By Andrew Thomason, NRCS, Iowa
Meet Rhonda Larson of Hayti, South Dakota. During the school year Rhonda serves special needs students as a teaching aide in Hamlin County. When she’s not focused on her day job, her passion is flowers, a tradition that was passed down from her mother and grandmother. With help from her conservation efforts and pollinators, that passion has sprouted into a blooming cut flower business.
Growing the Business
Rhonda started growing flowers in her basement and a makeshift shed on her family’s farmstead. She began selling her flowers at farmers markets, and as her business flourished, Rhonda wanted to expand her operation by using a portion of a former soybean field to increase her yields. Because her husband is a farmer, she was already familiar with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and reached out to see if NRCS could help her reach her goals. Continue reading