The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG-If you had asked former ICU nurse Brittany Brannock about owning a flower farm a year ago, she would have called you crazy. But funny things happen when you take a leap and purchase a 120-year-old farmhouse with a few acres attached.

Brittany and her husband, Tre, decided to move back to his hometown in 2020, in a year of change, including selling their home in West Seattle and welcoming their son, Bode, into their lives.

The farm is nestled away on a backroad, surrounded by wheat fields.

"We really liked the house," Brittany said, enjoying her shady backyard complemented by the buzzing of happy honeybees and the occasional cluck from content, free-range hens. "It had property, and there were other projects we could do. We put an offer on it and were surprised when it went through!"

With a little bit of elbow grease and a whole lot of love, the Brannocks have transformed weedy, overgrown pastures into colorful cut-flower gardens and bright sunflower patches after just a few short months. They decided to share their newfound labor of love by establishing Whoopem Up Hollow Farms.

"I've always enjoyed flowers. I think they are very special," Brittany said. "They are something that connects people and that people enjoy. I thought since there isn't really anything like this in Waitsburg, why don't we do something?"

Figuring out how to care for the land, establish the flower gardens, and navigate environmental challenges has been a learning experience, Brittany shared. Healthy land husbandry practices are essential to the Brannocks, with Brittany using chickens to help clean up and fertilize areas at the property. The current drought has proven difficult, and she is constantly exploring options to conserve water and move towards more organic practices.

Their flower business is starting out small, with Brittany and Tre selling fresh-cut arrangements at the Waitsburg and College Place farmers markets. They have plans to expand the business for next summer with a farm stand, larger cut-flower gardens, a u-pick space, and community events.

"It's really neat to see people again and have something that people were excited to see down at the farmer's market," Tre said, sharing that one of Whoopem Up Hollow Farms' first customers was a high school friend's mom. "Brittany was an ICU nurse- this is a complete 180 from what we were doing before. She has found something that she is passionate about, and she can bring joy to other people. It's really neat being able to re-engage and contribute back to the community that has fostered so much of my growing up."

If you'd like to brighten up your home with fresh flowers, check out Whoopem Up Hollow Farms at the Waitsburg Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, 9 a.m - 12 p.m at Nancy's Dream Garden Center, or at the College Place Farmers Market on Thursdays, 4 p.m- 7 p.m at Lions Park. The farm is on Facebook, as well, by searching the business name.

The best way to contact the Brannocks is by emailing whoopemuphollowfarms@gmail.com.