Bloom where you’re planted

Jean Marie Acres grows floral delights all season long

By Brook Thalgott

When spring arrives, it’s like the world is being reborn. The robins and finches come back. The skies seem bluer. The trees and plants wake up. Even the air feels fresher…and then the flowers start to bloom. The combination is almost intoxicating. What if you could bring that wonderful feeling indoors? Jean Marie Acres is the answer to that very question. Owner Haleigh Oberkirsch has created a small-scale cut flower farm just east of Weyburn, and it might be a little patch of heaven on earth.

Haleigh has transformed a tough patch of rocky, clay soil into a place that has to be seen to be believed. “When we moved into our home on the acreage in 2018, our garden was hard clay and essentially rock,” says Haleigh. “We continued to garden and learned as we went. In the summer of 2019, a neighbour invited me over to cut flowers in her garden. I had no experience with fresh cut flowers at this point and was quickly enamoured by the colour and beauty that was possible to grow here.”

Fast forward to 2020 and Haleigh and her family spent their summer learning a lot more about gardening and cut flowers. “It turned out that with nowhere to go and being home, we spent most of our spare time in the garden, tending and learning with a toddler in tow,” she says. “I cut my first bouquets of my own flowers that summer with added peonies from my mum’s gardens and I couldn’t get over how beautiful they were.” By 2021, half her garden was flowers, and her collection of flower farming books and research was steadily growing. “My husband teased me about whether we were going to be able to eat anything from the gardens or if it would all be flowers from here on out.” That year, Haleigh sold a few bouquets, and a business idea was born. In 2022, Jean Marie Acres was officially opened and offered a weekly summer bouquet subscription, where customers would pick up a bouquet of fresh, locally grown flowers every week.

Jean Marie Acres is ready for 2023 with spring and summer cut flower subscriptions from a sustainable flower farm. Each subscription bouquet will reflect what is currently in bloom with specialty sunflowers, cosmos, zinnias, snapdragons, sweet peas, and many other gorgeous annuals rounded out by unique fillers. Plus, there are U-pick and private events in the flower field coming this summer, and winter grown local tulips coming in 2024.

“We pride ourselves on learning best practices for sustainable flower production and feeding the soil we grow in. We do not treat our flowers with any chemicals, pesticides, or preservatives,” says Haleigh. “We want our flowers to bring only the good things; joy, calm, and beauty into your home, not chemicals.”

Learn more about finding your own slice of floral heaven at jeanmarieacres.ca, sign up for the newsletter, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Jean Marie Acres www.jeanmarieacres.ca @jeanmarie.acres

haleigh@jeanmarieacres.ca

PUMPJACKS. SALOON & STEAKHOUSE

596 18 Street, Weyburn | 306.842.3838

OPEN DAILY:

Monday-Friday 11AM

Saturday-Sunday 9:30 AM

PUMPJACKS

S

7 &

July 2 4-H Light Horse Show

July 3-5 Inter Club 4-H Beef Shows

July 5 4-H Sale Day

July 6 Chamber parade

July 6 & 7 Souris River Rodeo Performances

July 6, 7 & 8

Canuck Amusements, Food Vendors, Household Arts, Knocker Balls, Ol’ McDales Petting Zoo, Kids Tractor Pull, Beer Gardens

July 7 & 8

Magic Ben shows, Corrie J Hypnotist, Karaoke

July 8

Souris River DQ Kids Rodeo, Deep South Barrel Racing Jackpot, Beavers Ball game, Goat show, Smash it Show including Vans & Quad Pulls, Lawn mower Races