Sarah Becquet likes interacting with people.
"I grew up on a Century Family Farm about a mile from where my husband and I have our farm," she explained. "My parents have operated a mixed organic farm with a focus on fresh produce and attended the Yorkton Farmer's Market for about 30-years. I grew up doing markets, and always loved the bustle and one on one interaction with customers at the busy summer markets."
For the fourth generation farmer who resides in the Rural Municipality of Churchbridge that has meant growing flowers she sells at area events.
"My husband and I purchased our farm on Pennock Road in 2011," explained Becquet. "Together with our four kids we've worked to add to this farm, truly our dream home, and make it our own.
"In late 2018, I decided to take what had been a lifelong hobby and make it my full time gig, and Pennock Road Petals was born.
"I had always grown flowers for myself, and I had been creating wedding florals for friends and family for years, but the process of combining growing and designing was such an extremely rewarding experience.
"In 2019 I brought my flowers to the Yorkton farmers market all summer. Being a part of the market again felt like coming home."
And the flowers have taken off like ...well bad weeds.
"In 2020 Pennock Road Petals continued to grow," said Becquet. "I offered a subscription bouquet service, weekly popup shops, weddings, etc. I had approximately two acres in flower production over the summer, and expanded to offer a wide variety of dried florals and Christmas wreaths too."
A disaster struck the farm in 2019 when the 120-year-old farmhouse was lost to fire.
Yet, from those flames arose a new interest for Becquet.
"The fire is really what got me interested in pottery," she said.
"Over the years I had collected and inherited so many lovely and unique vases, and struggled to find replacements that were just what I wanted. So I just decided to make my own!
"I started studying every book I could get my hands on, and looking for a class to take.
"COVID meant that finding a class wasn't easy. So I was determined to teach myself."
For Becquet, the new interest meant jumping right in.
"I bought a very old kiln and a kick wheel and just started," she said. "For me, after a few discouraging attempts, wheel throwing just clicked and felt incredibly intuitive. I love the way the form grows up out of a lump of clay. The whole process of clay in the kiln transforming into stoneware is half magic/half science, and I find it incredibly fascinating."
Becquet's trip of discovery however in now on hold, as a second fire struck Feb. 23. This one destroyed a farm shop and her pottery studio, the kiln and wheel lost to the flames.
While Becquet told Yorkton This Week she has every intention of replacing the pottery equipment, it's not so easy to find, so no time frame is set.
Fortunately, the flower business was relatively unscathed.
"Well yes and no," said Becquet.It didn't affect the greenhouse or my floral design workshop which is in a separate building.
"It did burn all the landscape fabric -- I use Dewitt sunbelt for organic weed control which is reusable for up to 25-years --and it did significantly damage the golf cart and tractor which I use in the operation. But I can make it work without those -- justmore difficult.
"But I'm full steam ahead for flowers. We'vegot weddings and subscriptions on the books and seeds are already started."
"The loss is more unfortunate in terms of her pottery as Becquet was already starting to explore an experiment in terms of her pottery.
"The clay I'm currently using for production comes from Plainsman Clay's and it's sourced from clay deposits mostly in southern Saskatchewan," she said. "They blend clays in the perfect proportions to ensure they turn into safe, microwavable, and dishwasher safe vessels. Using Plainsman allows me to create a very consistent product."
Becquet likes that the clay is more or less locally sourced too.
"I love the fact that their products are quarried in Saskatchewan," she said. "For me it's all about connection. When I look out at a freshly tilled flower field, or put a lump of clay on my wheel, I think about the generations before me, the history of this soil, and all the beauty that can come up out of it. I feel connected to the people who have worked the land before me and also the people who will enjoy the work I create."
But, Becquet is also looking closer to home searching out 'wild clay' for her wheel.
"Wild clay is clay that is harvested right from the ground and hasn't been blended or tested at all," she explained. "Wild clay feels like a possible next step for me. It would require a ton of testing and development, but it's just one of the ways where there is always something new to learn as a potter. You can never know it all!
"I guess I just like challenges and I am always looking for the next one."
So, Becquet now has twin passions to keep her busy.
"My two favourite things to make are wedding florals and mugs," she said. "Wedding florals because they end up being part of such a pivotal part of the couple's journey. The photos of the flowers end up adorning the couple's walls for the rest of their lives and the fact that they let me be a part of that is so special.
"Mugs because I'm thrilled to think that a mug I make might become someone's favourite mug! Something they can enjoy and have as a part of their daily routine. In both cases it comes back again to the idea of connection I think."
For Becquet creation is a journey, one that she sees continuing.
"So far I've made lots of pieces I've really loved-both floral and pottery, but I am always learning and always growing and I'm excited to see what the future holds," she said.
"It's so gratifying and rewarding when people enjoy the things I make. Really, I just make the things I think are pretty, and I'm thrilled when others enjoy them as much as me. My clients take my pieces into their homes and make them a part of their lives, and that's humbling."
