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I first crossed paths with Deanna Kitchen while researching flower farming in the PNW and scrolling Instagram. Deanna filled the squares with beauty and kindness and I was immediately drawn to her. Coincidentally Deanna’s farm, Twig and Vine is located just north of mine in the quaint farming community of Conway.
Deanna’s mission to Grow Kindness through Flowers is a beautiful story. I would like to take this opportunity to share some of her story.
The Growing Kindness Mission
Growing Kindness is a little project with a big heart and a big dream. Our goal? To start a campaign of kindness that starts a ripple of goodwill that reaches across the world.
How? Flowers.
Growing a cut flower garden is easier than you think. All you need is a little bit of dirt and a big heart. We’re here to help you with the rest!
The Growing Kindness Project is working to support thousands, just like you, who want to share kindness by growing and giving flowers.
We provide support, education, and resources to help you both garden and give. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or have never grown a single plant, whether you’re tending a pot of flowers on your city balcony or acres of blooms on a farm, we’re here to help you grow kindness in your community. Join us and let’s get growing in your neighborhood or community!
We believe…
By starting where we are, using what we have, and doing what we can, we accomplish SO much.
The History
The Growing Kindness Project started when Deanna Kitchen, an aspiring flower farmer, accidentally planted more dahlias than she could market. Together with her family, she started delivering flowers throughout her community, sharing flowers at bus stops, doctors office’s, and retirement homes. With every delivery, Deanna discovered that when they held out flowers, they held out a powerful catalyst for sharing kindness and fostering connection.
The next spring, Deanna was dividing tubers from the original 500 dahlia plants when she realized she was holding the keys to what would eventually become the Growing Kindness Project. Deanna began gifting dahlias to anyone who wanted to grow and share flowers in their community.
And so, the Growing Kindness Project was born. The first year, they gave away hundreds of dahlias that were grown and shared across Washington state. The next year, the project supported trained Ambassadors and supplied them with dahlia tubers, plant starts, training, and information to help them successfully grow and share flowers across Washington state.
Now, the Growing Kindness project is expanding to support Ambassadors across the nation and Growing Kindness Gardeners around the world. Read more about the history of the project www.growingkindnessproject.org and as well as how it’s growing and expanding.
Every act of kindness has the potential to change a life.
I had the privilege to attend Deanna’s first on-farm Growing Kindness Workshop in 2019. It was at Twig and Vine that I experienced Deanna's heart for service, her gift of hospitality, and her love for her community. Deanna is a leader, a teacher, and a friend. It was after this experience that I knew that I wanted to be surrounded by this kindness mentality. The Growing Kindness Project permitted me to start where I am, use the resources I already have, and confidence to give in kindness. I have been a proud Ambassador of the project since 2020.
Since my first on-farm visit I have had many memorable experiences with Deanna and The Growing Kindness Ambassador Team. One of my favorite memory is The Annual Holiday Cheer Campaign.
The Holiday Cheer Campaign
By the winter months, the flowers have faded, but that doesn’t mean the giving, connection, and kindness diminish.
We’ve created a beautiful and impactful way to continue giving and growing kindness, even through the dark and gray winter months when our gardens are dormant.
Together, we’ll be immersed in real beauty, connection, and meaningful giving in just 4 easy steps:
Get your Holiday Cheer guide
Gather your materials
Design like a pro
Spread kindness and goodwill in your community
We promise it is that easy, and we're here to help each step of the way. You don't need a big budget (or any budget!) to make a big impact in your community. All you need to give is your time and your heart. We'll help with all the rest!
Ready to be a part of this campaign of kindness? Here is what you’ll receive as a Holiday Cheer Campaign participant:
LIVE Floral Design class with recording available
Beautiful printable gift tags for giving
A complete materials list including tips for foraging
Step-by-step directions to guide you through making 1 or 100 centerpieces
Tips for community organization and outreach
A social media badge to share that you're participating in the 2024 Holiday Cheer CampaignÂ
And so much more!
Whether you make one or one hundred arrangements, whether you visit one lonely neighbor, or share with all the residents of your local long-term care home, we promise you that participating in the Holiday Cheer Campaign will quickly become one of your favorite holiday traditions!
As we prepare our hearts for Giving Tuesday, I ask that you closely consider supporting Deanna’s mission to Grow Kindness. This local nonprofit reaches far beyond the PNW. The online ambassadors program extends worldwide! I have been a proud ambassador since 2020.
In the summer of 2024, Deanna hosted her second annual Growing Kindness Ambassador Workshop. Because I was a recipient of a 2024 scholarship I had the privilege to attend. Women from across the nation gathered, grateful for this intimate opportunity to connect on the farm and in person. Sharing stories of kindness, encouragement, and continued education. This two-day workshop allowed us to tour local farms, practice new design techniques, and together design and deliver arrangements to our local adult living community.
We caravanned to Mossy Gates's new farm in LaConner. Jesalyn has been a consistent encouragement to me and this project. After hearing Jesalyn flower farming story, we had the privilege to harvest directly from the field. These exact flowers would be some of the blooms that later make up the donated arrangements.
The tour then took us onto Laura Ward's drying shed at Blackburn Gardens in Mt Vernon.
The next stop was my family farm, www.flourishorganicfarms.com
Deanna approached me weeks prior and I entertained the idea of hosting a tour. This was my first farm tour! I felt vulnerable welcoming the ladies but with courage and their grace it was a lovely experience.
On the second day of the workshop, we gathered at Deanna's farm Twig and Vine. We discovered new design techniques and created centerpieces & flower crowns.
Chelsea of @sweetdelilahfram is our team's online Greenhouse fearless leader. Chelsea joined us from Oregon! Another highlight was setting a family-style dinner table so that we could gather and enjoy a family-style home-cooked meal together.
This experience was a highlight of my summer. Gathering with like-minded gardeners to Grow Kindness filled my soul. I reconnected with OG Ambassadors, met new friends, and grew the courage to host my first on-farm tour. I left refreshed, grateful, and inspired.
Please consider supporting this local Non-Profit. No donation is too small. It is because of donations like yours, this mission can continue to Flourish. Thank you for your consideration.
It is with great thanks to several donations for making this season's Growing Kindness Ambassador Workshop possible.
@fir_island_bakery
@thecornladykaysville
@themintgardner
@ecofreshbouquet
@hazelblueacres
@thedahliahouse
@mossygateflowerfarm
@beemerryfarm
@sweetdelilahflowerfarm
@uprisingseeds
@bakercreekseeds
@bloomtown-flowers
@accentdecor
@twigandvine
@floralcurrentcollective
@cassiecpage
@katiejeangunter
No one has ever become poor by giving.
— Anne Frank
May you enjoy a peaceful and Blessed holiday season.
Keep Flourishing Friends!
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