About
Melissa never set out to be a flower farmer, but when she found herself drowning in buckets of cut flowers one summer, she needed a plan. Branches & Batches was a happy collision of the separate journeys of two ladies both trying to make the world a little better.
Mission
To raise as much money as possible for Louie's HUWE, a charity serving kids and families affected by the HUWE1 genetic mutation by selling buckets of flowers, arrangements, and more.
Vision
To be able to serve the local community by building relationships and spreading joy through flowers, and especially to help the global special needs community.
Values
We provide only the most fresh, highest quality, and most unique flowers and arrangements in the area. We specialize in DIY floral buckets. The customer service is second to none!
The Short Story
My name is Melissa. I love to grow, arrange, and gift people flowers. I grow on 3 acres of land in suburban Highland, MD, midway between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. I’m motivated to help my friend raise money for her 501c-3 non-profit called Louie’s HUWE by selling DIY buckets of flowers, Custom Arrangements, and more.
You can read more about Louie’s HUWE here:
The Long Story:
Melissa didn’t set out to become a flower farmer, but she discovered a passion for growing flowers and arranging bouquets. Ever since she began growing on her first piece of land (less than 1/5 acre in suburban Columbia, MD), she has given away flowers simply for the pure joy of it.
Several years and 3 acres later, she was out in her garden wondering what in the world she was going to do with all the buckets of cut flowers she had grown! She had produced way more than she could give away – maybe due to the fact that she had read Floret’s “Cut Flower Garden” over the winter and perhaps just went a wee bit overboard with seed starting. Anyway, it was a good dilemma to have. At the same time, her best friend Elizabeth was also on her mind…
You see, Elizabeth has a son, Louie, who has an incredibly rare disease, a genetic mutation on the HUWE1 gene. She had recently started a non-profit charity called LOUIE’S HUWE with the goal of connecting, serving, and supporting other families like hers and raising money to fund research into ways to improve quality of life for kids like Louie.
However, Elizabeth was really struggling to raise money for the charity. THAT IS WHEN THE LIGHT BULB WENT OFF!!!!! Instead of giving away my flowers, Melissa could “gift” them in return for a charitable donation to LOUIES HUWE. Her abundant garden now had a purpose!!!
Melissa is very proud to say that in the first 2 years of its inception, Branches & Batches raised more money for Louie’s HUWE than all other fundraisers combined!
UPDATE: Since officially becoming a business in 2024, Melissa no longer donates ALL of the money she makes to the charity (by direct order from Elizabeth), but still GLADLY gives 10% of each sale to the non-profit.
Let's Bring Nature Into Your Lovely House, Event, or Gathering
Did you know, there are over 300,000 different species of flowering plants in the world!
Need to buy some flowers in bulk? How about some buckets of fresh, organic locally grown flowers?
