Flower farmer Beth Syphers is rooted in the garden
and her sister Sarah Kuenzi is a baker and chef. In their blog Furrow & Flour they, along with
several of their siblings, post about their common passion for blooms, baking,
and all things cozy and creative. Now, in the pages of their beautifully
illustrated book, Furrow & Flour,
the women have collected stories about the small joys they discover in a life
that feels good on the inside, not just one that looks good on the outside.
Furrow & Flour invites you on a
journey through the garden, home, and family life. As young girls, the sisters
grew up a family of twelve siblings. Their childhood was filled with
imagination, whimsy, play and chores. As adults, Sarah and Beth are now
mothers, wives, and creative entrepreneurs. They embrace their childhood
influences from the garden, a country life, good food shared with loved ones,
kitchen table gatherings, a "welcome all" lifestyle, homemaking,
entertaining, haven-making and motherhood.
In this book they have gathered a collection of helpful tips for the home and
garden, ideas for entertaining, favorite recipes and seasonal menus, and
encouragement for anyone seeking a life filled with simple, honest pleasures.
Beth Syphers is the third oldest in the family lineup, the
quiet one tucked behind her mother's skirt peering out in caution. Found most
days in the limbs of a tree, watching clouds and birds, or playing beneath the
raspberry vines, it's clear that Beth's childhood happy place is outdoors in
the flower garden. Her childhood imaginations have accompanied her to an
adulthood filled with equal wonderment.
Beth and her husband Jason have two beautiful
children and they live at Crowley House Flower Farm outside McMinnville,
Oregon. Their home and garden gates are always open, as they share their
country lifestyle with neighbors, customers, and frequent guests. Beth knows
how special it is to earn one's living from her own land, and she cherishes the
sensory pleasures of the garden. Moment of joy are found in nature, seasonal
changes, a breathtaking dawn or dazzling sunset on the farm, surrounded by flora,
fauna, and gifts from the garden.
Sarah Kuenzi is the second oldest of twelve children known
for dodging babysitting duties to pull weeds, tag along behind her father as he
tilled rows of vegetables in the family garden, and harvest lettuce greens,
sun-warmed tomatoes and crisp snap peas for the table. She lives in Silverton,
Oregon, is married to a grass seed farmer and proud mother to two teenage sons.
When not working her "day job" in
the medical field, Sarah fills her evenings and weekends caring for her home
and family. She is happiest in the kitchen braising a fabulous cut of meat,
concocting a zesty salad, and sipping a glass of wine, opening her arms and
home for whomever may happen to be included in the circle of her home for a
meal.
Emma May Dixon
is an Oregon-based flower farmer and designer who has a love
for photography. Through her lens, Emma captures the visual language of the
garden, the home, and everyday moments of life as it unfolds. These are the
moments she chases as she works with her family and helps tell their stories.
Emma explains, "There are many moments that people are too busy to notice,
especially in nature, but those are the moments for which I feel grateful,
especially if I am the only observer."
