Our Story

In 2024, Ben and Carrie Karleen and their children started the Karleen Farmstead on their acreage on the outskirts of Alpine, Texas.  Their vision of a U-pick Permaculture Orchard began to take root as they planted almost fifty trees.  They combined their long-term orchard goals with more immediate opportunities by planting a U-pick Flower garden where the public could come to pick bouquets.  The Karleens also milk a couple of Jersey cows and share that creamy milk with the public through a cowshare program.

2024

Weekly Open-Orchard hours were available throughout the late summer season for folks to come pick bouquets of zinnias, sunflowers, celosia, ammi, and bells of ireland. In addition, the Karleen Farmstead hosted their first big event on Columbus Day 2024.  It was a perfect day full of puppies, flowers, butterflies, pizelles, piano, and name-the-calf ideas with one hundred visitors to the Farmstead!

2025

Plans for 2025 include hosting new events, planting more flower varieties (dahlias!), incorporating some volunteer days and starting a flower bouquet subscription service.