I run Brave Blooms alongside my husband, Matt, and our son. We are a Native-owned flower farm in Rochester, Washington, growing premium, pesticide-free flowers for seasonal bouquets, events, and our CSA. We also maintain a small but deeply meaningful flower breeding program, where we develop new dahlia and cut flower varieties with unique color and form. Through our online shop, we offer the same dahlia tubers, ranunculus corms, peony roots, and hand-selected seeds that we grow here on the farm.

My relationship to this land is both cultural and deeply personal. My son and I are enrolled members of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, and our farm sits near our ancestral homelands, a region that stretches from the base of Mount Rainier to the banks of the Columbia River. Our ancestors have been stewards of Western Washington since time immemorial, and I strive to honor that legacy by farming with reciprocity and care — growing with the seasons, nurturing the soil, and creating habitat that supports pollinators and wildlife. Simply being here as an Indigenous woman, mother, farmer, and scientist is part of that legacy too. Our existence today is a living testament to the strength of our ancestors and all they endured so future generations could still call this place home.

With a background in environmental science and deep roots in my culture, I’ve always been passionate about understanding and caring for Earth. Flower farming became a way to bring those two parts of myself together, blending scientific knowledge with ancestral teachings about reciprocity and respect for the land. Every decision on our farm reflects that balance.

Native American farmers make up less than 2 percent of all U.S. farmers, and Native flower farmers are even fewer. In an industry that often focuses on production and uniformity, my cultural teachings remind me that diversity is the truest form of abundance. Where many farms rely on monocropping and chemical inputs, we focus on biodiversity — growing a wide range of flowers that support pollinators, restore soil health, and strengthen the overall balance of the ecosystem.

Thank you for supporting our farm, our family, and our culture.
I hope our flowers bring beauty, warmth, and a sense of connection into your life.

With love,
Iesha