, caterpillar tunnels, and a large solar array.
One of the first things you’ll notice is Finn—an adorable Golden Retriever who steals the show and soaks up all the pets and pats he can from visitors—and Moon, a reserved Border Collie, who keeps a watchful eye to make sure everyone is minding their manners.
Susan and her daughter Katie gave us the grand tour of the farm. It’s clear right away just how much work goes into running a cut flower farm. Susan may be a retired science teacher, but she’s anything but retired—these ladies work tirelessly to bring sustainably grown beauty to Northern Michigan for 11 months of the year.
On the day of our visit, Susan and Katie were busy prepping for the last of the five weddings for 2025. We got a sneak peek inside the shipping container where the arrangements were chilling—wow! Cheers to the happy couple; we’re sure their big day looked absolutely amazing!
Weddings are one income stream at Open Sky Farm, and retail establishments like us at Grain Train are another—but the real bread and butter are the farm markets. Open Sky Farm is a regular at the Harbor Springs Farmers Market, where Susan shared that customers truly notice the extra care that goes into their flowers. She explained that, yes, their flowers are pricier than what you might find in a typical store—but at Open Sky, that’s okay. They know the work that goes into their blooms, including their sustainable growing practices, and they deliver a product they feel proud of—and their customers agree.
It’s hard to imagine the scale of what they accomplish with just Susan, Katie, and three full-time workers this summer. They’re in a constant rotation of harvesting, planting, planning, and selling—an impressive rhythm that keeps the farm thriving.
We got to see how they carefully nestle their bulbs into containers and where they go once they’re in the ground. Susan shared that just this year, they upgraded the farm so each hoophouse has its own power supply—meaning if there’s an electrical issue, it only affects one hoophouse at a time.
Like all the farms we visit, it’s clear that being nimble is key to making farm life work. Learning what succeeds and letting go of what doesn’t is part of keeping everything running smoothly. Susan shared that by building relationships with customers at the farmers markets, they’re able to turn farm favorites into customer favorites. That’s the beauty of local—it’s all about the relationships!
It’s always a pleasure to see up close the magic happening at the local farms we partner with. Watching a dream born out of a desire to create a social and environmental impact come to life and have a multigenerational reach is truly inspiring. Whether you encounter Open Sky blooms at the farmers market or pick up a bouquet in our stores, know that your supporting women working hard to bring a little more beauty to Northern Michigan.
See photos of Susan, Katie, Finn, and the farm here.
Until next time, keep cooperating and we’ll see you at the stores.
