Vintage Family Farms in Hurlock is a place where you can pick vibrant flowers in colorful fields, snuggle with friendly farm animals, and connect with nature all in one visit. The heritage and heirloom farm brings timeless “vintage” charm to modern times.
The idea for Vintage Family Farms began in 2020 when Katelin Frase and her husband, Eric, decided it was time for a life change. With young daughters, Dorethea and Amelia, and a desire to create something meaningful, she says, “COVID showed us how much joy comes from simple, beautiful things. We wanted to provide that for others.”
Katelin, a former teacher with an environmentalist background, found a natural connection to farming. “Dorchester County has a wonderful climate to support growing flowers,” she says. Starting on Eric’s family grain farm in Preston, they tested growing flowers, and their business quickly blossomed. The couple purchased their homestead with road-front acreage perfect for a U-Pick flower experience. “I didn’t have a farming background, but I grew up picking strawberries, and flowers are such a classic pastime,” she says. “It’s a great way to reconnect families and friends.”
The 34-acre farm brings flowers to people as an experience. Katelin has aptly coined the term “Flowertainment,” a blend of flower picking and entertainment that creates unforgettable moments. Whether you’re wandering the flower fields, arranging a handpicked bouquet, or meeting the farm’s Kunekune pigs (aptly named Tulip and Hyacinth Bouquet), there’s something special.
“Warm and fuzzies are important too!” Katelin remarks, noting how snuggling the heritage Champagne D’Argent rabbits, which her daughters raise as a part of 4-H, has become part of the farm’s unique charm.
Spring is the star of the show, with over 5 acres of tulips in more than 25 varieties. “We’ve planted over 100,000 bulbs this year — I started with just 200 bulbs my first year!” Katelin says. Spring visitors look forward to vibrant tulip fields paired with perfect picking weather.
When summer arrives, the farm transforms into a dazzling display of annuals and sunflowers spread across 5 acres. “I plant the flowers like a bouquet,” Katelin says, making it easy for visitors to mix and match their picks. Sunflowers will expand to 3 dedicated acres in 2025, while an acre of wildflowers offers beautiful diversity. The farm is steadily adding perennials like lisianthus, hydrangeas and irises to diversify the business.
For those who can’t make it to the farm regularly, Katelin offers bouquet subscriptions to bring fresh blooms straight to their doors. Delivered in Dorchester, Caroline, Talbot and Queen Anne’s Counties, subscribers enjoy an array of flowers from spring tulips to summer annuals. “Convenience was super desirable to our customers. We’ve been doing this for three years now!” she says.
One of Katelin’s driving motivations is sustainability. “We are committed to only using sustainable growing practices. By that, we mean adding to the earth’s health, not depleting it,” she says. By growing flowers locally, the farm minimizes the carbon footprint associated with importing blooms from overseas. “Providing backyard blooms means we’re saving on fuel and other resources. Plus, our flower fields are great for pollinators like bees and butterflies.”
Her passion for the environment creates a ripple effect of benefits for customers, the local community and the planet. Katelin says, “Something simple and beautiful, like cutting your own flowers, becomes a way to help our environment.”
Whether you’re a flower lover, a parent looking for a family-friendly outing, or someone in search of a meaningful connection to nature, Flowertainment awaits!
Hungry for more? Read about pick-your-own strawberries. Learn more about springtime agritourism.
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