Why grow flowers for sale? Why work from home? Why be a florist? Food for thought...

A passing remark on a colleague's post on instagram inspired this post which I made on Valentine's Day, a day I would in the past have spent flat our creating bouquets, but which now I no longer do. What kind of flower farmer am I? What kind of business do I have? What's my market? And how do I decide the parameters within which I work? Join me for a thoughtful clip on the who, what, where, why and how of my flower farming business.
If flower farming is something you are already doing, or you're interested in doing, then some of my workshops may well be of interest. You can see a few of them here: www.commonfarmflowers.com/col...
And I also offer a series of small business workshops, for anyone who is thinking of or already running a small business (whether flower farming or something entirely different.) You can find out more about them here: www.commonfarmflowers.com/col....
If you're booking a place on our workshops or demos 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.
For an ad free version of this, all the info re 'the project,' and all Georgie's new clips with extra tips, news and regular live at 5s, do join her KZbin club. You can join up here: / @theflowerfarmer
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
Follow Georgie on instagram @commonfarmflowers
And on Twitter you can find Georgie at / theflowerfarmer
#flowerfarming
#flowerfarmer
#smallbusiness
#smallbusinesstips
#flowerfarmingtips
#alternativevalentines
#mysmallbusiness

[@jessicaclifford1326]

Whenever I start to doubt myself, I watch one of your aspiring videos and it enthuses me all over again to keep going. Thanks Georgie.

[@theflowerfarmer]

Happy to hear that! x

[@deborahclatworthy3885]

Of all your excellent videos this is my favourite mostly because of your honesty and bravery in sharing your values and dreams. Interesting how like luck, the harder one works the more ‘privileged’ one becomes. X

[@theflowerfarmer]

ah thank you Deborah - glad you agree x

[@erinveitch3075]

Thank you so much for this video. It’s what I needed to hear. I’ve been a flower farm since 2007(when there wasn’t to many of us around). Now there are a bunch in my area and people that looked at me as inspiring are now criticizing the way I handle my business. I can not tell you how much I appreciate the question “what is your enough?” I was never in it to make millions just a comfortable living.

[@theflowerfarmer]

so agree with you - your business is yours and only need suit you x

[@susanwondergem4014]

Thank you so much for addressing, "Who am I and what is my mission in this lifetime?" In what I believe is your most important and inspiring video to date for me personally. We all have important dreams that we need to realize eventually (like your novels), but it's so essential to be fully engaged in the day to day process. Teaching others is your forte and your YTube followers are privileged to be guided in such positive directions. Your Valentines Day message could not have been more appropriate. Do what you love, love the planet and share the joy! May your life be enriched as enormously as you have enriched mine!

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you so much Susan x

[@ellenshaw1341]

I whole heartedly agree.

[@pipmurray1419]

Love this ,so true

[@rosemarybushea3517]

I so enjoy your videos and as a gardener in the US I have the utmost respect for the work you do.

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you so much x

[@myvintageswag6893]

You’re amazing. I love watching your videos, thank you!

[@theflowerfarmer]

you're very welcome x

[@judithkeyes7232]

So greatfull for this extensive video. You have presented so much info to other growers. I liked the photo angle you chose as you weeded. Thank you. Judith from USA.

[@theflowerfarmer]

Glad it was helpful! x

[@MichelleCorbinDesign]

Smart not Privileged! Your Lifestyle Workshop has encouraged me to make some choices within my Lifestyle Business. Great informative video Georgie. Privileged or not you are creating your enough and working damned hard to get it. I’m full of admiration xx

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you Michelle x

[@teslaandhumanity7383]

I’m not far away I’m in Hampshire ❤. Love your style and chatter .

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you x

[@jessicaojala5490]

I love this video Georgie. Your advice is so appreciated. It would be so fun to see some photos from your Paris fashion days!

[@theflowerfarmer]

haha - I'll see if I can find some and make a little clip x

[@traceygodfrey6432]

Great video. You've given me lots to think about. Thank you for all the advice.

[@theflowerfarmer]

pleasure x

[@Tea_and_thyme_2012]

Great video Georgie. I’ve got to say you’ve inspired me so much over the time I’ve been following you that I’ve now (today) taken on an allotment to have my own flower patch. I can’t wait to get started on it and I 100% agree that flower farming/enthusiastic gardening is really hard work but it brings so much pleasure.

[@theflowerfarmer]

go for it! x

[@61katharine]

I'm afraid "privilege" is one of those words that is thrown around far too much these days. Well done addressing it.

[@theflowerfarmer]

Thankyou x

[@MaMari68]

Thank you, very interesting to hear these facts about your business and life! It really gives thinking for me aswell! I am the same aged as you, but I am only a beginner in flower farming... And my season starts in June and ends in September. I think I cannot do this full time ever. But on side of other work. I really enjoy watching your teaching and thoughts and your beautiful English nature!!😍🌳

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you Marianne - and good luck x

[@lorrainehoward5446]

You are a beautiful sweetheart, many thanks for sharing your time,time is the essence.

[@theflowerfarmer]

You are so welcome! x

[@Lethersee]

Thank you. I was not a flower farmer, but I did have my own business. You covered most of it. I might add you are not working for yourself. You are working for everybody else. Each new client is a new boss. I so enjoy your videos.

[@theflowerfarmer]

Glad you enjoy my clips xxx

[@tamiratliff4459]

Always such great advice and love going out for a nature walk and love your gardening rules that enhances nature in a positive way

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you x

[@Parmesito]

Fantastic video, thank you. We are a small vegetable farm beginning to dip our toes into growing flowers this, very inspiring.

