Wind Haven Farm

A local couple dazzles with bright sustainable blooms

In the middle of the woods in King William County, Jenn and Paul Maloney grow over 100 varieties of flowers from butter-cup-shaped ranunculus to dazzling dahlias. Farming on a dreamy seven acres, the husband-and-wife duo behind Wind Haven Farm recently celebrated a decade of tending to the land, and brightening vases.

Owner Jenn Maloney
Photo Credit: Wind Haven Farm

When asked why flowers, Jenn says with a chuckle, “It kind of crept up on me.”

A ceramics graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University, Jenn bounced around between jobs before eventually landing a gig at Dayspring Farm, a vegetable CSA with a flower subscription that was run by her in-laws. It was there, with her hands in the dirt and seeing the shapes, colors and textures pop and flowers bloom, that she felt reawakened.

“I kind of gravitated towards that and began helping Paul’s mom and pushed her to grow more flowers and try the farmers markets and grow more flowers,” says Jenn.

As Paul’s parents got older, they eventually paused operations, leaving Jenn unsure of her future. Taking notice of his wife’s growing passions, Paul suggested a risky, yet rewarding proposition.

“He said, we have two acres and I’d like to mow less grass, how about we till it up and you grow flowers next year,” recalls Jenn.

And that’s exactly what they did.

Speaking of parents, in a full-circle moment, a few years ago, Jenn and Paul took over her parent’s property, the transition allowing their business to have more acreage and the proper space to truly bloom.

“I grew up here in King William and now we’re back on the piece of land I grew up on,” says Jenn. “My parents loved this property and taught me to love the land and respect the land and be good stewards it and its really cool I’ve lived here all my life and can look at pics and … see all the different things that have happened since I was born and raised here.”

Assorted Flowers
Photo Credit: Wind Haven Farm

Specializing in sustainably grown flowers, Wind Haven Farm follows organic practices and never uses herbicides or pesticides. Originally working with a wholesaler florist who provided bouquets to Ellwood’s, now, Wind Haven Farm works with the Carytown grocer directly.

“We’ve been selling to Ellwood’s almost the entire time we’ve been in business which is almost 10 years,” says Jenn, noting that their values align with that of the store. “Everybody at Ellwood’s is great.”

And while most people may not spot a beautiful vase of flowers and wonder where they came from, perhaps the same pro-local and sustainable ethos should be adopted for the growing works of art?

Traditionally, commercial cut-flowers are shipped from all over the world leaving a huge carbon footprint. Sprayed with toxic chemicals to treat for bugs and funguses, the flowers are boxed and shipped to major distributors, losing their scents and their spirit, often going without water for up to weeks at a time.

“We pick everything 24 hours in advance and it never leaves the water,” says Jenn. “The other thing about cut flowers is we can grow more variety here,” says Jenn. “We treat his land good and pretty much are not organically certified. It’s fun and always changing and different.”