Jared and Natalie Greenlaw both grew up in Vero Beach, a small town on the east coast of Florida, a short drive to the beach and just a few miles from expansive, marshy agricultural land.
Having served in the Air Force in both the mechanical and cyber sectors of aeronautics, Jared is grateful for the knowledge, experience, and camaraderie that the military has given him and he carries many of the lessons he’s learned into his everyday life.
There is a rich history of citrus growers locally and Natalie’s family has a history in being involved in agriculture however, no one has farmed in several generations. They were basically starting from square one with very little agricultural experience under their belts.
Jared and Natalie have worked very hard to become educated, surround themselves with other wise, experienced farmers, and while they are still constantly learning, they are really proud of the progress they’ve made and systems they’ve put in place to grow a product they can really stand behind.
All of the skills gained in his military career played a major role in crossing into farming. Jared has learned to master large scale irrigation networks and plot plans. His true passion lies in the techniques of natural farming.
Regenerative Farming Practices
Their love for growing began in a small backyard garden growing vegetables organically for their young kids about five years ago. Regenerative farming practices resonated heavily with them and they interplanted many herbs, fruits, and flowers with their vegetables.
From there, everything started to flourish and they started sharing blooms of their labor. What started out as a backyard garden has now skyrocketed into a farm of 10 acres and actively expanding to a new plot of land. At Pura Vida Flower Farm, Jared and his wife sell specialty-cut flowers wholesale, deliver arrangements throughout the week, run workshops and events, and design weddings.
The Blessings of Farming in Florida
As many know, serving is truly an honor and it can come at a price both physically and mentally. Farming has allowed Jared to constructively utilize his learned skills and to heal from the more difficult parts of his journey.
There’s obviously no shortage of hard work to be done on the farm. Farming in the Florida heat and humidity is no joke, but Jared considers it to be a great privilege and feels blessed to be outside, working with the land, and producing something that his community really values.
“It allows us to include our kids in our work in an intentional way and to teach lessons much harder learned inside,” said Jared.
Pure Vida Farms grows flowers for a wide range of needs – arrangements for delivery, buckets of ‘just the stems’, bloom bars for events, wedding floral design, wholesale to florists and more!
Support HBH and Local Farms
By having the Homegrown By Heroes label on their flowers and farm, it has helped them reach a wider customer base than they may have on their own. Wearing the logos and promoting their farm with the HBH label has connected them with other service members and gives their customers an assurance that they operate with integrity.
Jared urges others to support HBH farms whenever possible. Such as, liking and sharing their social media, telling your friends, and purchasing their products when you can.
“It makes a world of a difference in a veteran’s life and the lives of their families,” said Jared.
Furthermore, support local farms! According to Jared, 80% of U.S. flowers are imports drenched in hundreds of unknown, unregulated chemicals with their main breeding purpose being their shipping eligibility. Local flowers are grown with U.S. soil as a top priority and bred for beauty, vase life, scent, and more.
“We’ve come to know so many of the faces behind different farming operations in our area and beyond, for flowers and other industries, and each is unique in their own way,” said Jared. “Ultimate experts in their fields and so passionate about producing a really incredible product for the community. Find them, try them, you won’t be disappointed!”
To learn more about Jared’s and Natalie’s farm, you can follow them on Facebook and Instagram. To sign up for their monthly newsletter, visit their website here: https://www.puravidaflowerfarm.com/
