Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Clark.
Hi Greg, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up on a small farm in the North Carolina mountains. My Dad was an avid gardener and taught me how to grow beautiful flowers and vegetables. So, I’d say gardening and digging in the dirt is just in my DNA. I’m very comfortable with it. Gardening is also sort of my “therapy ” It is how I decompress, and my most creative outlet. While I have done many things over the years, from military service, to missionary service in Siberia, to serving on staff at one of Altanta’s largest churches, I am in a season of now wanting to build an outlet for my most creative side; growing and creating beautiful things with flowers. I am amazed by the beauty of flowers and how such vibrant color can seem to explode out of a green plant. I see God’s majesty and artistry in the beauty of flowers. I remember the first time I was captivated by brilliant red color emerging out of a green stem. I was maybe around 4-5 years old and my mom had a row of gladiolus in our back yard. When I saw it, I ran inside to get her to come see this strangely beautiful thing happening. I watched the whole stem unfold and explode in color over the next several days. I think that’s when it all happened, and the beauty of flowers and creation grew in me.
For several years now I’ve planted thousands of tulips in my yard and neighbors have told me that they change their route to work to drive by our yard. One neighbor tearfully commented how much it helped her every morning to slow down and gaze at our yard on the way home from her nightly nursing shift. I was moved by her words. That’s the moment I realized that my love of flowers was making a difference to others. Flowers truly inspire smiles, evoke emotion and have a calming joyful effect on people. A couple years ago, I decided to open my yard for a “Tulip Garden Tour,” so that people can walk around close to the blooms and quietly enjoy the beauty. I was amazed how many people came and the comments of how much it meant to them. Now, it is an annual event in March for all to enjoy the blooms and pick tulips. One neighbor brought a florist friend who asked if I’d be willing to sell her some blooms. Well, of course! To my surprise, she called asking if I grew other flowers. I soon discovered that several florists were really interested in locally grown blooms. That was the beginning of Clarkshire Gardens, a floriculture business, that now grows all sorts of flowers for the wholesale florist market as well as weekly bouquet subscriptions and market bouquets.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’d say its been a road under construction, and that’s not smooth but its going somewhere beautiful. There have certainly been challenges along the way. Not the least of which is learning new things to start a new labor intensive venture at the age that most people might be thinking of slowing down. Also, finding the time to dedicate to it, while remaining true to my present commitments. For anyone experiencing that, I’d say, if you have a passion and a door opens…. Go for it! Doing what you love and seeing that bring smiles to others, is the greatest reward. With my love of tulips, I learned to force tulips indoor to offer very early blooms for Valentines Day. That went quite well and inspired me to expand into a broader spectrum of flowers. To grow sufficient flowers and satisfy all the requests, I needed ground. We searched for a little over a year and the Lord led us to a 5 acre property not far outside of Woodstock. While the lay of the land was ok, it wasn’t ideal and it was completely covered by forest. It takes vision and determination to turn a forest into a flower field. And maybe a touch of crazy! So, the first order of business was to clear an acre of ground. Then, the real work began. Getting the soil healthy enough to grow flowers has been grueling work. As every farmer knows, good soil is everything! It has taken much effort to haul in compost and natural organic material to build up the ground. I’m dedicated to organic and no chemicals, which also takes time and a lot of trial and error to find the right balance. Since we have no structures or greenhouse, except for forcing tulips in the garage, everything we offer is seasonal. Learning to extend flower seasons, like forcing Tulips to bloom in winter and understanding the seasonal transitions and the growth time of flowers from germination to bloom, is the key to success. Its all about the timing. Flower farming requires planning six to eight months in advance. So far, I haven’t experienced a devastating hail storm or a plague of locust. There are always risks and farming brings risks that you can’t eliminate or even plan for. We’re believing for the best.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As I said, growing flowers is my most creative side. While I work hard as the Administrator in a large church, it is the time outdoors in the garden that refuels me. I don’t think I’m known quite yet for anything. I want to be known for being generous and kind and for helping people. Flowers are one way to show kindness and bring a little joy to others. I enjoy taking flowers, that are not quite up to Florist quality yet still beautiful, to a small Senior Living home and sharing them as small table arrangements. It brings smiles to some folks who may not have regular visitors… a little bright spot in their day. Something that sets me apart? I think I may be one of the only places in Atlanta where you can buy local grown fresh cut beautiful tulips as early as late January. I also offer beautiful bouquets of flowers as ‘subscriptions.’ Which simply means you pay for a schedule of bouquets for several weeks up front. You have the assurance of knowing you’ll get a fresh local grown bouquet of high quality flowers, when you want them. Most of what I grow, cant be bought at the grocery store flower department. My flowers aren’t shipped in from outside the US, subject to spending days in boxes. They’re cut the day of or day before use and have amazing long vase life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe that God blesses my life in ways that I cannot plan or strategize. Even through the struggles, I learn to trust Him for tomorrow. I trust the Lord with all that I have and have experienced his intervention to bring answers to challenges or work out difficulties when I can’t see how. When I am faced with a challenge that seems impossible, God brings an answer. It doesn’t mean I always get what I want, but I’ve learned to accept what I have and make the most of what He gives me. From a neighbor who invited me to grow flowers in their field when I had no sufficient space to grow, to a contractor needing a place to dump 1900 cubic yards of good topsoil, God has opened doors and sent provision and blessings all along. It isn’t luck. God loves to make a way when there is no way. I also know I cannot do what I do without the support of my family and friends. My wife and kids are my greatest encouragers. They believe in me, when I get too focused on what’s missing or discouraged when things aren’t going well. I also have great friends who cheer me on. Surround yourself with people who speak positive words to you and encourage you. People who believe in you are your greatest resource.
Contact Info:
- Website: clarkshiregardens.com
- Instagram: clarkshire_gardens
- Other: email: clarkshiregardens@gmail.com
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