By CONNIE NOLEN / Community Columnist

“It’s great for kids to see that starting with a seed––just like the mustard seed from the Bible—patience, care and hard work can grow a beautiful flower,” said Windy Headley Rosenstiel.

Around Pelham, Rosenstiel is known as Ms. Windy, the Above the Influence lady.

At the age of 19, she lost her father to a heart attack caused by his cocaine addiction.

As a result, Rosenstiel is devoted to helping kids overcome the temptation of drugs through Above the Influence—a program of the Partnership for Drug-Free kids.

Above the Influence uses meetings, education and guest speakers to fortify teens against drug use.

So where do flowers and drug education and prevention intersect?

“I wanted to find a business that would allow me to continue working with my Above the Influence students. Proverbs 18:16 says, ‘Your gift will make way for you.’ My gift is growing flowers. I also have a knack for arranging flowers. My grandmother taught me how.”

Rosenstiel planted a few flowers at home, but she wanted her grandmother to see these flowers, so she shifted her gardens to the family farm in Clanton.

“I work in the gardens several times a week,” Rosenstiel said. “My grandmother is excited and so am I. A portion of everything we earn will go towards drug prevention. I hope to teach kids how to channel their energy into growing something beautiful—starting with my own kids who are helping.”

Rosenstiel provides flowers for weddings and other events and offers workshops to teach flower arranging. She wants this business to allow her the flexibility to continue to be active with drug prevention.

“We’re into succession farming––flowers bloom and seed. We plant those seeds. Overhead stays low. We’re growing flowers that do not ship well—like Dahlias. We’re praying hard and believing big.”

“From what you have, from a little faith, your life can bloom into a beautiful work of art—that’s my message for kids,” said Windy Rosenstiel.

Find WindyPetal on Instagram, Facebook, or see all contact information at Windypetal.com.