Former Garretson dairy farm once again buzzing with activity as a family-owned you-pick flower farm

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A former dairy farm outside of Garretson is once again buzzing with activity as a you-pick flower farm.

Two Little Bees Family Farm, owned by Kyle and Brittany Lessman, will open for you-pick events on Friday and Sunday evenings beginning the middle of July and running through the first frost. The you-pick nights will be operated as pre-sold, ticketed events to keep crowds limited and ensure a relaxed, enjoyable time for guests.

A farm’s evolution

The you-pick flower field is the latest in the evolution of the Lessmans’ 17-acre family farm, which once served as the heifer farm for Brittany’s family dairy. After the decision to close the dairy in 2018, the farm’s cattle lots sat empty for a couple of years before Kyle came up with the admittedly “kind-of-crazy idea” to plant them with pumpkins.

The family began selling specialty pumpkins at the Brandon Farmers Market in 2020, and Two Little Bees Pumpkins and Produce — named after Kyle and Brittany’s two young children, whose names both begin with the letter B — was born.

The size of the pumpkin patch doubled in 2021 and doubled again in 2022, producing more than 30 different varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds. In 2021, the farm added its Truck Bed Farm Stand — built from a 1950s Ford pickup bed — to its farmers market setup.

In 2022, Kyle planted a small flower field to — as he said — see if he could grow flowers.

“The flowers grew,” he said, “so we had to figure out something to do with them.”

They began selling about five bouquets a week at the local coffee shop, Annie’s Coffee Bar, in Garretson. They also gave away about as many as they sold that year to family, friends and local nursing homes.

The Lessmans added an on-farm farm stand in 2023, from which they sold flower bouquets, pumpkins and squash, greeting cards and excess garden produce. They expanded the flower side of the business in 2023 and started offering Summer Flower Subscriptions. With a flower subscription, customers prepay for eight weeks of bouquets throughout the growing season. Flower types and color schemes change each week, but by being a Summer Flower Subscription member, customers are guaranteed to receive the farm’s freshest, most premium cuts in every bouquet. Pickup locations include the farm stand and Quality Printing in Luverne, Minn.

Spurred by the support and excitement of their community, the Lessmans made the decision to expand the farm even more for the 2024 season, adding eight, 6-foot-wide-by-50-foot-long rows of zinnias, sunflowers, snapdragons, dahlias, rudbeckia, celosia, gomphrena, feverfew and amaranth — 2,400 square feet in total — which they plan to open up to the public next month for you-pick events.

Sharing the joy

The flower fields sit in the farm’s rolling front pasture directly across the drive from the farm stand. With a view of the farm’s idyllic white barn, the Lessmans envision the you-pick events having a relaxed feel, allowing guests to unwind and enjoy the beautiful flowers and rural setting.

The Lessmans say they are excited to welcome guests to their farm.

“After the cows left, it felt like the life of the farm left with them,” Brittany said. “We’re working hard to bring that life back for our kids. We’re also excited to share it with our community.” 

Kyle said that excitement extends to their kiddos — the two little Bs after whom the farm is named and who are as much a part of its growth and newfound vitality as anyone.

“It is a true family farm, with even the littlest hands helping sow seeds, water and pull weeds,” he shares. “And we’re having fun with it too — a lot of picnics in the flower field and breaks from weeding to play catch.”

You-pick event tickets are available now online at twolittlebeespumpkinsandproduce.com. Each ticket purchase includes a 20-ounce paper drink cup into which guests can fit as many flowers as they like. Floral snips will be available for guests to borrow.