Holladay City officials and community members joined Maylene White, business proprietor of the Dancing Cricket Flower Farm, in a ribbon-cutting ceremonial opening of her already thriving urban micro-cut flower farm business. 

Mayor Rob Dahle, Holladay Chamber of Commerce president Jason Woodland and Holladay City Councilman Matt Durham sponsored the event and each congratulated her in their remarks on the successful launch of her small business.

“This is a first for me opening a business in a backyard,” Dahle said. “It’s exciting to participate in this event with Jason and the Holladay Chamber of Commerce because small business is what Holladay is all about. It’s great to have a private flower growing business in someone’s back yard. A small business like this establishes the unique character of Holladay.”  

A dance professor at Utah Valley University since 1995, White decided it was time to move on from her highly successful dance career and to explore her interest in growing flowers. 

White received her Master Gardner Certification at Utah State University and began volunteering in local community gardens. As her passion grew for growing flowers, White enrolled and graduated from the renowned Floret, an intensive flower growing program where she learned step by step how to grow, harvest and sell cut flowers from her own backyard. Currently, White’s micro cut-flower farm is on one-eighth of an acre, but she does have plans to expand. Frequently, people approach her and offer parts of their yards to help her grow her business. 

“I’ve been thinking about starting a flower business for several years,” White said. “As I transitioned from being a professional dancer and educator, I was looking at what my next chapter in life would be. I have always loved growing things especially flowers. The cut flower movement has been growing here in Utah, and it seemed like the right transition at the right time to begin a new chapter in my life. I went to flower farming school and found there was a lot more to learn about the business than I realized.”

Each year 10 to 20 flower farms are established in Utah. The majority of these farms are urban micro farms usually considered to be one-half acre or less. The farms supply fresh flowers to florists, wholesalers or to the public and offer subscription bouquets.

“I decided to do it right from the beginning, to set some parameters for my business,” White said. “I submitted a Conditional Use Permit through the city of Holladay and made sure I followed all of the rules and regulations of starting a home business. Last Mother’s Day, I launched my business and oversold. I was humbled by my neighbors, friends and the Holladay community’s interest and caring shown in support of my cut-flower business.”

As cited in a recent press release, Eric White, marketing director for the Dancing Cricket Flower Farm, mentioned the environmental benefits of micro farming: “These tiny urban farms create a higher and better use of land, with less water, and create a uniquely local service in the community. In our particular case, from a sustainability standpoint, besides the lower water usage than lawn, local cut flowers have a much smaller carbon footprint than most of what you see at a florist or grocery store—much of that stock is imported from places like South America.”

If you would like more information about the Dancing Cricket Flower Farm and weekly cut- flower subscriptions visit www.dancingcricketflowerfarm.com. .λ