Ten Years of Farmer Bailey
Anniversary Farmer Feature: Sleeping Bee Farm
By Felicia D'Ambrosio
Mother-daughter duo MaryAnn and Haley Tracey of Sleeping Bee Farm believe everyone deserves a little flower therapy. Every year, their three-acre farm brings healing joy to their East Hampton, New York community with 3,000-4,000 Dahlia blooms in addition to their star annuals (Lisianthus!) and striking perennials (true-blue Lupines).
MaryAnn's father passed down his love of gardening to her, along with a legacy Peony patch. Some of these Peony plants are now more than 60 years old, and still producing a bounty of blooms each spring.
Now in their sixth year, Sleeping Bee Farm supplies a variety of sales channels: selling wholesale stems to florists, running a farm shop, providing bouquets to local stores, hosting bouquet-making classes, and offering floral design and services for weddings and events.
MaryAnn and Tracey have been loyal Farmer Bailey customers since 2021. "Farmer Bailey has supported our business with incredible quality plugs, and gives access to unique varieties not typically available," writes Maryann. "He also shares his knowledge as a grower and floral designer to all of his customers. The Farmer Bailey team is very supportive if you have any questions."
Scroll down for a peek inside the Sleeping Bee Farm operation! You can follow Sleeping Bee for more flower therapy on Instagram at @sleepingbeeflowers.
When did you begin buying plants from Farmer Bailey?
2021
What flowers did you start with, and have you pivoted?
Our Farm started with annuals and Dahlias, and we now also grow perennials, ornamental shrubs, herbs and edible flowers.
How has Farmer Bailey supported your business? What are the advantages of plugs?
Farmer Bailey has supported our business with incredible quality plugs, and gives access to unique varieties not typically available. He also shares his knowledge as a grower and floral designer to all of his customers. The Farmer Bailey team is very supportive if you have any questions.
Which plants have most successful, and why? What do you consider your area of expertise, or greatest area of growth?
One of my favorite annuals is Amazon Dianthus. It blooms early summer and smells wonderful and no netting required. Our specialty flower at the farm are our Dahlias. We grow 3,000-4,000 tubers a season.
What are your challenges? Can we help you turn them into wins?
Better timing with succession planning.
What is your best advice for new flower farmers? What would you have wanted to know in your first year of flower farming?
How to work smarter, not harder. Better weed control!
How many years have you been flower farming?
Going on our sixth year.
What is your typical business model? Has this changed over the years?
The first year we only sold wholesale to florists. We evolved to having a farm shop, selling wholesale to florists, providing bouquets to local stores, hosting bouquet-making classes, and offer floral design and services for weddings and events.
How do you spend your non-farming time? What brings you great joy?
Making art with our flowers. We are also working on healing balms, creams, and essential oils.
Tell us about yourself!
We are a mother /daughter family-run farm. We are devoted to using organic practices and moving beyond sustainability into regenerative production. Being multigenerational gives us the inspiration and understanding of the need to create better choices that include all for the future and in farming. That includes everybody, even the bees.
Is there anything else you'd like to say that we did not ask?
It's been a pleasure growing and working with flowers. We have provided our flowers for every celebration. We have met the nicest people along the way. Our motto is everyone needs a little flower therapy.
