Hi Friends! Welcome back to my Blog.
Setting up a farm business is no small feat, especially when the land itself decides to play tricks on you. Here at Fox and Folly Farm, nestled in the heart of Oklahoma, we've had our fair share of surprises—and weather is always a wildcard. Today I wanted to talk about the challenges of setting up a farm when the weather is crazy!
You never know what you're going to get with Oklahoma weather. One day, the sun smiles down on the land as though it’s promising endless growth; the next, gale-force winds and hail arrive as uninvited guests to the party.
From the very beginning, I knew embracing unpredictability was part of the deal. Last year, the challenges of heat and drought conditions tested my creativity and resilience. I learned to rely on water conservation techniques, soil amendments, and native drought-resistant plants in order to get my landscape plants to thrive. This spring I was so happy to see the new little buds on most of my plants start to poke their heads out from dormancy.
As a farmer and gardener, it is always important to know and respect the frost dates in your growing zone. I am in zone 7b. First frost date averages around April 15th. The last frost date averages around October 15th. I have been so tempted to sow my flower seeds in the last 2 weeks as the weather turned from cold and wintery to warm and sunny in late March. But I have learned my lesson the hard way to wait. And I am so glad I did!
Today is April 5th. We had a EF1 Tornado touch ground 1/2 mile from my house 3 days ago, and now the rain hasn't stopped for several days. To make matters worse, we are expecting snow overnight! If I had planted my seeds out last weekend like I wanted to, they would have already washed or blown away and any seedlings would have been killed by the cold.
While Oklahoma’s tornado season makes your heart race for more reasons than one, it’s also taught us the importance of preparedness. That means making sure to check the weather forecast like it’s an old friend with a penchant for surprises. It also means having a plan! Scott moved to the farm only a couple of months ago and we have not prioritized a plan for that rogue tornado. When the EF1 hit Owasso, we were both running around like chickens and the dogs were freaking out. We really dodged a bullet as the tornado barely missed us! While we pray for our neighbors who endured massive damage, we are thankful that there were no injuries! We also recognize that we need to make a plan for the next time this happens. And it will happen again. Welcome to Oklahoma!
As unpredictable as the weather is, the resilience of this land and the people of Oklahoma inspires our own. Every challenge is a chance to grow, adapt, and connect more deeply with the environment and community around us. Fox and Folly Farm is just starting out, and certainly still growing, but our love for this land and this community runs deep—even when it tests us. As I write this Blog looking out the window, watching the latest storm roll in, I am thankful and humbled. But most of all my heart is full at the thought of what is next to come!
What has Oklahoma weather taught you about perseverance? Were you impacted by the local tornado? How can we help? Let me know in the comments below!
With Love and Blooms,