Welcome to Life on Wildflower Lane, where the bees, chickens, and French Bulldogs rule the roost.

We started our small farm in 2016. After Doug retired from the Milwaukee Fire Department and our two sons, Ryan and Connor, were off living their own lives, we decided that it was time to retire from city life as well. With each of us having aging parents living in Wisconsin and needing our help, we wanted to stay close by. Our search for the perfect small town brought us to Door County. With its soaring, cedar-lined cliffs, quaint villages preserved in a time of long ago, and ocean-like views of Lake Michigan and Green Bay, we happily settled into our special spot on the Niagara Escarpment, at the western edge of the Door Peninsula. 

Our new place was a former apple orchard, lined with soaring oak and maple trees. With nothing but gently rolling hills, more rocks than we were ready for, and scores of prickly junipers, we cleared a spot and built our home. Then came the installation of our raised garden beds, tens of thousands of honey bees, and a small flock of adorable chickens. 

Our journey continues to evolve since establishing our Life on Wildflower Lane. It is a rewarding one, full of exciting challenges and happy outcomes. It enriches our lives by filling us with not only the food that we produce but also with our ongoing understanding of the land so that we may be better stewards to future generations who will inherit the awe-inspiring gifts that only a place as unique as Door County can offer.