Starting a Full Time Nursery Business from Nothing - Our First Year!

We've been full time for one year! Here's a quick re-cap of the year; how it went, what we learned, and how there's still SO MUCH to do.
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[@Growing-Our-Retirement]

An absolutely amazing first year, well done Team Odem! You are an inspiration and already a success story! Wish and pray for you all to have a happy, healthy, and successful 2024! Really look forward to the coming videos as you take things to the next level!

[@beth6085]

Happy New Year to you and your family! You have been such an inspiration! I have begun building my backyard nursery, acquiring plants to grow with. I have found 2 wholesale nurseries within 2 miles from my home that have agreed to sell to me. 2024 will be my learning year. Thank you so much! Who would have thought at almost 65 yrs old I would be starting a new business. :)

[@savvydirtfarmer]

YOU are why I'm doing this! That is absolutely awesome. Where are you located?

[@beth6085]

@@savvydirtfarmer SE VA

[@wordvendor1]

Me too @beth!! 65yo

[@gardenlabs]

I would submit that it is not the “overhead” watering that is helping the plants, but the fact that it is automated. There is a lot of human error when it comes to watering. 👍

[@savvydirtfarmer]

partially. water applied slowly (overhead/sprinkler) soaks the soil much better than a 1 or 2 second "flood" from a water hose. That flood just runs through the pot

[@anniathome]

Bless your hearts! That March 31st tornado outbreak hit us, too. I had just finished building my first little cheapo Amazon 10x26 greenhouse on March 28. Fortunately, because our county has more than 600 windmills, I had already thought through securing the greenhouse from the wind (twenty-two 15” spiral stakes (8 inside securing the frame, 14 outside with straps going over the vinyl cover)), so I was only mildly concerned about the greenhouse pulling an Oz. We were in our basement and could hear the F2 tornado as it passed over us. We lost two tall trees on the edge of our property, but the tornado snapped one of the windmills in half, took two blades off one windmill, and one blade off another, all three within a mile just past ur house. God really protected us! The only damage the tornado did to the greenhouse was that it tore the vinyl from the Velcro that was securing it to the frame and broke one of the zippers on the door closest to the direction from which it came. So glad you did not have very much damage! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your hard work and willingness to share the wisdom you have gained. I’ve learned so much! I’m so proud of you and your entrepreneurial spirit as a family. I’m so thankful that God is blessing your efforts! I pray that 2024 will be exponentially even more successful!

[@michaelsasylum]

Excellent first year. Congratulations! You're on the right track.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Yes! Thank you!

[@danielfowler5940]

Not trying to tell you how to level a building but those 8in two cell blocks under your building are going to break on there side. Turn them with the openings up. They will break like you have them. Please don’t take this the wrong way just genuinely trying to help. I like your videos. I need the Motivation over here at Pickwick to get mine going as well. Keep up the good work God bless you.

[@whitneyanderson6050]

Your story is simply amazing. I had no idea what you had been through the night before you opened. Wow.

[@wordvendor1]

I think you'll be very surprised with your fruit tree sales. It's a great idea! I've been getting annual and perennial seeds from Hazzards Seeds. They're a Christian company with a LARGE selection. You've definitely grown at a good clip this year! Congrats to your family and success and God's peace for 2024. Happy New Year!🎉

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Hope so! I like good surprises.

[@alanohagan6999]

What a wonderful human story - wishing you and your family all the very best

[@farmyourbackyard2023]

Listening to your opening day story with the tornado scare brought me to tears. Your family has worked so hard, and the enemy tried to attack. I'm so glad you were all protected, and so was your business. Here's to a prosperous 2024 and a storm shelter for your family! And if you need a second stream of income, you could also sell some portable buildings because the one you built looks like a professional build.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thank you!!

[@chrisnixon9752]

Great video and inspiring! It's automated watering vs improper hand watering. Overhead watering is the least efficient and least precise and has the most side effects in hot humid areas of the south, but it's also the easiest and most cost effective to initially set up and get off the ground. Upgrading one zone at a time when able to in pot microsprayers for things in #3 and larger is the next game changer. It allows different watering rates off the same main lines by using the proper sprayers in each plant group so you don't necessarily have to have a separate zone for every group of plants with similar watering needs. You can water Agaves on the same line as bamboo as long as each plant gets the right flow rate micro sprayer. Keep up the good work!

