Gympie Growers: Fleur Pocket Farm
Tucked away at Wilsons Pocket near Goomboorian, Fleur Pocket Farm is a boutique micro flower farm bringing fresh blooms to the region.
Leigh is the friendly face behind Fleur Pocket Farm, tucked away on acreage at Wilsons Pocket near Goomboorian. Raised in the Mary Valley on a property adjoining her grandparents’ dairy farm in Brooloo, she spent her younger years studying natural medicines including aromatherapy and massage, and later administration and bookkeeping.
“After leaving office work to become a work-from-home mum, I created my own handmade children’s clothing label featuring mostly floral fabrics. In 2020 my husband and our three children and I moved from our large suburban house and block on the Sunshine Coast to our home at Wilsons Pocket.”
The plan was to expand their interests in permaculture, grow flower gardens and focus on producing organic food for their family. In amongst it all, Fleur Pocket Farm was born.
What first drew you to growing flowers?
My love of growing plants stems from a very early age, spending time in the garden with my grandmother who had a sizable vegetable and fruit garden, and an expansive cottage garden including beautiful roses, pansies and chrysanthemums and geraniums. My mother also inspired my love of gardening with her large native garden, vegetable garden and cut flower rose garden. Since then, growing vegetables and flowers is just what I do! I remember dreaming of being a florist over 20 years ago, so it seems like it’s been a natural progression to now grow and arrange flowers for others. I just love to share the power of flowers and see how they comfort, heal and bring joy in such a pure and unique way.
What does a typical day look like for you in your business?
My days begin with early morning farm work for a couple of hours, followed by school prep for our three teens, then back to farm work for the day. Regular tasks include watering, weeding, seed starting, planting, staking and harvesting, plus creating and delivering bunches for our retailers and lovely customers, this all on repeat. I’m caring for many different varieties of flowers and shrubs to create a beautiful floral offering and each has individual needs. In between I’ll catch up on messages and emails, bake sourdough, food prep and make our household’s butter from our house cow’s milk. I work outside until nightfall, while the kids will keep me company at times. We end the day with a family meal, bedtimes, then some creative writing and reading… a novel or nonfiction, usually something horticulture-related.
What are some of your favourite flowers to grow?
My favourite flowers to grow are all of them, and our honey bees love them all too! My favorite flowers to grow would be roses (always my number one), dahlias, pansies, zinnias, cosmos, gladioli and chrysanthemums. The roses in my grandmother’s garden are where my flower love really began and I will be forever under that floral spell.
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
There’s so much to enjoy in running a flower farm, including all the pros (and cons) of owning a small business… I enjoy a challenge, and flower farming certainly ensures that! The beauty is in the connection to nature, the feel of my hands in the soil, the wind on my face, the scent of the flowers and all the joy they bring to myself, my family, and the flower lovers who appreciate just how special they are. There’s poetry in designing flowers and magic in growing a garden, it’s therapeutic, character building and has incredible stress-relief benefits. I believe anyone who is able should garden, it’s a beautifully rewarding thing to do.
