WHAT IS BISCOTTIE?
Is it a cookie?
"Oh, I'll remember,
it rhymes with the drink,
Hot Toddy!"
The business name is actually a smash-up of three humans who filled me with love, gratitude, and guided me through-out life's journey to be here today.
The “Bi” in Biscottie is for my dad, Bill. The steady strength behind so much of this family and all that the farm holds. He taught me the value of goals, hard work, and honoring our family heritage. Just ask him anything, he’s full of wisdom and will tell you slowly and steadily wins the race. Always on the move and unafraid of any task in his way, he’s shown me how to build something meaningful with a little hard work and grit. He’s grounded in consistency and unconditional love for his family.
“Scottie” honors my mom. Scottie was her nickname from her childhood, drawn from her last name, Scott. She’s the reason I fell in love with gardening, teaching me the names of the plants in her garden and the joy of learning to grow from seed. She encouraged me to try new things, showed me how to be thrifty and resourceful, and always reminded me to trust the process. She would always reassure us that things have a way of working out.
And last but not least, to round out our name, in honor of my late, very special aunt (and godmother) who always made time for us. A former teacher, she truly loved kids. She never missed sending a birthday card when we were young, and as adults she made sure we had a birthday luncheon on the calendar. And every time she visited, she generously brought her homemade biscotti cookies.
A Little
About Us
We’re a family of four with two doodle dogs (who are convinced they’re basically human). We've been in Madison for 20+ years with our current days full of school schedules and kid activities, but we’re soaking up this season of life and loving every busy, joy-filled minute.
My husband, Mike, two kids, and two doodle dogs, Rosie and Bennie (honestly, they make it feel like four kids most days).
Professionally, I'm trained in business and as a UX Research & Designer. But, what is that? It’s easier to start with what it is not. It is not a graphic designer or a web developer, but we have some of the same skillsets. At the core of it, we leverage art, technology, and human behavior to create visual content and interactive experiences that blend aesthetics with functionality.
In basic terms, we create functional, yet pretty experiences in the form of websites, apps, physical objects, or workflows, and we do so by listening to what the customer needs and then testing our design with the customer to be sure we got it right.
I've project managed and have been an individual contributor to profit and non-profit sectors that were technical in nature and/or community focused.
Want a closer look at my work history? View my LinkedIn Profile by clicking the button below.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Tying it all together
After the whirlwind of the COVID years with two school-age kids, and then watching my mom’s health slowly decline to her finally passing, I realized I wanted to spend my life differently. I wanted more meaningful time with the people I love and time doing the things I love. With space to reflect, I kept coming back to what I’ve loved since childhood: art and gardening. From the moment I learned about flower farming, I felt a connection and a natural fit of the craft, skillset, schedule, and community.
Given I knew nothing about flower farming, I spent about a year researching the idea that this could be a professionl. I read countless books, listened to podcasts, took classes, toured farms, experimented with different plants, and volunteered at UW–Madison Birge Hall to learn about greenhouse management… you name it, I wanted to learn it! Could this really be a profession?
It seemed all the evidence was telling me it could be , so eventually I found the courage to tell my family that this was my next chapter. All I wanted to be when I grew up was to be a flower farmer! Undoubtedly, I was met with skepticism and hesitation to the idea. It was fair, I too, was skeptical about a profession in flower farming. But, I had all the evidence I needed to prove my idea and win their trust. It’s because of my family, my best friend, and my dad that I’ve been able to stay committed to this new business adventure. I truly believe this is exactly where I was meant to be.
Welcome to our first season! We’re so glad you’re here and joining us on this journey.
BISCOTTIE FLOWER FARM
Contact
Jessica "Jessie" Small
bisottieflowerfarm@gmail.com
P: 608-692-2644
Location
Serving the Madison, WI and surrounding communities
Follow