The Meaning Behind Firefly Hill Farm

On June nights, our farm glows. Fireflies rise from the fields below the hill, where dew gathers on grasses and webs, then spill into the yard and flower beds. That moment — standing among blooms while thousands of fireflies blink around us — is the reason we named our farm Firefly Hill Farm.

Fireflies aren’t just beautiful; they signal a healthy landscape. Their presence tells us the soil, water, and habitat here are thriving, and that shapes how we farm.

We keep grass tall and let clover bloom across both yard and fields, feeding pollinators, deer, and rabbits. That abundance keeps browsing pressure down on the flowers. We leave stems standing through winter so insects can overwinter, and we let prairie plants like asters and Joe-Pye weed reclaim parts of the hill rather than mowing them back.

Wildlife has answered. Sandhill cranes raise colts here, geese rest during migration, and families of deer wander through the garden. Sometimes they nibble, but more often they’re simply part of the daily rhythm of the farm. Even the insects tell a story — on summer evenings, soldier beetles cover the rudbeckia, a reminder that not every swarm is a problem, and that many insects are part of the balance that keeps our fields thriving.

That balance shows in the flowers. Chickens and guineas turn waste into compost and manure that feed the beds, while beneficial insects protect the plants. The result is flowers that are not only beautiful in a vase, but also reflect the health of the land they grew from.

The same habitat that creates a June night filled with fireflies is what makes our flowers so special. Both are born from the same living landscape, and both remind us that when we give nature space, it answers with beauty.