By
Erin Coulehan
Photography by
Katherine Kocian
Just outside Anthony, New Mexico, down a winding road framed by trees and desert breeze, a different kind of farm is quietly flourishing. Here, on land that’s been in the family since 1988, Valley Farms New Mexico is blooming with purpose.
Rows of flowers stretch toward the sky. Bees hum through the dill and bachelor buttons. Chickens roam freely, pecking contentedly in the dirt. At the center of it all is Natalie Viramontes, a young farmer with a flower truck, a big dream, and dirt under her nails.
“I’m the youngest of four,” Natalie says with a smile, her bare feet crunching on gravel. “Some of my earliest memories are of being out in the field with my mom.”
That hoop house – sun-drenched, fragrant, and full of herbs – was her mother’s domain.
For years, Natalie’s mom sold wholesale plants to nurseries across the region, long before “organic” and “local” became buzzwords.
Even after closing the business, she never stopped growing or raising chickens. Her legacy planted deep roots.
After graduating from New Mexico State University in 2019, Viramontes returned to the land she loved, ready to grow something of her own. She and her mother dreamed up Valley Farms New Mexico, a floral farm rooted in sustainability, creativity, and care.
“From the start, we knew we wanted to do things differently,” she explains. “We wanted to grow flowers that are beautiful, yes – but also ethical, sustainable, and local.”
At Valley Farms, the focus is on eco-friendly growing practices.
Every decision (down to the soil) reflects a deep respect for the environment. Pesticides and herbicides are never used. Instead, cover crops help nourish the land, crop rotation preserves the soil’s vitality, and pollinators are welcomed, not warded off.
“We work with nature, not against it,” Viramontes says. “That’s been one of the biggest lessons farming has taught me. Mother Nature is our boss – and she always has the final say.”
In a climate as dry and unpredictable as southern New Mexico’s and West Texas’, that adaptability matters.
The farm’s growing season runs from May through November, with staples like zinnias, sunflowers, cosmos, statice, and poppies filling the fields. The hoop house helps extend the season and shield tender blooms from the harsh sun or sudden frosts.
Even the floral arrangements reflect this conscious care.
Whether for farmers market bundles, local deliveries, or wedding installations, every bouquet is thoughtfully harvested and artfully arranged.
“Our flowers are fresh, flowing, textural, and full of movement,” Viramontes says. “We’re not trying to recreate what’s in the grocery store. We’re creating something meaningful; flowers that feel like they belong right here.”
It’s not only the flowers that make this farm unique.
Valley Farms is also home to over 200 pasture-raised chickens – a beloved part of the operation and the ecosystem.
“We’re a no-kill coop,” Viramontes says. “Our chickens live out their full lives here, sun-up to sundown, free to roam.”
The birds are fed a rich, nutrient-dense diet of grains and greens, which they supplement with foraging. Their waste is composted and returned to the soil, completing a regenerative cycle that supports the health of the farm.
“They make our soil better. They make our eggs better. And they’re just happier hens,” Viramontes says with pride.
It’s a model of ethical animal care and land stewardship that prioritizes long-term health over shortcuts – a rarity in modern agriculture, but a core value at Valley Farms.
Everything about Valley Farms feels like a love letter – to the land, to the seasons, to the beauty of what’s real and rooted.
“We put our hearts into everything we grow,” Viramontes says. “It’s a labor of love, but it’s worth every early morning, every challenge.”
That love especially shines during wedding season, when the farm’s blooms take center stage in lush, garden-inspired arrangements.
“We love working with couples who want something different, who want their flowers to have meaning,” Viramontes explains. “Our florals are highly personalized, never cookie-cutter. They tell a story.”
