Meet Nikki McComsey | Flower Farmer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nikki McComsey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nikki, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Our business, Gather Mountain Blooms, was built with my two sisters. This flower farm started in my back yard after I had suffered a concussion that carried with it awful migraines. I had to quit my job working at a nonprofit and the loss of my identity in my work was really difficult. But it also allowed me to see life for what it really is – and we aren’t defined by our work, or even our thoughts or emotions. When life is stripped away during a traumatic event, the basics of love, friendship, family and presence in the moments become so clear. I fell in love with flower farming – being close to the cycles of the seasons, touching the soil and feeling the sun. But, my sisters and I started Gather Mountain Blooms as a way to express love and community through flowers.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We met with a strategist friend very early in our business and she wanted to know our “why”. You would think that we would say “to grow and sell flowers” or “to host events and workshops”. But, we each answered that question with “we grow love and community through flowers”. It is about the impact on people’s lives that really gets us excited – That they can visit us at the farm during our open you-pick flowers, or they come to a workshop, or get married at our wedding barn. Flower farming often becomes about the output of flowers, but we love people and flowers are our expression.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, one of the reasons we opened our you-pick flower field is because it is exactly what we would want to be doing on a Saturday morning. A really great itinerary in Colorado Springs for a spectacular morning is to grab a quick breakfast with an acai bowl from Ola Juice. Then drive about 10 minutes south to our farm at Gather Mountain Blooms (sharing space with the historic Venetucci Farm). Stroll the fields, cutting flowers as you go. Then enjoy a lavender lemonade from our little farm store and browse our gift shop. Sit in our garden gazebo to take in the morning. And if you are still feeling like you need more nature, go for a hike in Red Rock open space and grab lunch at Shugas. If you are from out of town and stay overnight, definitely stay at Kinship Landing in downtown Colorado Springs.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Gather Mountain Blooms was built with my two sisters – Leah and Abby. They stood beside me from day one when this was all just an idea, a dream for the future. I knew I couldn’t do it alone and they uprooted their lives to move to Colorado Springs and start a flower farm, growing on almost an acre. We also manage a wedding and events business in the beautifully renovated barn and we host a fall pumpkin festival. My sisters give me joy every day and allow the hard work to be rooted in laughter and love.

Website: www.gathermountainblooms.com

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