Flower Farming Business: Starting, Sustaining, and Surviving - Week 1

Week 1/4
This video series shares the backside of becoming or being a flower farmer-the thrills, the troubles, and the ongoing challenges.
My intention with this series is to guide those gardener’s contemplating starting a flower farm and to offer some direction and hope to those that have already started.
Join me on Sunday evenings in September 2020! at 7 pm ET on my farm Facebook page for the Live broadcast.
Request the video mentioned in Week 1:
Tired and Ready to Quit? www.thegardenersworkshop.com/...

[@misfitkrew2144]

Oh my goodness. I was a veterinary technician/office manager for 20 years and now I turned to flower farming. No wonder I was immediately drawn to you

[@karac.a.]

Thank you for sharing and educating! So hard to find videos like this.

[@martiee6882]

HI Lisa, I have been reading all your books. I love all of them. Thanks so much. I found out about you through Nichole at Flower Hill Farm. Thanks for everything you do. This year was nuts and I needed this journey and the mentorship you provided with videos and books. Have a beautiful holiday and may your seasons be blessed! God Bless

[@annekeweide1141]

Being a market gardener myself, I can tell that you are so right! In my case it's about vegetables, but the point you make is the same. Farming, especially on a small surface where most of the work has to be done by hand is one of the most difficult things to do. The unpredictable weather, managing pests, diseases, weeds, being a good seller, not having holidays because you can't leave the farm.... You really have to be motivated and above all realistic! Thank you so much for this video!

[@joycedagostino8869]

Hi Lisa, I purchased your Cool Flowers book this summer. I am enjoying your book and am looking forward to first learning how these flowers grow and then think about whether to try to market them. You are so right that flower farming is still farming, it's hard work. I grew up on a farm and know the work it takes for weeks and months during the growing season. It can be very rewarding but as you said, you need to learn the business side of it, and realize that if you have customers, they won't be patient when excuses are offered rather than serving their needs. I heard about the Arnosky Flower Farm from a show on the local PBS here called Central Texas Gardener. They are really hardworking and show the work and planning it takes to run an actual flower farming business. Because now it is trendy to say you are a farmer, people don't seem to have a realistic viewpoint of it and are soon disappointed when it's not easy and giving them huge profits. I have seen a couple of people here locally who say they have a flower farm or other smaller farming operations, and they want all of their work to be done by volunteers. To me that's very risky and then you see them asking for volunteers each time they have a harvest to take to market or to customers. The volunteers don't have the committment to the business that the owner does and it should be run as a real business. Thanks again for your videos, I am learning a lot from your information and will be test planting some fall hardy annuals too!

[@MatthewDumouchel]

Great insight - I have a new raised bed garden that I’m trying my hand at flower farming. One day maybe I’ll be able to own an acre or so - but for now I’m an urban gardener with a farmer mindset.

[@dottmcse]

Well said! I was a retail florist for 25 years, had several stores. It was hard work, long hours. It was a living but never would you be able to become monetarily rich. Been out of the industry for years but now starting to dabble as a Flower Farmer. I am enjoying your videos and definitely learning.

[@kimberlygreidanus5639]

this is so informative, I Thank you so much for taking the time to share..."prepare for the worst and pray for the best" Love that motto!!! Ohhhh and "struggles are a sign of success"

[@MimiB15]

Hello Lisa!!! I just wanted to let you know that I just went for it to try and sell my fresh cut flowers at a roadside self-serve stand. Thanks to Danielle at Northlawn Flower Farm, Nicole at Flower Hill Farm and yourself have all taught me so much and motivated me to just do it instead of talking about it. Well…..the results were way better than I expected at least for the months of July and August!! The month of September has been awful so far though. I’m not sure why and haven’t really done anything different that I can put my finger on. Is this common? Well I really wanted to just say thank you for all of the information and videos you provide!!!!

[@aprilattig6730]

Thank you for your honesty. I appreciate you!

[@lisaquartararo7240]

Thank you so much Lisa! I took the Floret workshop two years ago and moved out of Hampton Roads to Victoria Va and have been growing and gaining experience out here. I’m starting my business this year ... and it’s scary but I wish I would have known about you when I lived in VB. My husband still works out there so I will check out your website for more of your wonderful training opportunities. You are an amazing lady! Thanks again for all this wonderful knowledge!!

[@christiensgarden3325]

Fantastic video and great teaching skills

[@rondianderson4402]

Right on Lisa! Starting over here and really needed to hear this.

[@Bandaid17]

I have your books. What a wonderful person you are to do all this work!! I only do backyard gardening and I learned so much.

[@magdalenagauderon3754]

Thank you. Very refreshingly honest information.

[@jeannet9592]

Excellent content. Thank you!!

[@AnaCatarina1964]

Thank you so much for this video! As a flower farm dreamer and taking the leap., I am pausing and taking in all of the wisdom before I begin...:)

[@AnaCatarina1964]

Requesting please the video tired and ready to quit? Please lmk next steps. Thank you!

[@TheGardenersWorkshop]

Request here: www.thegardenersworkshop.com/sign-up-for-lisas-webinar-flower-farming-tired-and-ready-to-quit/

[@marilynm2086]

Great video, so down to earth.

[@Maryjane13400]

Thank you for sharing. This is super helpful for someone like me getting Into the industry. Beautifully articulated and easy to follow 💜.

[@jcmustian]

I really appreciate this. I have no background in flowers but I want to start a big bed of mixed sunflowers this year in the garden and see how it goes.

[@ElderandOakFarm]

I wish I would have discovered you sooner! I heard about you from Nicole @flowerhillfarm

[@hebert2361]

Thanks Lisa

[@vincentbynumbers]

Thank you for sharing this video! I *fingers crossed* think I"m ready to dive into the business side of flower farming in 2021.. and this video series is exactly what I was looking for...!! I've spent hours and hours watching other flower farmers on here, which has been such a great learning tool... Thanks again!! :)

[@mossgrovewrites]

Hey how did your first year go?

[@vincentbynumbers]

@@mossgrovewrites very well!! I was all set to do a CSA and then a friend gave my name to a market coordinator at a really nice Saturday market 10 min from my house two weeks before it began. I sold out nearly every Saturday and LOVED doing it! I want to do it again next year, but I'm due with my first baby any day now so not sure how it'll all go down. I grew about 70% of what I sold and supplemented with a large flower grower in a nearby town for my bouquets. Thanks for asking! 🥰💐

[@mossgrovewrites]

@plantamantha that’s so wonderful I’m so happy for you! Babies definitely change things up I have one that’s freshly 5 and a 2 year old. BUT I bet the sweet little one will enjoy the sunshine and eventually playing in the dirt with you. It may end up taking a lot of grace from both of you but I encourage you to continue with your flowers if it fills you. Congratulations and good luck!

[@vincentbynumbers]

@@mossgrovewrites Sounds like you have your hands full too :) I'll definitely still be out in my garden growing anything I can, just not sure I can commit to the market... oh well, as long as my hands are dirty, I am ;)

[@traceyrigney8742]

Thank you!

[@deemb9945]

Thank you for this insight 🙂

[@lizs1572]

Thank you

[@poweroftheflower1112]

Thank you so much 😊

[@cheriemartin3767]

currently aug 2021, The link didn't work for the Tired and Ready to Quit video..I would like to watch it :)

[@mammam4827]

According to Mr. Grey he is the father of all trades, nothing is going to work neither music,nor flowers nor deco........jst nothing. Who is asking for his council nd who is that Dr. Grey by the way.My God is my guide. Wat didn't work for one does nt mean it is going to be same for all. Com on show sum light Charlie.