An interview with king of cut flower seeds

Join flower farmer and florist Georgie Newbery on her works outing to have a chat with small business friend and collaborator Benjamin Ranyard of ‪@higgledygarden2507‬ fame. Enjoy a break in the mad rush listening as they riff on how to make a success of #microbusiness focused on #sustainability and #savingtheworld through #growingflowers . Hosted by the lovely ‪@SueBeesley‬ of ‪@bluebellcottagemoments6741‬ . Georgie and Ben met many years ago when the old Twitter was but a hatchling and they've been friends and collaborators ever since pushing each other along through good times and bad, helping each other stay the course and build businesses which work effectively for them. Ben is the living example of how to create and sustain a lifestyle business.
Find good quality cut flower seeds (UK only I'm afraid,) here higgledygarden.com/
And follow Benjamin Ranyard and his Higgledy Garden adventures on Instagram here higgledygar...
If you enjoy the tips and tricks Georgie gives you here, or would simply like to support the channel, the link to her Buy Me a Coffee page is Here: www.buymeacoffee.com/COMMONFARM
We have all kinds of workshops listed on the website. These often take place online and so you can join in from around the world. And we always record them and send the link out to you afterwards, in case you can't join live, or the children / dog / neighbour interrupts you, or the internet stops working....Or you may wish to visit us in Somerset, in which case take a look at the workshops we are hosting here in 2023 and do come and say hello! Have a look at the website and book yourself the sessions which appeal to you. You can see our workshop calendar here www.commonfarmflowers.com/pag...
If you're booking a place on our workshops the website will ask you to choose a delivery date - any date will do! And if you can't join our sessions live then you are still very welcome to book as we send the recording and notes of the workshop out to everyone afterwards, so you can download the session and refer back to it as and when you need to.
Follow Georgie on instagram @commonfarmflowers
And on Twitter you can find Georgie at / theflowerfarmer
#microbusiness #smallbusiness #sustainablebusiness #cutflowerseeds #growflowers #growingflowers #cutflowers #cutflower #lifestylebusiness #livingthedream

[@greyfeather7857]

That was fun. I have bought many a packet of seeds from Higgledy they always come up and make me smile. Interesting to see him and hear his plans,thanks for sharing 👍🏻💐

[@theflowerfarmer]

my pleasure x

[@lorrainereid5707]

I have happened across your video s and I was delighted that while I was sorting out my seed order from Higgledy this video popped up .Im very excited to get my new allotment started with cut flowers ,

[@theflowerfarmer]

how timely - good luck with the flowers xxx

[@alisonburgess345]

I'd love to see Ben start a youtube channel. Instant subscription here. Your two channels would really complement each other. i'm like him - more a grower than a florist. I'd love to see his clever ideas...

[@theflowerfarmer]

That would be cool! x

[@deborahclatworthy3885]

Dynamic Duo! Two of my favourite Twitter friends … always a treat and so inspirational.

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you lovely x

[@FRASERMCGREGOR72]

The life that shines from you is so infectious. Your cup is SO full. I find you so engaging and warm and I am going to work through all your content. You are so inspirational and full of hints and tips. Thank you for your content and just being you. Incredible x Bought you some coffees to say thanks, Fraser.

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you xxx and thank you for the coffees x

[@tinahart1712]

I loved listening to your chat and will be buying my seeds soon ❤

[@theflowerfarmer]

Wonderful! x

[@melfishdes]

Just love you two!

[@theflowerfarmer]

Thankyou x

[@RuthieP67]

That was really good; what a lovely man Ben is & how interesting with his wonderful goal of complete self-sufficiency in Cornwall! I really hope he does it because it would be absolutely fascinating to follow. I completely agree with you about making friends online - I’ve made several very good friends online through social media over the last 5-6 years, I’d say. One or two of them I’ve met & talked to - but most I haven’t. It doesn’t seem to matter & personally I like the simplicity of online friendships 😊 x

[@theflowerfarmer]

I have met so many lovely people on line - people who've become real friends as well as lots to collaborate with work wise xxx

[@sibbi1959]

Georgie and Ben, what a treat! Really enjoyed your conversation. And very much appreciate the model and ethos of 'enough'. Micro businesses have so much potential x

[@theflowerfarmer]

they do x

[@denisemagill1961]

What a pair. Great to see you and hear you. Marvelous!

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you x

[@catherinelogan6299]

That was really interesting. Love the name Higgelty. I really like the philosophy that enough is enough. Simple is often the better option. Also, it distresses me when I receive catalogs because I know I'm going to have to recycle them even though they took considerable time and money to produce. Even when I decline them they keep on coming.

[@theflowerfarmer]

I hate a paper catalogue x

[@RuthieP67]

I’m the complete opposite! I love having a catalogue to work through & then to cut out & keep the items I’ve bought, so I can see what I was expecting & why I bought it in the first place. But I can never work out the best places to go for seeds, bulbs, plants, compost, etc. Although, to be fair, I have just spent a small fortune on perennials from Sarah Raven in her massive sale of plants that wouldn’t be flowering for much longer. But I bought those that I would have bought anyway, just in Spring (for dahlias). So I get a couple of months of flowers this year & hopefully they will be planted, settled, with good roots & ready to flower like mad next year! I’ve drooled over her mini-catalogues for years but didn’t think I could afford to buy much - until the email arrived at the right time! Which are the top few companies that you receive catalogues from that you would definitely recommend please? I’d really appreciate a few ideas to help me out 😊 xxx

[@frankaplin1910]

Oh how exciting, I love following both of you, so lovely to see you both together. I love growing flowers to cut. You are both so inspiring. Thankyou , x

[@theflowerfarmer]

pleasure x

[@m.macdonald]

Yes please to a higgledy garden KZbin channel! Would love to learn more about coppicing and the like.