[@6768jordan]

Thank you again for an inspiring video. I've been watching you from the beginning and often go back and watch videos over and over again. Because of you I turned one of my greenhouses into a propagation area. I use my skills as a contractor to make my propagation beds. I turned my other one into a shade house I'm planning on building a flat structured ceiling greenhouse in the coming months. I kind of went overboard on the propagation but plan on building the infrastructure over the next few months to house them. I have over 20,000 clippings of emerald greens, green giants, Leyland cypress, George Washington arborvitae, skip laurel, English laurel, Italian cypress, fig trees and aronia berries. Again thank you for the video you always inspire me. Once I get done with my coffee here I'm going out to dig irrigation ditch for future area. Thank you and God bless you.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Good plan, certainly!

[@6768jordan]

Not sure if my photo went through I just wanted to show you what you inspired me to do. I'm 57 and not techie not sure the photo went through but thank you.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

@@6768jordan email it to [e-mail]

[@6768jordan]

@@savvydirtfarmer yeah that's a good idea. I'll do so maybe you can learn something from it since I've learned so much from you.

[@6768jordan]

Sent it

[@100foldreturn1]

Congrats to you all for your success. I enjoy watching all the progress throughout the process. God is showing favor and it shows. Thanks for sharing and hoping that this new year will bring more success.

[@vintagemotorcyclerepair4052]

What a great start you got! I can't wait to watch the success multiply for your family.

[@melissaoleary8196]

Congratulations on all your success. You certainly worked hard for it! Have a wonderful 2024! ☘️

[@jkkelley7582]

We were worried for y'all with all the storms hitting around you last Spring!! Prayers everyday! A very busy first year and you met every opstacle as best as you could! Proud of you, love this Odem's Nursery and may this second year be just awesome!! You grow such beautiful plants!!

[@ejfishes7610]

Congratulations on all your success and the lessons you learned this past year. Happy New Year to you and your family!

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Same to you

[@anitahouse3600]

I love watching how well y'all are doing. I enjoyed my visit w y'all back in the spring. Can't wait to see you again this spring!!!!

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thanks so much - let us know when you're coming and we'll keep an eye out! We all enjoyed meeting you

[@bri0013]

I have to take my hat off to you guys. An amazing job. Thank you for the end part as well. I'm looking forward to seeing how much you put into the vegetable plug trays. Well wishes Savvy Family. 😊

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Hope to have something on the veg starts some time in February

[@grassman8684]

What a great story. Congrats on your sucess and hoping even more in 2024. I was wondering if you could do a simple cost breakdown for the year for startup cost?

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Great suggestion! Wouldn't be too simple though. I've talked a lot about cost along the way, and last winter (Jan 2023, I think), I did one one on most of the big stuff - land, gravel, septic, electric, etc.

[@grassman8684]

@@savvydirtfarmer I was just wondering. We have 15 acres that's just sitting there. I'm getting bored in my retirement although I do have a lawn and landscaping business

[@savvydirtfarmer]

@@grassman8684 It's not a bad idea... always looking for ideas for videos.

[@CoffeeCakeCrumble]

The personal fulfillment beats profit for me.................but I'm not sneezing at the money! I'm sitting on about $4000 worth of ONE plant alone, but the weather is so weird up here I'm concerned about survival rates even sheltered. We are stuck in a freeze/thaw cycle where it's in the 40's for days, cold at night, then 20's during the day and night, then back up to 40's. Frustrating, but hoping for the best. I have nothing but total confidence in you and your family. Excellent job, it's SO much work, people just don't know until they see it with their own eyes which makes your build videos just that much more important. Here's to a Happy and Super Successful New Year!

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thanks for the good words. Yes, personal fulfillment is huge, but profit matters a great deal. "Fulfillment" doesn't pay the bills, keep people fed, and raise a family. The encouragement is very much appreciated!!

[@nativegardenangel]

What an amazing journey! Congratulations!

