A Blossoming New Life

Written By: Deena Bouknight | Issue: October 2023 | Photograph By: Mary Gilian

Justyne and Aaron Reese

Aaron and Justyne Reese of R&R Farms both come from very different backgrounds but were raised with the same work ethic – and their roots are deeply local. 

Aaron is the son of the late Henry Reese and Louise Prince Cadenas, grandson of the late Bob and Nona Reese and Sam and Ella May Prince, who were all natives of Highlands. 

Justyne (Finley) Reese is the daughter of the late Gary Finley, who carved signs and mantles that are displayed in many of the homes and businesses across the Plateau; and, she is the daughter of Kathie Finley, who owned Mountain Makings and ran various art and craft shows in different venues for years in the Highlands/Cashiers area. Both Aaron and Justyne worked for their families for many years before they chose careers outside of their family trades and talents.

When the family property of Henry Reese, a long-time familiar face in the Highlands area, became available after Henry’s death in June 2021, Aaron and Justyne decided it was time to transition into farming and utilize the land like Henry had always done. R&R Farms is located just over the North Carolina state line in Satolah, Georgia. 

“Aaron’s father, with a lot of help from his grandmother, Nona Reese, had established flowers, blueberries, and fruit trees. Henry sold walnuts and some blueberries and apples, but Henry’s work was also tending to local properties’ fruit trees and Nona would grow and sell hydrangeas and Silver Pennies (the money plant as Aaron would call it) at the old Country Store in Highlands where Mountain Fresh is today. We decided we would enhance the farm by growing more flowers and cultivating the established fruit trees and bushes,” said Justyne. 

She added, “We will be building a barn and we would like to use it for monthly classes, offer tours of the gardens with wine while picking and creating cut arrangements, teach soap making classes, teach canning classes with fresh garden fruits and vegetables, etc. We want others to learn how we do things and to see the farm at its peak. We also plan to build a Mobile Flower Bar this winter to use as a stand and clients can make their own arrangement from fresh cut seasonal flowers. These are just some of our ideas that we will be incorporating into our business over the next few years.”

Some of the flowers grown this year have been zinnias, gladiolas, dahlias, tiger flowers, hydrangeas, several different varieties of greenery, and much more. However, the couple has plans to offer many more flower varieties that bloom in the spring, summer, and fall. Also for fall is a large pumpkin patch that includes small decorative pumpkins to large carving pumpkins.

The Reeses have discovered that growing and selling flowers is “happy” business. “We put the work into the land and then watch God’s creation happen. We love meeting people and hearing their stories and seeing their faces light up when they see the beautiful flowers.”