FOR AUSTIN Graf, flowers are more than just pretty blooms put into a vase or a pot and displayed on a table or porch. When it comes to flowers, the Coffee County resident sees endless possibilities for growth, sustainability, beauty, and just plain old happiness.
For the past six years, Graf has been on a journey that literally started from the ground up. A journey that started with a leap of faith came with a learning curve that led to unrealized success in an industry he knew nothing about. That success led to a plot twist that taught him courage, patience, reinvention, and the realization that when one door closes, a window of possibilities opens.
10,000 BULBS AND A DREAM
Seeing the fruits, or in this case, blooms of Graf’s labor at his business, Buzzed Blooms, might lead one to believe that he was born with a green thumb on one hand and a shovel in the other. However, Graf’s love of plants grew in childhood but bloomed as an adult.
“Both my parents worked,” he explained. “We had a small farm with a few cows, but that was it. We grew vegetables and other things because we were lower income, and that’s just part of how we fed our family. From a very young age, I got really into plants. I enjoyed being out in the garden.”
All grown up, Graf became caught up in the rat race of the marketing world. Tired of the grind, he began to think back to his childhood and love of gardening. Graf then saw an opportunity to gain some peace and extra cash.
“I’ve worked in marketing since graduating college,” he explained. “Ultimately, I needed some relief from marketing. I had this great idea to grow sugar beets. Most sugar in America comes from beets. My idea was to create some kind of small batch artisanal sugar growing sugar beets.”
Graf laughs now, remembering the terrible idea of growing such a plant. However, there was a silver lining.
“I killed all of the beets,” he said. “I couldn’t even get one beet to grow. But I had planted the garden with flowers such as Dahlias, tubers, and Zinnias, which took off.”
Graf said the flowers did so well that his mother had asked to purchase some from him.
“Of course, I said no,” he laughed. “What kind of son would I be if I made my mom pay for flowers? However, that led me to learn more about the flower industry. I started digging, and I thought maybe I could do this. So I went out and bought 1,000 tulip bulbs.”
Graf went through what he lovingly refers to as a learning curve.
“I killed so many plants,” he said. “The whole plan was to plant twice as many as you think you killed, and something will survive. And little by little, it took shape.”
THE PLOT TWIST
While making real progress as a plant farmer, Graf had to undergo abdominal surgery. That surgery would leave him with permanent nerve damage, ultimately changing the trajectory of his business.
“It was a routine surgery, and it did not go well,” he explained. “Because of the nerve damage I sustained from the surgery, I’ve had to relearn my entire business from the ground up.
While I have been fortunate to have a great team [of employees] on the farm, it’s difficult to teach them all that goes into [fresh] cut flowers without actually having your body be able to do it or demonstrate it.”
While Graf has continued to grow flowers for wholesale purposes, he is now focusing on educating folks about the magic of growing things.
“I educate and teach using the skills I have built up. And that is slowly becoming my new line of business,” he explained.
The education portion of Graf ’s work has found a home on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Starting with just a few thousand followers, Graf now shares his love of plants with over 65,000 followers on Instagram and 20,000 on TikTok.
He gives tips, tricks, and advice, all with a hefty dose of enthusiasm and love.
Graf said the journey has had its ups and downs, but he looks at this new chapter as a way to continue to grow and share his story with others.
“I’m getting to share my story with others,” he said. “Sometimes things aren’t all sunny in the garden. People living with chronic pain and disabilities can benefit from and enjoy gardening. I try to help and motivate people to go out there and do what they can; it doesn’t have to be perfect.”
He added that he also hopes to inspire people that the world of growing things is endless.
“People want to grow things for their community,” he said. “They want to build up their local community but feel like they can’t because they don’t have 100 acres. I show them what they can do in a small footprint.”
For the future, Graf plans to do just as his plants do: continue to fight the elements and bloom no matter what.
“I could have shut it down completely, he said. “But I took the time to rework the business for my health, and there’s absolutely no shame in that. I’m proud of realizing that and just moving through regardless.”
Follow and support Graf, @buzzedblooms on Instagram and TikTok. GN
