Glory Be Farms was started by Judy Van Dyke.
BY LIVI WELCH
FOR THE OBSERVER
LEE COUNTY —
Nestled on the border between the counties of Lee and Chambers sits a place that gives a new meaning to “small town.” With only 152 residents, Waverly, Alabama, is surely quaint, but big things are happening on a farm nearby.
Glory Be Farms is a flower farm in Waverly, just outside of Auburn, and its doors are open to any and everyone looking to take some color back home.
“We have tulips in the spring, 20 colors of zinnias and nine varieties of sunflowers in the spring and fall,” said Judy Van Dyke, the owner.
Those who want to come to Van Dyke’s farm are welcome, and must only arrive ready to cut their own stems. Glory Be Farms provides visitors with cutting clippers, and charges a small fee of $2.50 per stem cut.
Van Dyke’s property spans a whooping 14 acres, and was previously a home for Judy and her husband, Jerry. Back in 2015, the two made the move from their tiny house in Auburn to the large property in Waverly. Both had grown up in a family of farmers, so the two had been searching for a place big enough to raise their three granddaughters and give them the opportunity to go back to their roots — literally.
The couple admitted however that they were at first unsure if Waverly was the perfect place for them.
“Jerry was hesitant to move to this property, yet alone come and see it,” Judy said. “But when we went back to tour the property, he was saying which trees we needed to have cut down. I knew we were home.”
The family moved in soon after and turned the property into their own stretch of paradise. Unfortunately, when Jerry passed away in 2022, Judy and her family were overwhelmed by grief, she said. And for the next year, the Van Dyke’s downsized their livestock and let the vegetable garden fend for itself. Then, Judy said, something changed.
“As God often does, he planted a seed,” Judy said. “It all started with one row of sunflowers in a summer garden. Then I wanted a patch of [them], and then I learned about flower farming.”
From there, the idea to transform the property into a flower farm became hard for Judy to ignore. Today, there are sunflowers and zinnias popping up.
“We are inviting our friends to enjoy the refuge and restoration that we have enjoyed in our time here,” she said.
The flowers that Glory Be Farms offers are not all visitors can enjoy. Those who can’t get enough of their time on the property can book a night in its beautiful brick house on Airbnb.
“We wanted the farm to be able to connect people,” Judy said. “[We first started] the Airbnb in January 2019. Covid gave it that boost, as many travelers did not want to stay in hotels. We even had Covid refugees who were with us for three months at the beginning of 2020.”
Glory Be Farms also hosts events throughout the summer.
“We are able to handle events with 50 guests if the event is indoors, and 100 guests if outdoors,” she said. “We have done a few graduation parties for students graduating from Auburn, several family weddings [and a] neighborhood Christmas party. Our favorite was the church SERVE project we just did. Everyone [of] all ages were able to participate. We made 50 bouquets that were distributed to single mothers, workers in non-profits and even those at an assisted living facility.”
Though lovely flowers are the main attraction, faith is at the core of Glory Be Farms.
“Our faith and wanting to share Jesus with people is the main reason why we did this,” Judy said. “When we bought the property, we committed it to be used for the glory of God, and God has certainly shown us that He is with us in all things. We started this idea with just a patch of sunflowers, but God sent us the resources we needed to survive Jerry’s death and to find a new way to thrive.
“He would be thrilled to see everyone enjoying the space. You just simply cannot be sad or angry or anxious when you’re in a garden.”
For more information about Glory Be Farms, go to glorybefarms.com.