7 years
To my beloved Fern Fam,
It's been 7 years and for our birthday this year I wanted to share a piece of my heart with you. This shop started as the dream of new mother wanting desperately to reconnect with myself creatively. I have always been a risk taker and seemingly allergic to doing anything that didn't suit or fulfill me. This meant that for many years I started new businesses left and right with loads of energy for the beginning and none for the sustaining. As my interests shifted I would trade it in for the excitement of a new entrepreneurial project. In all honesty there have been countless moments over the years when I was ready to lay this one down too and many times when I almost quit. Obviously, I pushed through those moments and we are still here, but until recently I didn't really know why or at least couldn't put words to it. I don't know about you but I always find birthdays to be times of intense reflection and clarity so it's only fitting that around our 7th anniversary I found my why.
Fern began as an extension of me and my story but somewhere along the way it became less about me and has shifted to being about you, your stories, and the way we are connected. This community is full of stories. One of you told us that owning and caring for plants has brought you peace and helped you stay sober for 22 months. Another story that touched our team was of a nursing home occupational therapist who bought plants at the beginning of the pandemic and how thankful she is for the joy that they continue to bring to her, her staff, and patients. Or when our shop manager did an at home "Plant Dr." visit for a ficus that was purchased when the woman's now deceased daughter was born. She shared stories about her daughters short life and how grateful she was that the tree was still thriving. There is the story of one customers journey with infertility that will forever be woven into the larger story of who Fern is which, with permission, I would love to share with you.
"When I was going through my infertility journey, it was hard to escape the emotional burden of wanting a child and not being able to have one naturally. Fern felt like a safe haven from all that emotion swirling within me. After each treatment and disappointing appointment, I’d retreat to Fern. Being surrounded by plant life and the natural beauty in the shop always gave me so much peace and reprieve."
These are just a few of the stories that stay with me and remind me that the why is that it's not about me. My vision would mean nothing if you didn't connect to it in a real and authentic way. I never wanted to just sell plants and hearing who we are and have been to you is Fern's lifeblood allowing me to push this shop forward from the background. It has been an honor to a part of your lives, your stories, and your spaces these last 7 years. I don't know what the next 7 years will hold for any of us but I know that I am wildly grateful for you!
- Meg