[@theflowerfarmer]

Glad it was helpful! x

[@karendavidson394]

"What is your enough ?" and your mother's "Don't put it down, put it away ' are transformative words of wisdom.

[@theflowerfarmer]

I'd been struggling to find a way to say 'what is your enough,' succinctly for ages when @snapdragonlife came over for breakfast one day. We were talking about sustainability, keeping businesses small but profitable, and it was she who said, 'People need to know what is their Enough.' And I've used that as the way to describe what I mean ever since.

[@marthaduffy8386]

You've given me so much to think about. I've made an appointment with my accountant to discuss the nitty-gritty and I'm going to jump in to make it official.

[@theflowerfarmer]

always start with the numbers and you'll do fine x

[@madonnaschmid7707]

As a hard working, self made farmer florist you are, the word privileged is insulting! No one is doing your work, but you.Im glad you addressed that. Your video was wonderful and inspiring:)

[@theflowerfarmer]

Wow, thank you x

[@elizabethash4720]

You have the gift of teaching and you are so kind. No wonder the ponds have frogs and the flowers grow so well. Thankyou for sharing your work and your gifts and skills with this community.❤

[@karendavidson394]

We dug five ponds on 3 acres so now every few minutes of weeding reveals another California red legged tree frog. So cute !!!! I am a custom jeweler and gemologist but am loving the "Honesty Stand" income from selling flowers on the road . Thanks for inspiration. PS I got married the year you were born and my son from that marriage is a Guggenheim art fellow this year. Good year?

[@theflowerfarmer]

your ponds sound amazing - Fabrizio would rename this place Pondworld if he could - 1967 clearly a vintage year! xxx

[@julieroyston4262]

Love the gold spade!!

[@theflowerfarmer]

me too - it's from @niwake x

[@erwinroodt1245]

I have watched almost all of your vids, since stumbling upon you. I have paid you a number of compliments in the past, however while you were rabbiting on about yourself, you left out the word likeable. I really appreciate your presentation style. Real, honest, unpretentious and matter of fact. I hope you continue these inspirational vids for years to come. Trash the book idea I say. Oh! a bit sensitive about the word "priverlleged". Its all a matter of opinion.

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you so much Erwin x

[@catherineengle4196]

I really enjoyed this. I too like working alone. I tried off and on many years to work for others and I am no good at it. My ex and I had a construction business which I loved dearly but I did not like the way my ex treated people who worked for us. I did not like the way he pushed me to work as hard as a man. I found myself taking on painting and wallpapering jobs so I could work alone. We had a very beautiful home with 13 acres of land. I raised goats, chickens and veggies for my family. I canned and would sale my homemade jelly and chicken eggs to my local community. I loved it! My yard was breath taking and covered in flowers that I adored growing. I felt more myself when I could plant, grow and nuture flowers. I had two weddings in my yard and two engagements with photographers using my roses, irises and weeping cherry trees for back drops as couples kissed and smiled thinking of the future. I loved it and was so passionate about wanting to flower farm and allow events to happen in my 1800s barn. My ex did everything possible to ruin my dreams. It was all about him and killing my health to do want he needed me to do for the construction business. We were together 20 years. It's time I can't get back. I lost my beautiful home, my animals and all my lovely flowers in a divorce. I have struggled so hard to get back on my feet but my health keeps knocking me down. I am fighting so hard to get well and beat this but at the same time I am so tired. I keep holding on to my dreams in hopes that I will be able to have what I know without a doubt I would be good at. No one can stand in my way....but my health. God bless and thank you for sharing

[@theflowerfarmer]

Thankyou Catherine - and keep dreaming! x

[@keriko2445]

Believe I know that health issue can be a near impossible obstacle, but anything is possible I have learned that. I have struggled with progressive health issues as well a bout with cancer since I was 24 years I am 60 now. I moved in the family home 23 years ago bringing my University Salary to the table and also care for my Mom in her later years. My mother before she died told told me to go out and make a life myself. I am currently trying to get over the financial and emotional hurdles between me and my dream. What I want is a small cottage away from the urban bustle I have dealt with all my life where I craft and garden in peace. Sometimes the unexpected can blessings can occur if we just try. Don't let your ex continue to destroy and control your dreams. Take things small and tackle your hurdles you will succeed I believe in you.

[@wldernessparkflowers]

I am reflecting on a recent post I have seen stating that it was impossible to make a living from flower farming without doing workshops/courses. What are your thoughts?

[@theflowerfarmer]

excellent question - short answer absolutely possible to make a living without teaching workshops - long answer will cover in a whole special clip.

[@patrickdempsey9886]

Someone once told me work finding your type of work is like music some like country folk pop rap classic and as the Great Johnny Cash once said even in his country you have to pick the songs that suits your voice suits you edge I started as a butcher my self I had no problem when the animals were dead but I did not like the slaughtering I hated it so I studied as a chef I had no interest in fine dining but wanted to work on old recipes like butter and fat and was successful at it don't worry many weight watchers sneaked in for larded chips smocked bacon and cheese their i learned about gardening veg and herbs 🌿 and flowers for the table and loved it a friend of mine went nursing and wanted to take care of mother and babies but one day she came crying after her semester she was failed the reason was that not always babies are born well or at times they don't make it they said she was not able to handle it that babies care was not always romantic you have to deal with the tragedy and continue a very important job she now nursing with the elderly and enjoys it it's different horses for different courses nothing wrong with fancy flowers with your one Rose copper wire and Weaping moss Or you supply supermarket or you you produce as you do local produce that fine to So people should not look down their nose we are all different Making it dose not mean your getting paid for it

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you Patrick x