It is still night time at the Arnosky family farm. As the first light of day softens the quiet darkness, trucks and cars begin to roll into the parking area. Men and women work their way toward the barn foundation, carrying their own hammers, nail aprons, saws, tape measures, and drills.

Voices are heard, mere murmurs at first, then gently rising to a crescendo of eager anticipation. The early morning air is filled with the perfume of a thousand flowers, mingled with essences of coffee, breakfast tacos and freshly made beignets. The barn raising is about to begin!

“Barn Raising” - the very phrase evokes images of old-time community spirit, neighbors-helping-neighbors, and good old-fashioned American work-ethic. Most of those qualities seem to be in short supply these days, as modern day road warriors daily rush home from corporate jobs to plop themselves in front of their televisions, oblivious to their neighbors or to neighborhood concerns.

Fortunately, community spirit does still exist in a little corner of Blanco County, at the farmstead of Frank and Pamela Arnosky. In 1990 the Arnosky family acquired a small (12 acre), cedar-covered parcel halfway between Blanco and Wimberley, at the intersection of RR 165 and RR 2325.

After clearing a road into the property and pitching a tent, they began earnest work toward achieving their longtime dream - to create a specialty flower and vegetable farm, where they could apply their agricultural and horticultural expertise, and raise their children.

From all outward appearances, success has smiled on the Arnosky family. Their 12 acre plot has now grown to 130, and their business, “Texas Specialty Cut Flowers,” currently consists of some 40 acres of flowers and 14 greenhouses. And the Arnoskys have kept true to their goal of operating a true “family farm,” with all four children (Elena, Janos, Hannah Rose and Derrick) involved in the farming operations. The Arnoskys have chosen to home-school their children, wh ...

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