Meet Momoglobal Farms, Jeffersonville’s Ikebana Flower Farm

On a 20-acre farm in Jeffersonville, lisianthus blooms in lavender purples and fuchsia pinks line an open field. Momoglobal Flowers farmer and founder Kaya Abe Magee says her fields are full of blooms at different stages this summer: some nearly fully open, some just starting to reveal their petals.

Magee specializes in Ikebana, a 500-year-old Japanese style of floral arrangements that incorporates select blooms to express a feeling or emotion. “When I closed my jewelry shop in New Jersey, I always liked flowers and decided to practice flower arrangement,” said Magee.

Ikebana, which means ‘flower arrangement’ in Japanese, typically uses fewer branches and flowers than Western arrangements to emphasize the space between the branches. While the floral practice was traditionally a male-dominated art form in Japan, more women started to practice Ikebana in the 1970s and 1980s. Now, there are more than 3,000 Ikebana schools around the world. Magee, whose been practicing Ikebana for more than 16 years, said the art form is a lifetime commitment.

“You just have to keep on practicing like exercise. You just have to be better and better,” said Magee.

Running a biodynamic farm is still relatively new to Magee. Like many people in 2020, she was anxious to spend more time outdoors when the pandemic hit, so she headed to Long Island where her friend needed some help on her farm. That’s when she learned about biodynamic agriculture, a farming approach that sees farms and gardens as whole living organisms.

Farming is a lot of trial and error, says Magee. This past summer has been especially challenging due to the heavy rainfall. She says she’s only been able to get a few clear days after several weeks of consistent rainfall.

“This area is clay soil and that’s not enough to plant, so I’m delayed,” she said.

But for Magee, learning is part of the joy in being a farmer in the Catskills. Momoglobal Flowers is now a hub in the heart of Sullivan County for Ikebana flower workshops, music, and outdoor events.

“Once you make a mistake one season, you cannot fix most of the things on that season. You have to think next season, but I enjoy it.”

Momoglobal Flowers will host a Shirinyoku Concert and Market on Saturday, September 6, at their farm in Jeffersonville, N.Y., featuring musicians, artists, and food and drink vendors.

Image: Kaya Abe Magee at Momoglobal Flowers in Jeffersonville, N.Y. (Photo Credit: Kimberly Izar)