Tom Schafer has wanted to ….

Tom Schafer has wanted to be a florist as long as he can remember.

Born and raised in Medford, he began gardening with his mother on the family farm as a small child. He recalls a 4th grade school assignment that his mother kept where Schafer wrote “florist” as his dream occupation.

Schafer worked at Thomas Floral and Gifts located in Medford for a couple of years, eventually moving to Chicago to attend the Chicago Floral Arts School. After school, he was an event florist for 30 years. During that time, he travelled all over the country to create arrangements for various people, including events hosted by some well-known names such as George Bush Sr. and Jr., Oprah, Ricky Martin, Colin Powell, and countless celebrity chefs.

Schafer returned to Medford and the family farm last year. Unfortunately, his parents had passed away since he last lived at home. His brother inherited the farm and continues to grow crops today.

But Schafer wasn’t prepared to stop living his childhood dream. A risk-taker at heart, he discussed his vision with his family who backed him up the entire way. They even came together to raise his greenhouse with him. Inspired by his love for his relatives and their unwavering support, Schafer included the family moniker in his business name, though he operates it completely on his own. He opened his garden gates to the public in July.

“I had no idea it was going to work,” said Schafer. He initially tried attending the local farmer’s market with little success. Faced with giving up or getting creative, the farm was born. “It could have been a disaster,” Schafer recalls.

“I’ve had great support from the locals, and all over the place.” He listed customers from the Medford area as well as others from as far as Georgia, Washington D.C., and Alaska.

For Schafer, it’s all about the people. In fact, he doesn’t reference a singular memorable experience, focusing instead on all of the connections he’s made with others over the years. “They make people happy,” Schafer said of flowers.

“Everything I do is to make someone smile, even on the worst times.” He states that he gets just as much out of arranging flowers for his customers as they get in receiving them. “I’ve met some amazing people here.” Schafer said that about 50% of his business comes from repeat customers.

“It’s a lot different,” said Schafer when referencing you-pick flower farms. The customer selects each stem and Schafer cuts them, cleans them up and arranges them himself, calling upon his 30-plus years of experience to provide the most beautiful bouquet possible for every single customer. He says it makes the experience more personal, giving him a chance to interact with and observe each person. “The children love running through the garden, it’s adorable.”

Schafer Flower Farm is a no-till, no-chemical, organic operation. But why worry about tilling or chemicals if we’re not eating the final product?

“It’s all about soil health,” said Schafer. He explained that the flowers are bigger, healthier, and stronger when allowed to take in all the nutrients that the soil provides. It’s also better for the environment.

Bouquets aren’t all that Schafer Flower Farm has to offer. Though he provides standard services that one would expect a floral business to offer, such as tending to weddings and funerals, Schafer will do just about anything; in fact, you can find him preparing for Christmas at the Farm, an event that begins on November 1. During this event, Schafer will have wreathes, bouquets, centerpieces, and porch pots ready for purchase. He’s also set up shop to host private parties and already has bookings including one group of ladies who plan to bring their own wine to enjoy while making porch pots of out materials that Schafer will provide.

Schafer even recently began offering delivery service in the mornings. You might assume that such a busy man would hire a delivery driver, but he prefers to do it himself, greeting everyone along the way.

His favorite flowers change with the seasons; during fall, Schafer admires the Mexican tuberose with its strong, tall stem and delicate white flowers. Closer to Christmas, it’ll be amaryllis, a grand bloom. Spring brings the fritillaria, another vivid flower which almost seems to grow like a pineapple. But in the summer, Schafer favors the fragrant eucalyptus, a plant that he has been able to grow on the farm despite its preference for a different climate.

When presented with the hypothetical opportunity to create an arrangement for anyone in the world, either living or passed on, who did Schafer think of?

“My mother,” he said without hesitation. “She loved flowers, and I would love for her to actually see and know what I’m doing right now.” He recalled that his mother frequently planted peonies.

Schafer’s goals for the farm are simple. “I just want it to grow and blossom; I just hope it works,” he said.

So if you’re looking to soak in something bright, inviting, and joyful, stop by Schafer Flower Farm and visit Tom Schafer. He can even arrange a bouquet for you, too. — Mandee Ellis, The Star News