Meet WAHM Sarah Funk of Growflowers.org

Sarah is the owner of a really cool flower business and she’s just launched her new site Growflowers.org. She teaches you how to run your very own flower farming business, from bookkeeping to weeding she makes sure you have all the right ingredients!

Sarah is also a wife and a mom to two children (under 3!). In our interview together she shares how she manages to run a business, a flower farm and raise a family.

Tell us about your business
Hi I’m Sarah, I own and operate a flower farm in Central Iowa. And you guys, it’s amazing. Flower farming is not for the faint of heart, but I will that that is so rewarding to see how your flowers impact your customers. I’ve also started a website, growflowers.org, that’s all about how to start a flower farm in simple steps so that you can get to the good stuff: pretty flowers.

Did you always plan to be a WAHM? If not, what made you decide to work from home?
I haven’t always planned on being a WAHM. I actually intended to just stay at home with my kids but I found I wanted to create a legacy for them. I wanted to find a job I could ultimately do with my family. And, not to mention, work seems to make me a better mom! Fulfilling my passions and getting to spend time with them is pretty great.

How long have you been a WAHM?
I’ve been a WAHM for 2 years now and love it!

How many children do you have and what are their ages?
My kids are 3 1/2 and 2. They’re the sweetest!

What is your workstation setup like? (ie. In the kitchen, room to room, in an office/study, etc.)
I work pretty much everywhere in my home. We just moved to a new farm and I promised my husband I would do all of my design work in one of the outbuildings, but instead there are seedlings all over our coffee and dining room table!

What days/hours do you typically work?
Work hours vary for me based on when I have to fill orders. On easy days I typically work early mornings for a few hours and again in the late afternoon.

How does being a WAHM affect your husband/partner?
Me being a WAHM definitely adds an element of stress to my husband. Flower farming is a crazy busy job and since my husband is also self employed he often feels the weight of taking care of our kids. We actually hired babysitting help this summer so that he could get more work done and worry less about the kids!

What are some of your frustrations with being a WAHM?
My biggest frustration is the lack of quiet when I’m trying to work with my kids around. My daughter is a talker and likes constant interaction which is tricky for me sometimes.

What is the single most gratifying part of being a WAHM?
Working with my kids, I love seeing them enjoy what I love. Just tonight my 2-year-old son told me he wants to grow flowers too.

Describe a typical day in the life for you as a WAHM.
This morning is a good example of my work life: I got up in the morning and responded to emails and social media notifications while my husband got the kids ready for the day. The nanny came and watched my 3-year-old daughter while my son came with me as I went to harvest flowers. The nanny left after lunch, and my son slept while I worked on my website and my daughter played with the IPad. When my husband got off work we all piled in the car to go do flower deliveries and grocery shop. Now the kids are in bed and my husband and I are both on our laptops finishing up our days.

How do you think being a WAHM has helped you and your family?
When I became a WAHM it added a level of purpose and value to my own life. I felt like I was still “me” in addition to being a mom. I think it ultimately makes me a better wife and mom.

What sacrifices have you had to make in order to be a WAHM?
Oh goodness, there have been a lot of sacrifices, I’ve had to give up hobbies and other non essentials. All of my time needs to either be spent focusing on my kids or on my business.

My biggest WAHM fail moment was…
Everytime I get frustrated with my kids because I’m too focused on work and not paying attention to them. They come first, or at least should!

As a WAHM I can’t live without…
My IPhone 7 Plus. It’s the first nice phone I’ve ever owned and I think I’m hooked.

My go to dinner on my busiest day is…
Ground beef and veggies.

My WAHM uniform consists of…
leggings and t-shirts

If I could have one free day to myself I would…
read some fiction! The Rebel in the Sands series is my current fav.

Thanks for sharing your story Sarah! Be sure to check out her website Growflowers.org and follow Sarah on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

See my other interviews with work at home mothers.