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thanks, Marilyn!

[@cynthiagustafson2541]

Your nursery looks wonderful. The Lord is blessing the work of your hands, no doubt!!

[@savvydirtfarmer]

yes!! We're thankful

[@Lynnhopeacres]

Glad to have seen all this happening from the beginning! 🎉 here’s to more growth in 2024!

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thank you - we're doing our best.

[@Greg-su8gt]

Your videos are both informative and inspirational. Every time I get depressed you encourage me to keep going. Thank you.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

A little encouragement can go an awfully long way - hang in there.

[@johnt3728]

I wish you well in 2024 I know it’s hard work but you’re on your way to being a good business. God Bless you and your family.

[@Amandascottagelife]

So so excited for you and your family! Love following your journey and your success. I'm so glad you brought up the over head watering! I see where so many people are going to drip hoses. We tried it ourselves, but i dont feel like the plants are getting watered enough, especially in the south. Not to mention how much longer it takes to water. I would love to see a video on how you water everything and your system set up. Thanks as aways!! 😊

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thank you so much!! Drip is a poor, nonsensical option, for what I do. I move plants in and out all the time. Constantly, really, during the growing season. Thousands of small plants. No practical way to set up drip for that. Overhead all the way. I think it's a good option for larger shrubs/trees that will take longer to grow and stay in the same place for 1 or 2 years in larger containers.

[@MarcyOdom.]

I thoroughly enjoy your Channel. Keep up the good work. By the way, I used to work at Mary's Greenhouse in McMinnville, Tennessee and if you aren't already growing pachysandra by the trailer truck load you probably should. They had a few entire greenhouses completely dedicated to pachysandra that sold out every year. I have a small hobby Greenhouse now that I purchased from Morton's Horticulture that I grow a few thousand dollars worth of annuals and perennials for my beds. I would love to sell but work full time and don't want to sign up for another job even though I absolutely love it. Your greenhouse set up looks so perfect and neat and tidy I just love it and are happy for you guys! Good luck in 2024!

[@savvydirtfarmer]

That's great!! We were so disappointed when Mary's sold! We used to make that trip once or twice a year when we first started in our backyard a few years ago. They would be SO helpful to us now. I also use Morton's for various supplies - thanks for commenting!

[@OldManAsh73]

Such an inspiration 😃

[@davidwells9342]

I loved being able to be there on the first day of your opening. I remember here in your wife’s story about the tornado and I look forward to being back again on opening day and seeing how much y’all have grown I’m saving my money right now.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thank you - we're hoping for a MUCH less eventful opening day eve, that's for sure.

[@kriswhite1344]

You all have come a long way from the BACKYARD!! MUCH SUCCESS TO YOU AND FAMILY. Cant wait to come Visit and meet everyone!

[@foreversettled9144]

Happy New Year! So pleased for all of you. Thank you so much for all of your shares. I think of the scripture "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he will strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalm 91 over all believers.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@fatcapital88]

I love your story. So excited you got your own nursery. You deserve it.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thank you so much! I don't know what I deserve, but I'm thankful for what I have.

[@reginaneufeld1092]

Love watching your progress! Looking forward to what you have to show us

[@savvydirtfarmer]

More to come!

[@denisebalog994]

Happy New Year 🎉 and I can't say it enough, "Thank you Odem Family"🌱🤗💚 May His Face continually shine on you and you are blessed with good health and a very prosperous New Year 2024!! Thrive🙌🙌🙌🕊️

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Wonderful!! Thanks so much

[@wendyswearman6561]

What a beautiful story! May God bless you in 2024!

[@ingevankeirsbilck9601]

Thank you for all the informative yet inspiring videos you shared with us this year, I wish you and your family a very successful year ahead!

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thank you so much!

[@killodendron]

My biggest issue is being stuck in analysis paralysis, being a perfectionist...it's so hard for me to actually finish tasks. It takes me forever to pot things up, for example. I've been trying so hard to overcome this and just get the things DONE. I get so stuck, and it's extremely discouraging at times.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Analysis paralysis is real... gonna talk about it some on Saturday's video... in fact, I'm struggling with it now.

