Who are we?
We’re Katie and Dan, the humans behind Stone Broke. Katie is the CFO (Chief Flower Officer): she choose the flower varieties, makes the bouquets, and tries really hard to kill as few plants as possible. Dan is the CRM (Chief Reality Maker): he quite literally built the farm, manages all the never-ending projects, and ensures this all keeps going. When not out in the field, we both work full time: Katie is a therapist and Dan is in marketing/e-commerce .
The other two members of the crew are our best boys, Weller and Merle. Weller loves to go on runs with mom and is our sweet rescue boy. He’s also our alarm clock, escape artist, and field mice hunter. Merle is Weller’s little brother, our 180 lbs drool monster, and a big ol’ baby. He’s afraid of the most random things (traffic cones are his nemesis), loves zucchini, and would live in the pond if he could.
Why Stone Broke?
The name for our small farm has a several different meanings for us but the most important one is its recognition of family.
Katie’s grandfather, Wayne Smith, Sr. (affectionately known as Pop), settled in Charlotte on 30+ acres in what is now midtown. Pop called the family farm Stone Broke. While the original homestead no longer exists, Pop’s legacy of a focus on family, care for and connection to his community, and his immense kindness live on.
We are deeply honored to carry on the Stone Broke name.
Why flowers?
The first flowers we grew on the farm were in a small 2x10 cutting garden. Every day one of us would grab the other one to say, "did you see this one?” or “look at this!” and the excitement and joy were incredible. The experience sparked something in us and that spark became a fire. Next thing we knew, we were pulling out vegetables to make more room for flowers.
We realized the power of flowers to transfix and alter us and we knew it was something we had to share. So, despite being in the early stages of flower farming, we are bringing our blooms to Oxford. We are intentionally starting small to ensure the flowers we are growing can get as much as attention we can give them.
