LEEDS - This spring and summer, Meadowbrook Farm Catskills will be home to thousands of tulips, sunflowers, dahlias and a growing variety of other plants.
The Leeds-based farm is run by Angela Worth, who returned to her roots — quite literally — to open the sprawling farm three years ago.
Worth grew up in Greene County on a farm where her family raised sheep and grew produce.
“When I left Greene County 20-something years ago I said, 'I will never, ever come back. And I will never want to farm again,' ” Worth remembers.
She pursued a career in education in New Jersey and her husband, Steven, worked in law enforcement. But during the pandemic, she was drawn back home.
“I just knew it was time . . . for a change,” Worth said.
At the time, her family planned to sell 120 acres of Greene County farmland owned by her grandparents. Located just down the road from the farm Worth grew up on, the property had been in the family for half a century. Worth decided to take it over.
“We had to figure out how to be sustainable as a 120-acre farm,” Worth said. “Rather than put all my eggs in one basket, besides the flower farm . . . we started the Venue, where we do weddings and parties and events.”
Bouquet from Meadowbrook Farm Catskills.
“Our vision is to create an experience for people when they come out to the farm.”
The main attraction is the flowers Worth cultivates, including tulips, sunflowers, dahlias, zinnias, clary sage and more.
“It’s my first love,” Worth said. “It's definitely been a journey for me. I've been learning as I go. Making mistakes is the best lesson, but that's farming in itself. It's continuous and you're constantly learning.”
Sunflowers at Meadowbrook Farm Catskills, which grows 25 varieties of the flower.
She’s perhaps most passionate about the 125,000 sunflowers that bloom each summer. Worth plants 25 varieties and succession plants, so there’s always something growing.
Last year the sunflowers were in the spotlight during Sunflower & Sangria, one of the first events Worth hosted at the farm.
“We had 3,500 people that showed up. It was just unbelievable,” Worth said. “I can't believe all these people came out to see our sunflowers. It was wonderful.”
She’s bringing the event back this year, from Aug. 16-18, and introducing another event this spring: the Meadowbrook Farm Catskills Tulip Walk.
Sunflowers at Meadowbrook Farm in Leeds.
This weekend and next, Meadowbrook’s 15,000-plus tulips will be on display. Worth grows an assortment of singles, doubles, peony-style and fringed tulips, so while there might not be as many as in the city of Albany, there’s an impressive variety.
The tulip walk will also feature children’s activities, live music, food, beer, wine and more than 60 craft vendors. It runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 27 and May 4. Tickets are $15.
Beyond special events, there are also select times when customers can pick their own flowers. There’s also a farm stand on the property where customers can buy some of Meadowbrook’s offerings.
Recently the farm has begun selling wholesale, providing flower arrangements for weddings. On the property there’s a barn for hosting events and weddings, along with a tented area. They hope to expand that part of the business.
Meadowbrook Farm Catskills, which features an event space (seen in the background) and a variety of flowers.
“We have a really beautiful barn for smaller events, up to 50 people, and then we have a beautiful tented area where you can have 160 people,” Worth said. “I'm just loving that part of it, too. That's been really fun.”
Running Meadowbrook has also come with a fair amount of hard work. Worth and her husband are the main employees, though they’ve taken on a few others, mainly to help arrange flower bouquets.
Entering her fourth year at Meadowbrook, Worth has overcome a number of challenges and learned to accept that sometimes everything won’t get done.
“[At first] I was getting too excited and planting way too many seedlings and not being able to get them into the ground on time,” Worth said. “Timing is the hardest thing. And also realizing and accepting the fact that I can't do everything. And it's OK.”
At the same time, it’s been rewarding to bring new life to the farming tradition that’s been in her family for generations.
The barn, tent and patio at Meadowbrook Farm Catskills, which hosts events and weddings.
“My family is just speechless. My mother, I'm just so grateful that she's here to see everything,” Worth said, noting that at the Sunflower & Sangria festival her mother marveled at what she’d brought to the farm and Worth’s vision for the place.
“It was a transition for me going from education to this, but I'm so happy. Every day I wake up and I just can't wait to get out to the field to see what's bloomed,” Worth said.
The farm is at 513 Route 67 in Leeds. For tickets to the tulip walk and the Sunflower & Sangria festival, visit meadowbrookfarmcatskill.com.
Meadowbrook Farm's venue.