Farmer Spotlight: Yeun Byun
"A little bit of love. A little bit of patience. Some wire scrapes and aching shoulders. There is something beautiful growing here. Working & growing flowers here at Spade & Plow has been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done thus far and I feel so supported by this farm fam.”
Yeun Byun’s passion for flowers adds zest to her business, Soap of 7 Flowers, and now inspires her as a flower farmer with Spade & Plow. She is pure grit and determination. Turning her dreams into reality, Yeun tackles each task as if preparing for a marathon, not a sprint. Her dedication to flowers, teaching, and eco-friendly business practices keep her driven and focused. The smiles that emanate from others as a result of sharing her expertise in sustainable farming are a testament to her commitment for not only a better product but a better world.
Yeun began her education at New York University pursuing a degree in Film/TV production. Her first job as a florist began at Gramercy Park Flowers, a flower shop in Manhattan with a reputation spanning beyond a century. It is here where the seed of becoming a flower farmer was first planted. She then moved on to teaching soapmaking workshops with New York Horticulture, a nonprofit connecting more people to plants. After she moved back to California, she started work for the SF Botanical Gardens as a Garden Educator teaching children from kindergarten to high school. At UCSC, Yeun broadened her education with a degree in Agroecology and Food Systems where she worked as a researcher doing cultural geography research for community gardens in the CA central coast region.
Yeun founded Soaps of 7 Flowers in 2014. The seed turned into a flower. Yeun's love, knowledge, her aptitude for plants, botanicals, and natural remedies inspired her to create products that benefit both the consumer and planet. Soaps of 7 Flowers, often found on display at Farmers Markets, also collaborates with small businesses to provide workshops ranging from making flower crowns, seasonal wreaths, and botanical soaps. Drawing from her education, hands-on experience at Spade & Plow, and community involvement, Yeun is able to share her love of plants with the community while staying rooted in her belief that we are all connected.
