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Jeffries Farm: focusing on faith, family, farm and flowers

The Garrett County Republican

SWANTON — Jeffries Farm is a family business that started in 2020 on a small budget and a dream.

“Our focus through it all is faith, family, farm and flowers,” said Nicole Jeffries, who tends the farm with her husband, Dalton. “We are still so new at all of this, but we are so excited to dive in, work hard, grow and look back in 30 years and say, ‘Remember when our little girl was 1 and we started this business with pretty much nothing?’”

The couple grows fresh-cut flowers and fillers to put into spring and summer bouquets.

“It’s all started here on the farm, from seed, and when I say there is blood, sweat and tears involved, I’m not kidding,” Jeffries said.

She grew up on the farm where they currently live, and the couple actually met when they were children showing animals at the Garrett County Fair.

“That’s a true Garrett County love story,” Jeffries said.

She noted that she came out of high school ready to head to college and into a pre-vet program. Soon after she started, she realized it wasn’t for her, but she knew she wanted to be involved in agriculture.

When Jeffries became a stay-at-home mom, she said she knew that while she wanted to raise her kids, she also needed something for herself.

She started researching “jobs in agriculture” online, and “flower farmer” popped up.

“I thought, ‘That sounds cool,’ so I started researching … and convincing my husband … and that’s really how it all came to be,” Jeffries said.

She noted that she originally learned about growing plants in horticulture classes in college, which she thought were “super boring” at the time.

Jeffries did more research and started following flower farmers from other areas on social media.

“I joined a page on Facebook filled with other flower farmers from around the world that has been an amazing source of knowledge,” she said. “I really have little to no experience or knowledge of running a business, but my dad has been running his own business for years now and my mom also owned a small business here in Garrett County called June Bugs Party Rentals, so to some extent it comes naturally. And they have also been there with advice and guidance along the way.”

Currently, Jeffries’ family volunteers time to help out, but she hopes to continue to grow and bring on employees in the near future.

“We want more than anything to bring joy to people,” Jeffries said. “We want the flowers to speak life and love into people.”

She noted that her time in the field is usually her only time alone and usually her prayer time.

“Most of the time, each flower is prayed over, not only that it will do well in the vase for the customer for my good, but that it will make a difference in someone’s day,” Jeffries said.

She also said she wants people to feel relaxation and fun when they come to the farm.

“We are really excited to host more people and hopefully turn this farm into a place that people love to visit,” Jeffries said.

To read the full article click here.

This -N- That Grocery set to open Feb. 28

The Garrett County Republican

OAKLAND — This -N- That Grocery is set to open on Friday, Feb. 28, at the Brodak Plaza in Oakland.

The store is a locally owned and operated discount store offering a wide variety of grocery items, including meats and dairy.

Owners Anthony Brodak and Susanna Pannell are currently engaged to be married and have two children, 4-year-old son Ivan and 1-year-old daughter Jade.

“We want to have things priced lower so people can afford to grocery shop,” Pannell said. “We are a family of four, and going to the grocery store isn’t always fun when you see the ending cost. So we just want to be affordable so people don’t have to worry about their wants opposed to what they need. They can still get what they want here at an affordable price.”

She noted that the main products will be grocery items, but other odds and ends will be available, such as paper products and some medicines.

“We’re going to have a lot of different items such as steaks, chicken — everything basically that you could want in freezer food,” she said. “We just got signed up yesterday with a dairy person, so we’re going to have cheeses, sour creams and yogurts.”

To read the full article click here.

Deep Creek Lake Shopping: Tips For Small Business Saturday

From Taylor-Made Deep Creek  Vacation & Sales Blog.

Do some Deep Creek Lake shopping on Small Business Saturday – the day after Black Friday! It is a great opportunity to celebrate and support the small businesses. Deep Creek Lake shopping gives you a chance to get one-of-a-kind items from your favorite place. Pick up holiday gifts or something special for yourself!

I put together a guide to shopping small when you are on a Deep Creek Lake vacation. Supporting “mom and pop” businesses doesn’t have to be limited to Small Business Saturday. These are fun places to browse and buy throughout the year!

To see full article click here.