Our story
Starting Tekla Farms has been a bit of a snowball effect, but isn’t that just how life goes? One small decision, leading to another even greater life-altering decision.
We’re Brian and Laura Torma, owners and head farmers at Tekla Farms (wow, does that still feel crazy to say).
We purchased this parcel of land, affectionately known to locals as The Carlson 40, at the end of 2022. We didn’t move here to farm — in fact, we have been living and working in the San Juan Islands since 2015.
What started as fallow, logged timberland with junk cars, trash and rock-hard clay soil, intended to be a construction yard for Brian’s business, has turned into our own little slice of paradise. Okay, not every day is paradise, but getting our hands in the dirt has done wonders on all of us.
Many islanders have memories of this property — from epic shop parties (so we’ve heard) to riding dirt bikes around the horse trails. We are excited to welcome you all back and share its beauty with you. We are grateful to all of our friends and family who have helped make the farm what it is today!
What’s in a name?
Our name, Tekla Farms, pays homage to Brian’s grandmother, Tekla Sophia. She immigrated to the United States from Finland and began farming in Northern Minnesota, homesteading in the north-east of the state. Brian’s older brother continues to run that homestead to this day.
About our crops
While we are not certified organic, we do not spray our blueberries or our flowers with any pesticides, and we lean into regenerative farming practices across the whole farm.
Our heirloom high-bush blueberries were transplanted in 2023 from a certified organic farm in Snohomish County, Washington. Our bushes are anywhere from ten to fifteen years old and tall — no bending down to pick and no sore backs for you.
Main varieties: Jersey and Rubel. About u-pick
Thousands of flowers are grown in our flower field adjacent to our blueberry field. Whether you are gifting flowers, needing a bulk order for an event, or dressing up your dining room table, our farm-fresh flowers will do the trick.
Regenerative, pesticide free. About our flowers
We grow a variety of herbs to complement our floral offerings and to provide a beautiful setting for you to harvest your own medicinal herbs. This year we are growing chamomile, lemon balm, anise hyssop, tulsi basil and calendula.
Cut them into a bouquet or dry them for tea.
Sheep, too
If you have ever been to the San Juan Islands, you’ll recognize we are fibre rich. Island farmers love sheep and for good reason: they are a great multipurpose animal to have on a farm (fibre, meat, milk, fertilization and land management to name a few).
We are now the proud owners of a small flock of Valais Blacknose sheep and a wool pelletizer — compressing waste wool into a slow-release, slug-deterring soil amendment we use across the flower field. Read how it started.
Locally owned and operated by Brian & Laura Torma — with the help of their kids and friends.
We open the gates for blueberry u-pick, flower u-pick and special events through the season.