[@killodendron]

@savvydirtfarmer Can't wait! It's a topic that isn't talked about enough. Sometimes it feels like I got a good recipe, have all of the ingredients, but can't find the instructions.

[@jensissons5709]

Bedding plants are easy from seeds. Fruit bushes -potted up bare roots more than doubles profit (on line order bare roots by post) Vegetable starts. Bulbs in pots to sell in flower I find i n the UK hanging baskets are good sellers. Overhead watering rinses off the dust from leaves increasing photosynthesis.

[@mediakhalil]

Congratulations. Really cool.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thank you!

[@timgoodin42053]

Thank you for your videos! Congratulations for your success in 2023 and best wishes for 2024!

[@harveybyars8655]

I’m glad that y’all had a great first year and I hope you have a greater 2024. You’ve certainly helped my confidence level and have given me more hope THANKS & God Bless Y’all

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Happy new year!!

[@nated186]

Good luck and thanks for the video! I'm hoping to do the same in FL one day

[@nicholasterrell1301]

Congratulations on your success in 2023. You have a great content and I appreciate you giving back to the community. Knowledge is power. Any advice for someone wanting to take this path?

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Immerse yourself in watching these videos! Seriously... I have several "first steps" type of videos. Watch those. And get started. You'll learn more from taking some action steps than from watching videos.

[@awakenacres]

You are so ambitious! Thanks for the inspiration!💚

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thank you!! 😊

[@farahferguson5896]

You inspired me to start my own nursery this year! Thank you for all you guys do!

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Great!! thanks for letting us know that

[@JustJamesDean]

Congrats, you have done exceedingly well for 1st year.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thank you!

[@JustJamesDean]

@@savvydirtfarmer here an idea I like to share. Have you noticed output is exponential to number of workers? Example, 2 person can do 4x as much work as 1 person. 3 persons can do 8x. Important to have the family lending a hand.

[@53philp]

Enjoy watching your videos the last couple of years, thank you for sharing your life with us. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Happy new year!

[@hudson8865]

Thank you.

[@DachiaTheDogMom]

Happy New Year!!!

[@amsohn1]

Thank you again for sharing, you give Hope, courage and direction- possibly without knowing it! Things didn't happen the way we planned foe our nursery, however we've regrouped and with a new plan... Many Blessings and Prayers for a fantastic and prosperious new year.❤

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Very welcome! Just work your plan.

[@amsohn1]

@@savvydirtfarmer thank you! We had some illness and family death, so we are back to the plan- binge watching your videos, seeing what we need to rethink, and making sure we have the Infrastructure in place and being very realistic as to what we can accomplish and be ok with taking the time to put our systems in place. Again thank you. Blessings

[@andielliott7721]

Great story! And very responsible to have a collar and ID on your dog.

[@dnh5020]

Have been following you and your family's adventure from the begining...you all have worked hard...congratulations...Best Wishes for 2024 !

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thank you so much!

[@cynthiamachuga6146]

Just found you from the thriving farmer podcast. Great info. Thank you so much! We have big plans for our farm, and I will be following you closely to see what we can implement on our new farm in southern Virginia. I've heard growing mums is amazing, so I would love to know more about that. On the personal side, we are trying to establish our vegetable garden while selling extra plants. On the farm side, I'm trying to get more perennials growing. Elderberries, blueberries, raspberries, and fruit trees. I will be at a couple of farmers' markets to introduce myself to the community, but eventually, I want them to come to me.

[@joeparker6070]

Happy new year mate. All the best for 2024 👍

[@denisekrupa8635]

So happy for you and your family. No one deserves it more, with all your hard work! We too are starting a small nursery, but as older retirees, it is nothing the same scale as yours. But we very much enjoy the work and looking forward to expending. I have a question about plant labels. We are considering bringing in some plants wholesale to resell along with what we are growing here on the farm. Do you sell all your plants with labels? and if so, do you have a label printer? We are searching for one and they are not easy to find. Keep the wonderful videos coming and best of luck in 2024!

