Jill here. As I enter into our 9th year of growing flowers and giving them away, I’ve been reflecting on the role they’ve played in this community and in my own life. I can’t help from getting emotional when i think about how far our flower journey has come. The first year was just little olé me, with one 300 foot row and a garden hose to water it. I grew flowers and weeds. I spent hours upon hours planting, weeding, arranging flowers on the grass, singing to myself, having conversations with God and spending ample time growing myself. Together We Heal Community was established only 5 years ago, but God had a plan with these flowers all along.
I recently asked a few of my volunteers to share their story of how the flowers and the farm has touched their lives. When I read their responses, I got all the feels and I hope you do too. Here are a few of them…
“It was your flowers that first brought me to Cliff’s farm. And through them, I found something I didn’t even know I was searching for: peace, healing, and the strength to keep moving forward when everything in my life felt like it was falling apart.
In those early days with Together We Heal, we planted flowers, weeded, cut blooms, and built jars for people walking through grief. It felt like such a simple thing at first—but it became sacred. I never liked receiving flowers before, but each flower we tended and each bouquet we gave became a reminder that beauty can still grow even in the hardest seasons. That love can bloom even in loss. That small acts of kindness can echo in the lives of people we may never even meet.
You welcomed me into that space during one of the most painful and uncertain times of my life. What no one really saw then was how heavy everything was for me. I was going through so much—loss, heartbreak, financial struggle, court battles over my children, and the silent grief of watching parts of my life unravel. I had every reason to break. But you gave me a place to just be—to breathe, to work with my hands, and to feel grounded again. Many times, I sat with God in those fields, just praying.
Through your flowers, I found a pathway to Cliff’s farm. On that farm, I discovered my true love for farm-to-fork living. I fell in love with the soil, with growing food, and with building a community that shares a passion for healing, nourishment, and connection.
Because of the community you built, I’ve not only been able to heal—I’ve also had the chance to teach others, grow food for my family, give back to those in need, and walk a little lighter through life—even when things are still hard.
The space you created helped me carry a weight I couldn’t bear alone. Our conversations about God, faith, and prayer helped me hold on.”
Anonymous
“Flower Power!
From loosing our Pastor, and gathering flowers from the TWH garden the blooms have brought joy in sorrow. Hearing recipients smell the herbs in the farms bouquet 💐’s - deep breaths that awaken their senses.
Flowers started from seed- helping sew them .. to then cutting them fresh on a warm summer morning with our daughter … this is where the blooming began for this griever.
Cheerful and wild, wispy and natural… the TWH garden and farm bring care, gentle smiles as they brighten a space in one’s home.
Dropping blooms on doorsteps, delivering to those that are a bit lonely, and newly solo.
How can joy be in a jar that small and clear? When blooms are sewn with care, smiles and some sweat- they bloom stronger, brighter and sparkle.
Bring your hands to help out this next season. See what God can do with your heart and hands… it’s magical!
Thank you TWH Team!
You bring my soul good.”
Anonymous
This summer, the powerful flower vibe continues! We are picking, arranging and delivering every week to 4 businesses in Elk Grove. We will soon add 40+ jars each week for our chaplain friends who bring them to all the dispatch offices for law enforcement in Sacramento.
Our hope is that you get to experience these flowers in some capacity. Maybe you spy them when you walk into a coffee shop and think, “Hey, I know those flowers!” Take one and see how good it feels to give them away! Or perhaps you’re the blessed recipient of a “Jar of Joy” because someone you know thought of you. Whatever it may be, we hope you are touched by their story, feel loved, and get inspired to spread joy wherever you are.
All my love,
Jill