[@theflowerfarmer]

excellent x

[@susannesandin5992]

Wow i like yours ”small” garden, that handkraft workshop, try to minimallize the costs and the effekts off the nature❤

[@user-zj2jn9vn6q]

Very interesting thank you.

[@theflowerfarmer]

pleasure x

[@plantswoman]

Glad to hear that "Higgers" is going to dive into video! You have so much knowledge to share, Ben, and your sense of humor will be a welcomed respite to the world today!

[@theflowerfarmer]

Hope so! x

[@creativedaisycrafts5318]

Great chat with Ben. Watching from Ireland so no seeds for me. Love the way social media connects us all together 😊

[@theflowerfarmer]

me too x

[@kobedeister5234]

Wonderful interview with a key person for the flower spectrum.

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you x

[@catherineengle4196]

How wonderful to have such an honest friendship. God bless 😊

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you x

[@tanyaroyredcar]

Thanks Georgie. Lovely to meet you in person on YT and to finally see Ben in the flesh - so to speak. Have been fans and followers on Twitter for about the same time? Has to be 10yrs +. Best of luck to you both and looking forwards to seeing Higgledy on YT sometime soon (with flash - if we can get him out of bed). R&T(organic) x

[@theflowerfarmer]

ah yes Flash does love a snooze x

[@sunniesflowerco]

Can't wait for a Higgledy KZbin! I would love to buy his seeds if I didn't live in the U.S.! His blog is my favorite and I love to read all of his seed descriptions as well!

[@theflowerfarmer]

brilliant x

[@annecanty1227]

Great video. Gorgeous background.

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you x

[@samiecain1244]

Oh Wow ! The pair of you down the road from me , how exciting and at one of my favourite nurserys :) Can't wait for Higgledy on the youtube :)

[@theflowerfarmer]

hopefully soon x

[@kellieschmidt8970]

So fun to see Ben in a video. I'm a fan from America, so I can't grow his seeds, but I love his blog and social posts. My only disappointment with this video is that Flash wasn't participating. Thanks to both of you for all the great inspiration.

[@theflowerfarmer]

I totally agree! x

[@maryt8600]

Introduced to higgledy by you Georgie. Made my first purchase this year. Looking forward to growing them. Excellent delivery and such cute packaging.

[@theflowerfarmer]

Wonderful! x

[@cindynicholson372]

Lovely interview - really enjoyed it.

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you x

[@JensGardenAdventures]

Fantastic interview! Can't wait to follow your channel! Fab! Love supporting small business too! Jen

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you x

[@SquirrelDiaries]

Gorgeous! Really enjoyed!!

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you x

[@carolinehorne6505]

Very inspiring thank you. Xx

[@theflowerfarmer]

pleasure x

[@julieknowles7063]

How lovely. Ideas for the future for me. Must order the sweet peas asap!

[@theflowerfarmer]

yes! x

[@judithompson558]

Great interview 👍 I'll be looking for from Ben

[@theflowerfarmer]

excellent x

[@sheelaghomalley5459]

I totally agree about the catalogue/paper thing. Theres a well known supplier in Ireland that sends out regular catalogues which go directly into the recycling bin. I understand there are a lot of elderly people who are not online so maybe that's their thinking

[@theflowerfarmer]

I know what you mean about elderly people not on line - but if a catalogue costs as little as £1 each to write, design, print, package, post it can't be worth it.

[@patwiebe9615]

Enjoyed this video, as I do all of them! I'd love to order some Higgledy Farm seeds. Does he ship to Canada?

[@theflowerfarmer]

Sadly only ships within UK x

[@slavicadimcevski9585]

What are the tall wispy yellow flowers behind Georgie? Anyone?

[@theflowerfarmer]

I think they are a perennial sunflower - it's Sue Beesley's Bluebell Cottage Garden garden so she'll know x

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

Not many people understand "enough." In the US we don't have much of a social safety net, which means people have to create their own. Not for luxury, but for basics. Well, I did buy some dahlias, which I count as a luxury though seeds are not expensive if they germinate. Because I'm cheap I buy daffodils rather than tulips, but I expect I will talk myself into a pot of tulips soon. "Pretty" is a value for me as is feeding pollinators, butterflies, hummingbirds and some of their less attractive cousins who are required for an ecosystem. We have to have enough to sustain ourselves and our world. Just babbling late at night.

[@theflowerfarmer]

all true x

[@Neil-kc9ox]

great video, wheres flash? thought he might have a comment too

[@theflowerfarmer]

lol - Flash was having a snooze in the van x

[@katefulton3932]

He's my kinda guy!😏

[@theflowerfarmer]

he's a great fellow x

[@susanmelling5272]

How interesting. U Tube Chanel a very good idea. Please would you let me know what the tall yellow flower behind Georgie is called and do you sell it. Thank you.

[@theflowerfarmer]

I think it's a perennial sunflower - and no I don't think Ben sells it. x

[@susanmelling5272]

Thank you.

[@temha6978]

Maximilian? I have inherited one and have settled on that until I am told otherwise!

[@jacintacesp]

If he's nomadic how does he grow seed?!

[@theflowerfarmer]

He has pockets of gardens on other peoples' land all over the place: Cornwall, Suffolk, Cheshire - he also buys in seed to sell. x