‘Not all sunflowers are created equal’ explains Helen Eastham of George and Clemmie’s Farm, Blackburn.
‘We plant around five different varieties, and they’re all chosen because they make exceptional cut flowers with a long vase life. There are lots of cheaper varieties we could plant, especially those that are usually harvested for their seeds – but it’s important to us that people go home with really strong and long-lasting blooms. It’s what our reputation’s built on.’
Staggered planting means that sunflowers are available right through the British growing season (depending on the weather) from the end of July to mid September.
At the end of each growing season, Helen and partner Tom Stephenson have made the eco-friendly decision to leave any unharvested sunflowers as a standing crop. This means that the field becomes a valuable source of food for wild birds throughout the autumn and winter as well as offering ground cover for local wildlife. Whatever’s left by next planting season will be ploughed back into the ground to improve soil quality.
While people initially come for the family-friendly adventure and instagram-able experience of walking through the cheery golden fields and selecting their own flowers, the quality of the blooms is such that some will now order a bouquet to simply ‘click and collect’.
Helen says ‘we have a lot of repeat customers which is nice, as it shows we’re obviously doing something right. People who have visited in the past might now ring ahead and just swing by to collect a bouquet as a gift for someone special or as a nice treat for themselves. And why not, I say!’
‘We try to reinvest in the business each year so it’s continually improving. This year, for example, we’ve upgraded the ice cream and shake parlour so it’s roomy, bright and welcoming. We’ve also added a proper coffee machine, so there’s something for everyone.’
George and Clemmie’s ice cream is made locally in small batches using milk from the farm’s own dairy herd. Visitors can enjoy cones, sundaes, milkshakes and more while watching those very cows making their way down the track to be milked at 3pm each day.
Outside of the eight-week sunflower season, the onsite ice cream parlour means Helen and Tom welcome visitors to the farm almost all year round. And as if they didn’t have enough to do - with a 150-strong dairy herd to look after - they also manage a 15-acre pick-your-own pumpkin patch near Ulverston each October.
Tom explains ‘Helen and I got together around five years ago, and started our farming venture up in South Cumbria where I’m originally from. We began with just two cows and it grew from there. Helen had a job as a behavioural specialist at a local school and helped out on the farm before and after work. As the herd got bigger it became obvious we needed more space and/or more ways to grow our business so Helen could join me in working full time on the farm.’
Remembering a previous trip to America, Tom landed on the idea of growing pumpkins to bring in additional income for the farm. Pagebank Pumpkin Patch was established, and to this day still grows 10,000 pumpkins across 15 acres.
After a year or so, the couple tried growing an acre of sunflowers alongside the pumpkins in Cumbria and were amazed at the response.
‘People loved it’ says Helen, ‘and it was good that we started with that smaller trial area because we received some great feedback and got some ideas of how to improve. We were able to do a few things differently going forward, such as the staggered planting, so that we have an extended season and people have time to visit in a more leisurely way rather than all squeezed into one very busy flowering window.’
Tom and Helen secured the tenancy of Lower Shorrock in 2021 and brought the cows down from Cumbria to Blackburn that summer. The same year, they welcomed the arrival of their son George. Over the next two years, these busy farmers (and tired new parents) expanded both the dairy herd, the sunflower field, and the family; with daughter Clemmie joining them in early 2023.
Sunflowers now take up around six acres of space, with another acre given over to the ice cream and shake parlour and lawn area.
‘With the dairy herd, the ice creams, the pumpkins and the sunflowers, we were keen to create a sustainable, rounded and diverse business that we could be proud of, and naming it after our beautiful children is a good reminder of what all the hard work is for’ says Helen.
What do the children think of the farm that bears their names?
‘Clemmie’s too young to understand very much about what goes on, but George knows what ice cream is, that’s for sure! He sets off toward the new parlour at a run.’
And with tempting flavours like Oreo, Fudge and Caramel Swirl, Banoffee, and Belgian Choc Chip – who can blame him?
Instagram.com/georgeandclemmiesfarm
