Vankleek Hill Tulip Fields: Where Hope Has Sprung

Mike and Sandra are walking their tulip fields with the hope that any day now the tulips will bloom.

It’s been a cold spring this year and the bulbs—over 300,000 of them planted in the fall—lay dormant. With a tulip season that lasts two to three weeks, the Blocks are anxious to welcome their first clients. They’re hoping that their new business will be successful.

But right now, it’s Mother Nature whose calling the shots.

“We’ve realized, that as much as we try, we are definitely not in control of this entire process,” Sandra says.

And so they wait…

The idea to move to Vankleek Hill was borne of the pandemic.

“COVID hit and we started taking time to reflect on where we wanted to go next with our lives,” says Sandra. “When’s retirement going to be? Do we want to retire? Because we both like our jobs—but what else do we want to do?”

The decision to sell their home started on a whim but led the Blocks to Vankleek Hill with the prospect of land to farm.

Vankleek Hill they discovered is an equal commute for the couple. Mike, a flower importer, works in Montreal, while Sandra, a Manager for the Auditor General of Canada, works in Ottawa.

So choosing to move to Vankleek Hill was more than convenient. The Blocks knew about the town’s rich history and inviting community.

“We visited festivals in Vankleek Hill in the past and we loved the town. We didn’t just drop a pin on Google Maps,” says Mike.

But more than anything it was the house that sold them. Built in the 1840s, their home and the surrounding barn are a part of the town’s colourful past. It’s a fact that the couple takes pride in.

It’s this very history and community that the Blocks hope clients will experience.

“I want them to fall in love with VanKleek Hill the way I have,” says Sandra. “There are some great places to explore— and we just happen to be one of them.”

The Vankleek community in turn has been welcoming and supportive, whether it’s lending a hand with the field work or guiding the Blocks through zoning changes.

“It is very much a community in which everyone supports each other. The businesses and the entrepreneurs all back each other. Everyone gets involved,” says Sandra.

There are many stories about people quitting their jobs to start a new business. Mike points out that they’re not those people.

“We do not fall into the category of people who have abandoned their banking jobs to grow flowers in the country. I mean it’s not as romantic as that. Our feet are planted on the ground in that we aren’t ready yet to ‘jump off that diving board.’”

What the Blocks wanted was a business that would allow them to keep their jobs.

It was a friend in Montreal who provided inspiration and guidance for the tulip fields. With agrotourism on the rise, the Blocks bet a pick-your-own-tulips business would be successful.

“We’ve spent a lot of time indoors these past couple of years, which led to a desire to see other people in safe places. As a result, more activities are happening outdoors,” says Sandra.

Starting Vankleek Hill Tulip Fields has been a lot of hard work that has come with a steep learning curve. Whether it’s navigating the world of bylaws and permits or learning the in and outs of social media.

Of course, the fields and property need attention as well.

But in all this, the Blocks have had a lot of help. “The community, our family, and our friends have all helped along the way. With renovations, ideas, or how to do something. It’s been a fabulous experience,” says Sandra.

The work can be demanding but the couple finds that the physical labour is part of the joy.

“I look at the field and I’m proud of it. I’m like, wow, we pulled this off—and it’s pretty exciting,” Sandra says.

Soon the Blocks will welcome their first clients and find out if all the hard work and preparation has paid off.

The couple is optimistic. “You’re not going to please everybody but we’re hoping that most people will walk out of here with a smile on their faces.”

In a business dependent on the weather, the main challenge is the length of the season. The Block’s first season ran 12 days, many of which were cold and wet.

Of the 300,000 tulips planted last fall, the Blocks calculate that 30,000 we’re picked. While expectations were higher, the Blocks have no regrets.

“It’s a lesson learned. We’re still learning, it’s a continuous process, says Sandra.

The couple says the experience was enjoyable, one that they are eager to repeat. “We developed so many new skills. Our daughter ramped up our social media skills. That was huge. That was good,” says Sandra.

The Blocks are now busy making new plans and improvements. With talk of new tulip varieties and activities, next year promises to be exciting. Being active outdoors and engaging with people is what the Blocks love most.

Luckily, they have put themselves in the right place and community to do it.

For information on Vankleek Hill Tulip Fields, please visit vkhtulipfields.com.