Today we’d like to introduce you to Janel Astor.
Hi Janel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Having moved to Portland (our dream city) during the pandemic and being in my early fifties, it took me awhile to find my footing. For many years in California I worked as an established and busy Child Development Specialist, and while I love this work and the kids/families I work with, I wasn’t having the same easy time getting established here in Oregon and I had a lot of free time during the day – too much free time!
A great friend of mine and her family had a vacant lot attached to a vintage apartment that they own and one day I sent her a message asking, “do you think your dad would let me start a u-pick flower farm on the vacant lot?” He said yes and just like that I had something to fill my free time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Initially I was sooo excited and really didn’t think it through 🙂 I took to the internet to do some research, took a flower growing class or two to learn about starting plants from seedand my husband (Christopher) and I started clearing the lot of years of blackberries and weeds while trying to figure out what we wanted where.
My husband built me a beautiful greenhouse and fenced the property. Then it got real. It soon became much more labor intensive than my initial fantasy of “just growing some flowers and opening a flower farm”. I bought so many seeds, grow lights for starting plants early, organic fertilizer, mulch, compost, tools and gear. I’m pretty sure I started 2000 plants in my basement (most of them did grow) and then agonized about which ones to put in the ground and when. When I look back I realize how glad I am that I didn’t know enough to be truly terrified.
All that being said when it finally happened it was magical. We opened almost a month and a half after I had anticipated (in June of 2025) as I didn’t quite have that planting schedule quite right, but the flowers did grow and things started to come together. The reward, is that every person who comes to the farm seems happy and delighted to be there. There’s something about flowers that puts a smile on every face. Such a joy!
It has also been a real joy to connect with the community, both around the farm and in the greater Portland area. We get new people in all the time who start their sentences with, “I’ve lived around here for years and never knew this was here!” People are kind and generous and it makes me love Portland even more.
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 mentioned earlier, I have spent most of my life as a Child Development Specialist working with neurodivergent kids and their families, and I have been at it a long time (nearly 40 years), so lots of experience and expertise. I love this work and I still see kids, but mostly in the afternoon which leaves my day pretty free.
I have also been a dedicated gardener for many years, learning mostly though trial and error, but never had the time to really explore this until moving to Portland. My husband is an artist and a dreamer and between the two of us we seem to feel we can do whatever creative artistic thing we put our mind to. Chris is the farm’s lead designer (greenhouse, fencing, creative design and marketing) and weed puller, hole digger and muscle.
I have learned more about plants in the past year than I ever thought possible and now have an outlet for experimenting with everything I has learned watching Gardener’s World on BBC. I love the community that we are slowly but steadily building with our little farm both in our neighborhood and the broader city.
Any big plans?
We are only in our second year and already the farm is growing and changing. We have a million ideas and dreams-small group gatherings, parties, book nights, bingo nights, art shows, plenaire painting, educational classes, plant sales-they’re all possibilities to consider. The space is relatively small, but does have room for events and growth. So, for now. we are a small, local business growing and keeping all of our options open.
Pricing:
- u-pick bouquet-$3o.oo
- small pre-made bouquet-$25.00
- succulents-$5-$15.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ladygraceflowerfarm.com
- Instagram: @ladygraceflowerfarm
- Other: @christopherelliman (instagram)
