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Our Story
How we became accidental flower farmers
Our family lived in the suburbs surrounding Des Moines, Iowa for many years. Our house was the one that had lots of flowers in bloom. I loved cultivating beautiful flower gardens. At the time, we never dreamed of packing up everything, moving out to rural Iowa, and growing thousands of flowers on a farm. But here we are. Bochner Farms as it is today, was an unplanned accident. Right before our youngest son was to graduate high school, we bought 50 acres of raw land in the rural central Iowa countryside. The original plan was to use the land on weekends to camp and fish in the pond. Go for hikes, gator rides, and sit around the campfire. Our family enjoyed getting out of the city, and relaxing in the peace and quiet of the outdoors. But, we quickly discovered the magic of this very special piece of land. One year after buying the land, we decided to move out of the city, and build a farmhouse. We planted thousands of flowers, and have been slowly transitioning this hidden piece of land into a little slice of heaven. From the flower fields, to the Cottage Garden, our goal is create beauty and peace that surprise us daily. We think the beauty is worth sharing with others, so we open our flower farm for tours, farm-to-table-dinners, & more a few dates per year. If you'd like to visit the farm, CLICK HERE.
Photo credit: AmeliaReneePhoto.com
Meet the family
Lori Bochner
Lori Bochner
Lori Bochner
I believe that flowers are magic. The healing power of flowers is real, scientifically proven, and I love that. I am the garden designer, seed starter, & primary flower grower. I also lead marketing and strategic planning for the farm. It's truly an honor to witness the joy that our farm and flowers provide to others. Photo credit: AmeliaReneePhoto.com
Jim Bochner
Lori Bochner
Lori Bochner
My husband Jim is Director of Operations at the farm and a self-proclaimed daylily addict. He is building a daylily hybridizing operation, and looks forward to propagating and introducing unique daylilies to the market. He is responsible for all farm operations including soil, irrigation, and construction. Photo credit: AmeliaReneePhoto.com
Our Crew
Lori Bochner
Our Crew
Our farm is family owned and operated. Jim and I manage the farm on our own, but we are grateful for the help of our family. This little crew provides the muscle for all our big projects and manpower to help our events run smoothly. Grateful for this hardworking group and so blessed to call them family. Photo credit: AmeliaReneePhoto.com
We believe in being part of something bigger.
GivingColor
One of the big reasons we started our Iowa flower farm was to help make the world a better place. That's why we introduced GivingColor.
The magical, life-changing Cottage Garden
The inspiration behind the building of the Cottage Garden
The inspiration behind the building of the Cottage Garden
The inspiration behind the building of the Cottage Garden
In autumn of 2021, I felt the call to build raised beds and fill them with soil. For a future garden I didn't know I needed. I'm so glad I listened. Planning and nurturing this incredible "thin" place has brought me such peace during a time of unexpected grief.
The Cottage Garden layout and design planning in progress
The inspiration behind the building of the Cottage Garden
The inspiration behind the building of the Cottage Garden
The Cottage Garden consists of 22 raised beds. We have 4 garden arbors (2 at each end) and a pergola in the center. We also have 4 custom built obelisks at the edges. We planted a mix of annuals and perennials. In 2023 we built a fence & perimeter path.
Visit the Cottage Garden for a guided sunset tour in 2025
The inspiration behind the building of the Cottage Garden
Visit the Cottage Garden for a guided sunset tour in 2025
The magic of the Cottage Garden has been such a surprise. There is this incredible peace that permeates through the garden, I can't explain it, and we want to share the experience with others. Our 2025 tour dates are now available. Get your tickets HERE.