[@savvydirtfarmer]

We **try** to label each plant, but it's a struggle for us. Every batch of plants will have at least a few labels scattered in them and there's a photo info card with each variety. People always take pics of those signs so they have the info. I'm embarrassed to tell you how we make our labels, but certainly something we need to improve on!

[@larrycochrane1407]

Happy new year. Thanks for being real.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thank you! No reason to not be.

[@Dr.Warren]

Reach out to me about wholesale nurseries that will deliver to your area. We have several they run trucks almost weekly in the area. Could save you some time driving around collecting them. Keep up the good work!

[@compulsivecrocheter8961]

If Rosemary does well in your area, you'll want to get some. It propagates very well. Happy New Year.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Haven't tried to propagate, but we sold all we had last year... did very well.

[@pamelamercado6902]

I believe it was in March I decided to set up a plant sale on a corner street after watching one of your videos I figured all that could happen was many no sales or very little. I sold seedlings of vegetables I made $1,200 in a little over 5 hrs. I could of made more I ran out of seedlings AI sold them for $2.50 a piece. I will do it again hopping to do as well or better

[@savvydirtfarmer]

That is awesome!

[@lovefalcon1111]

Thank you so much for this video! I love it!! I wish you and your family a Happy and Prosperous New Year!! 🪄💫✨🌟✨💫

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Happy new year!!

[@adriancosio7068]

Happy New Year to you and your family. Thanks for all your videos.

[@lymacsau5200]

Chúc bạn năm mới vạn sự như ý .gia đình luôn hạnh phúc

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thank you! You too

[@danradtke1663]

I believe God blessed your land and with your continued hard work and guidance from above you guys will be fine. Look at what you accomplished in your first year. Beautiful job. Happy new year everyone. Listen to your customers for the plants they are looking for. Veggies sell great in May. Hopefully as you get your plants situated you can move into new areas much as mulches and bagged rock. Trust me people in spring come for 8-10 bags at a time. Hopefully you also can link with landscapers and designers for bulk sales. Just a thought. Another good seller are herbs and medicinal plants. Also another great show plant canna lilies. In chicago they need to be dug out in fall but 1 plant will give you 3-6 rhizomes for next year planting. 3-6 time return per rhizome. Makes a great advertising show plant for out front of your nursery

[@savvydirtfarmer]

The Lord has blessed us tremendously... hard to believe, really. Someday I need to tell the full story of how we got here.

[@danradtke1663]

Keep up the great work and continued learning. Wish I was closer I would surely love to help you guys.

[@wee-joiceglobal2108]

We join your family in prayer; believing that our Heavenly Father will bless the works of your hands and to thank Him in advance for more victories. May He crown your efforts as you trust Him to lead you in which direction to go next this 2024. Remember the verse, " all things are possible to them who believes..." 🙏⚘️Mark 9:23. Happy New Year!

[@dailychaos8]

This summer, plant a family u-pumpkin patch with photo op areas. 🎃 📷 🤳

[@lilyrosedaisyvioletsweetpe1207]

💚💚

[@gemmrk]

Great info thank you! May I ask where I should be storing my Green Giant cuttings if I am propagating right now in January? I'm in zone 7b/7a

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Stick them, water them, leave outside, and forget them. Some shade is good as Spring warms up. Prolonged periods of dry weather will need water… especially when warm. Very little, if any, water is required in winter- things just don’t dry quickly in winter.

[@jamiesuzanne5826]

Where are you located? I would love to support your nursery.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

NW AL

[@mingusshadows6971]

Seems like you had a lot of initial resources to invest to get it all going.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

I did. For 4 years, every penny I made from my plants went right back into more. I didn't pay myself anything with the exception of taking a few thousand dollars to put braces on both of my daughters at the same time. Otherwise, I reinvested over and over.

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Congratulations & wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Same to you!

[@rihadgraphics]

Happy new year :) Hey Team Odem, I like your videos too much. Do you know one thing, your video's thumbnails are nice but not attractive or eye catchy what will get attraction of KZbin users. You should improve video thumbnail design. If you need any kind of design help, you can contact with me; if you want. I am graphic designer and I can help you to make professional thumbnail design. Best of luck Team Odem...🥰

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Our analytics (Click rate) suggests otherwise, - Thanks