To set the record straight I am not a blogger. Heck, I'm not even a good speller.  This is the beginning of what I hope will be a place to share ideas and information for like minded people who want to learn more of the practical arts that are rapidly disappearing.  So as I learn and share I hope all who read this will know that I am not an expert but what do know and experience I will share with you.
 Here is my background.

 Aaron Diamond

5111 Mountain View Circle Enoch, UT 84721 ·  Phone: 435-256-5612

 e-mail: aarondiamond@msn.com

Originally from Orem, Utah, I first visited the Pacific Northwest while touring with my high school choir.  A few years later I returned there to serve a mission for my church. Three years later I moved back and spent twenty years in the Seattle area.

As a third generation florist, I was in the retail floral industry for twenty-five years. My passion for flowers and interiors inspired me to create beautiful designs as well as an exclusive flower business.  Together, my wife Avis and I owned and operated Aaron Diamond's Floral Masters for fourteen years.  Specializing in European design, I established a reputation among my peers and clients as one of the Northwest's leading designers.

In June of 1991, my diversified talents earned me an induction into the prestigious American Institute of Floral Designers (A.I.F.D.), the floral industry's top design credentials.

In addition to hundreds of weddings and parties, my unique designs have been seen at Bill Gates’ (Microsoft) class reunion, the National Governors Convention, Northwest Wine Auction, Nintendo's corporate Christmas party, Boeing events and airplane deliveries, and the opening gala event of the Super Mall of the Great Northwest. My clients represented a broad spectrum of companies of every size.  In addition to floral creations, set designs and home interiors my corporate holiday decor clients included First Interstate Bank building, Fifth Avenue Plaza, Continental Plaza, Bank of America Tower and Gary Manuel Salon, along with many other private residences in the Seattle area.

In 1992, I was hired as a consultant by Pacific Rim Import Corp., a Seattle based importer of home furnishing and accessories.  I traveled extensively in Asia as well as all the major furniture marts in the U.S.  As a result of my efforts, the company saw a 45% increase in sales.

In 2002, I sold my floral business and joined forces with long time friend and customer, Pacific Rim Import Corp., with my main focus on product development, visual merchandising and sales.

I re-designed their retail store and set up a silk floral and plant department that resulted in a 90% increase in sales.

In 2005, I was asked to open a new showroom for Pacific Rim Imports at The World Market Center in Las Vegas.  In June of that same year I sold my home in Seattle and moved my family to Las Vegas. The Las Vegas showroom grew to be one of the most profitable showrooms in the company.  Despite the success of our showroom, Pacific Rim Imports had been struggling financially and on February 7, 2007 they announced that they were closing all 16 showrooms nationwide.

In April of 2007 I was hired as Store Director by Tai Pan Trading, a growing retail chain specializing in seasonal merchandise and home décor.  I oversaw the construction of the building and set up of the new 94,000 sq. ft. St. George Utah store.  I helped with the design and build-out of architectural elements including a gourmet kitchen, garden walls and trellises, artistic interiors, window treatments, and beautiful seasonal displays.  Within The store I created The Garden Court Wedding and Reception Center.  This was a 5,000 sq. ft. event center that hosted a broad range of events and weddings.

In July of 2012 the Tai Pan Trading Building was purchased by C-A-L Ranch Stores; a growing chain of Farm and Ranch stores in the inter-mountain west.  I was recruited by C-A-L Ranch to produce a line of western home décor for their new store.  I helped with the demo of the St. George store and the rebuild of the new C-A-L Ranch.   I added rough cut lumber accents to the interior and built out the new home décor section as well as the general design and décor of the store. I started as a Manager-in-Training, but with the success of the new Home Décor area I was offered a buyer position at their corporate offices and relocated my family to Idaho Falls.  After 2 years in Idaho we had the opportunity to move back to Utah with CAL RANCH Stores and be closer to family and we jumped at the chance.

 This brings me to my current venture; Heather Hill Farm and gardens.  The concept has been a long-time dream of mine in a way is a culmination of all my life experiences and passions. I have partnered with some dear friends to create this 15 acre working farm and gardens that will provide the public with a beautiful venue for weddings, receptions and community events.  The event center will promote the expansion of the practical arts such as cooking, canning, spinning, weaving, pottery, floral design, animal husbandry, gardening, food production and small-scale farming. It is our hope that Heather Hill Farms will be a respite from the world and become a place of refuge, a place of learning, a place to gather and a place to love.

We hope to break ground soon.  In the meantime I will be posting the progress and well and events and updates on my garden and chickens and whatever else I am doing.