New Brooklyn farm fresh flower business making people smile

​       Daneen Schafbuch, owner of the newly opened New Day Flower Farm at 1558 Old 6 in rural Brooklyn, welcomes customers to stop at her newly opened retail store. The business offers a variety of farm fresh-cut flowers and dried flower arrangements along with faith-based T-shirts, jewelry and homemade greeting cards. Schafbuch has been growing and selling flowers since 2019 and opened the business to be able to spend more time with family, attend school events and support the family farming operation.

By J.O. Parker
 
         Putting smiles on people’s faces is something that Daneen Schafbuch takes to heart.
       Step inside her newly opened retail store, New Day Flower Farm, 1558 Old 6, rural Brooklyn, and one of the first things customers will notice behind the store counter is the neon sign “God Smiles through Flowers.”
        “I just want to make people smile,” said Schafbuch. “That is the whole point behind my business.”
Schafbuch has been raising and selling farm fresh-cut flowers on-line through a subscription-based flower club since 2019.
      “People purchase my flowers on-line through my website,” said Schafbuch. “People order four or eight bouquets at a time and I deliver them locally.”
      Schafbuch said people purchase the flowers for Christmas, Mother’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions.
     As the business grew, Schafbuch decided to branch out and sell her fresh-cut flowers to area floral businesses. She quickly learned that the Amish already had the corner on that market, so she started offering the flowers at pop-up events such as Homegrown Grace, a twice yearly vendor fair in nearby Victor.
        “The pop-up events helped get the word out about my business,” she said.
     Wanting to spend more time at home and with family, attend school events and support the farming operation all led Schafbuch to open the new retail store. The store, which is located at the family farm, opened its doors on Thursday, July 11.
      The new retail store offers fresh-cut flowers, dried flowers and an assortment of faith-based T-shirts and jewelry along with greeting cards made in Brooklyn.
        “I wanted a place where people can come and be able to purchase my flowers and gifts,” said Schafbuch.
        When asked what she enjoys the most about her flower business, Schafbuch said it’s a gift from God.
       “I truly believe that your talent is your gift from God and what you do with that talent is your gift back to God.”
      In the early going, Schafbuch started growing her flowers in containers and then started growing them from seed.
       All of her flowers but one are planted and grown from seed on a half-acre of land next to the retail store.
It takes from 60 – 120 days to grow each kind of flower she raises. Her flower garden has around 4,000 flowers.
        Her flower offerings include: Cosmos, Sunflowers, Zinnics, Celosia, Gomphrene, Dianthus and Statice.
        The retail store is open Thursday – Sunday, from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
      In addition, each morning customers can stop and pick-up a grab-n-go bouquet from the front porch of the business and pay through an honor system.
       There is also a u-cut flower option from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily, also on the honor system.
       People can also order flowers through the business website, www.newdayflowerfarm.com.
       The business phone number is: 515-205-3145.
       The business email is: [email protected]
       Schafbuch was quick to add that without her faith, none of this would be possible.
     “I really want my faith to be part of the business,” she said. “I place a scripture card with all of my bouquets.”
        She said every morning is new and she enjoys being inspired by all the flowers that bloomed overnight.
        “I feel like every day is a new day,” said Schafbuch.