Meet Your Farmers

Farmer Derek Hoffbauer

Derek went on to the University of Minnesota, Crookston and earned a business degree with double emphasis in marketing and management while selling Christmas trees and Christmas wreaths in Grand Forks to pay tuition. While at UMC, Derek also created the website Balsamwreath.com and earned the Michael Chowdry Entrepreneurial Scholarship and Internship in 2000. Derek then moved to Alaska and started a family and eventually moved back to Duluth in 2014. In Alaska, Derek worked as a wholesale beverage distributor and was the National Accounts Manager. Derek and Brook worked to refresh the website and launch the Duluth Flower Farm. Derek and wife Brook have 4 children and a growing future. Derek loves family, friends, business, coaching hockey and building relationships with new customers.

 

Farmer Brook Hoffbauer

Brook is a farmer’s wife and has loved her high school sweetheart Derek, now for 20 years. She is a farm mom to four crazy, messy, full of dirt and awesome sauce, born in Alaska kids that keep her laundry basket full and heart even fuller. She loves coffee, community and serving! Dirt roads, long family hikes and family dinners are her favorite. Her passion on the farm lives in the planting, harvesting and designing of our beautiful Duluth Farm Flowers and fresh Balsam Wreaths.  She adores creating each bouquet and wreath knowing the joy it will bring someone and loves meeting a new bride as she picks out her flowers or balsam wreaths for the special day. Come winter time she makes the handmade bows and loves working at the tree stand seeing families pick their favorite tree and centerpiece to be around over their holiday season. As an educator for over 10 years, she is committed to teaching the next generation about where food comes from and how it grows. She continue to educate kids in local schools in our community and advocates for raised beds at public schools and daycares. She presents on agricultural education, teaches seminars, hosts locally grown dinners and creates hands on workshops for our community. She continues to serve on National, State and Local committee’s to be a parent voice advocating for our youth and families. She is in gratitude that you are here and are choosing to support a family farm. She appreciates your willingness to be apart of supporting a local family business that has it proceeds go back into the community and perhaps a few hockey or dance lessons. SMILE  

Farm Kids...also know as Team D!

Derek and Brook’s four children Team D as we like to call them are busy
learning how local food grows, how to make change for our loyal customers. (thanks for being great patient teachers), when it is the right time to harvest the crops we grow, how best to care for and handle planting, picking and harvesting the locally grown crops, how to display so our community customers have easiest access to the crops they want and giving back to our local community and beyond and to keep themselves updated to Duluth Farmer's Market. One of the best gifts they are getting is a strong Minnesota work ethic and understanding of how to contribute to their community in meaningful ways. In-between all of their support on the farm they are actively getting an education at our local school, playing hockey, dance, baseball…and a family favorite enjoying the great Minnesota outdoors. 
Farmer Donna – “Favorite farm fun is picking sweet peas and making bouquets.” Farmer Deegan – “Favorite farm fun is following Dad and doing everything that dad does. From picking flowers to planting trees.” Farmer Dane “Favorite farm fun is anything that has to do with a tractor.” Farmer Dottie“Favorite farm fun is picking and eating fresh broccoli, raspberries and fresh picked carrots.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 


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