PepperHarrow Farm: Rebuilding and Blooming Again in Winterset, Iowa

2023-10-13 11:04:42

PepperHarrow Farm owners Adam and Jenn O’Neal feel at peace.

Over a year and a half ago, the Winterset tornado tore through their Madison County land. Now, the couple have started over and largely rebuilt the 20-acre boutique flower farm.

More: Despite the Winterset tornado’s ‘unrecognizable’ destruction, this farm will soon sell flowers again

Years back, as newlyweds, Iowa native Jenn brought her now-husband Adam home to Winterset. Adam hails from Louisiana, near New Orleans. The couple were in town to attend the Madison County Covered Bridge Festival.

“We were driving through the hills on the highway, and he said, ‘what if we move back to Winterset?'” Jenn recalled. “It was the most quintessential fall day.”

During the second full weekend in October, the festival brings back memories of how their ideas — and love — grew. This year, PepperHarrow’s season will end where everything once began with the farm’s fall open house.

‘Our farm is becoming a place for people’: How PepperHarrow Farm grew

On that early fall 2009 day back in Winterset, Adam wasn’t expecting to choose Iowa, according to Jenn. The couple had developed a dream 10 years prior to own a farm but were open on where to settle down.

She liked the vibe of the Pacific Northwest. He favored countryside outside Nashville. Together, they chose Iowa.

“Maybe if we live in Iowa, we’ll vacation in other places,” Jenn joked.

The parents of three were just growing their family when they decided to grow a farm. They bought the land that’s home to PepperHarrow in 2011, on the edge of Winterset, and started flower farming there the following year.

More: ‘An abundance of blooms’: 5 spots to see, pick flowers in central Iowa

Now, they hold ticketed events such as classes or workshops and occasionally open to the general public near the end of each season. Last spring, their season was just about to begin for the family’s boutique flower farm. The O’Neals had cultivated a dedicated following on their YouTube channel and Instagram accounts.

“Our farm is becoming a place for people that they’re trying their memories too and they want to keep coming back,” Jenn said.

PepperHarrow rebuilt after powerful E-45 tornado destruction

On Instagram, the farm now boasts 62,000 followers. The couple built their YouTube audience up with over 25,000 subscribers. The farm was still growing.

On March 5, 2022, the tornado came. The E-45 tornado in Winterset was the state’s deadliest on record since 2008. The storm killed six people.

A flower cottage, the farm’s five greenhouses, their event barn and a century-old heritage barn were destroyed. The tornado cost over $500,000 worth of damage resulting in months of repair for the O’Neals.

More: Winterset tornado deadliest in Iowa since 2008. Here’s a look at storm history in the state.

By autumn this year, the farm recovered. The family rebuilt two of their five greenhouses, a tool shed, the flower cottage, and the farm’s event barn.

“The farm was built over 12 years, so we don’t expect that will be back to 100% in a little over a year,” Jenn said. “It’s a process and we’ll work on getting the last pieces added over time.”

They need to restore a heritage distillery barn, where they distill lavender, and rebuild the remaining greenhouses.

Jenn credits PepperHarrow’s community of customers for helping the farm get back on its feet. She said the past year has been really beautiful and added that the O’Neals feel positive about the farm’s recovery.

“It’s not ideal but we’re making it happen and honestly this has been one of the most successful years we’ve ever had,” she said in an October interview.

PepperHarrow will close for season following covered bridge festival

The farm will end its 2023 season with a fall open house. On Oct. 14, the pair plans to open the gates of their bucolic private property for guests. The autumn Saturday will be the last chance for visitors to gander and gather.

Hot cider will be served on tap. Jenn and Adam are on hand to offer artisanal goods for purchase in the farm shop. Hand-poured candles are available to pick up. Then, PepperHarrow is set to close for the season.

During winter, the family will travel and celebrate the Christmas holiday. PepperHarrow hosts wintertime activities including wreath making, centerpiece workshops and the farm shop is open for the holidays.

Next spring, the O’Neals will start over again. This time, it won’t be from scratch.