Alex and Betsy Hitt have been raising vegetables and cut flowers at Peregrine Farm for over 20 years. They have worked out a gender division of labor, whereby Alex is responsible for the vegetables and Betsy manages the cut flowers. They also grow small fruits and raise pastured heritage breed turkeys.

Betsy is well-known for her lovely flowers and grows over 150 varieties for sale at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market and to Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. Zinnias are considered one of the “workhorse” species – a colorful and reliable flower that is always in demand. The ‘Benary Giant’ zinnias are direct-seeded in the field starting in April and continuing through July. Betsy usually does 4-5 different plantings to ensure a steady harvest throughout the season. Each planting is cut for 3-4 weeks.

Betsy also does flowers for weddings. For more information, contact her at abhitt@mindspring.com.