This conversation explores the intricacies of selling flowers retail, focusing on roadside stands. Sarah and Katie discuss the selection of flowers, the different ways to sell flowers direct to consumer, the benefits and challenges of retail versus wholesale, customer engagement, marketing strategies, payment methods, and pricing. They also touch on the importance of social media and the hidden costs associated with running a flower business. Overall, the discussion provides valuable insights for aspiring flower sellers.

Bec, from Dish the Dirt, discusses the evolution of the Australian flower farming community, the challenges faced by growers, and the impact her podcast has had. We explore the importance of collaboration between growers and florists, the role of community in the industry, and the significance of platforms like Growers Avenue. The discussion also touches on sustainability practices, the future of flower farming, and advice for new growers entering the field.

In this episode, Katie and Sarah discuss their experiences as flower farmers in Australia during October. They share insights on weather challenges, planting updates, and the success of their harvests, particularly focusing on Corn Cockle/Agrostemma. The conversation also touches on the balance between work and farming, the complexities of ordering and growing dahlias, and the introduction of new woody perennials to their farms. Additionally, they explore financial aspects of flower farming, including budgeting and profitability, while looking ahead to future planting and seasonal changes.

Chapters

00:00 October Wrap-Up: Weather Challenges and Planting Successes

04:53 Harvesting Corncockle: Yields and Lessons Learned

09:05 Weddings and Floral Design: Balancing Business and Personal Life

15:24 Jobs and Seasonal Transitions: Navigating Burnout and Motivation

22:10 Roses and Thrips: Challenges in Flower Farming

27:17 Insecticidal Soap and Dahlias

29:45 Ordering Tubers and Delivery Challenges

33:38 Selling Dahlia Tubers and Storage Issues

35:15 Woody and Perennial Shrubs

39:00 Taking Cuttings and Success Rates

41:05 Budgeting for Farm Expenses

43:32 Profitability and Revenue Insights

45:13 Current Blooms and Seasonal Changes

This episode is a heartfelt conversation with Jess and Cait, who share their experiences and insights into the world of retail floristry. They discuss the importance of sustainability, the challenges and joys of working with local flower growers, and the unique connections they foster with their community through their shop, The Little Garden. They discuss their commitment to local sourcing, the impact of COVID-19 on their business, and their philosophy of radical honesty and community support.

Bed Rotations & Sowings - Template spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lHdGneb_V7inYF9mMgZKfKXSpdOrYHg8xbnFwKJu7gY/edit?usp=sharing

(You are welcome to copy and paste this template into your own spreadsheet to use)

In this conversation, Sarah and Katie discuss their approach to crop planning. After discussing how they choose what they grow in a previous epsiode, this conversation dives into what they do after they have their list of flowers. From where crops are placed, mapping their growing spaces, planning sowing dates and successions, and managing the timing of it all.

In this episode, Sarah and Katie, two flower farmers from Australia, interview Casey from Three Dogs Flower Farm. Casey shares her journey from being a botanist to starting her flower farm, discussing the challenges and triumphs along the way. The conversation covers topics like seed saving, favourite flowers, and the importance of local adaptation.

In this episode, Sarah and Katie, two flower farmers from Australia, discuss their experiences and insights into flower farming. They explore how they choose what to grow based on market needs, personal preferences, and constraints. The conversation delves into the importance of profitability, data analysis, and the balance between joy and financial viability in farming. They also share their experiences with trialling new crops and the challenges they face in the industry. The episode wraps up with a look at future plans and the excitement of upcoming interviews with other growers.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Flower Farming and Seasonal Changes

06:18 Constraints in Flower Farming: Space, Time, and Climate

14:11 Risk Tolerance in Flower Farming: A Balancing Act

28:57 Crop Planning: Lessons Learned and Future Goals

34:03 Understanding Crop Costs and Labor

38:40 Balancing Joy and Profit in Crop Selection

44:13 Trialing New Crops and Learning from Failures

59:17 Engaging with Florists and Customers for Crop Planning

In this episode, Katie and Sarah, two flower farmers from Australia, discuss the rapid transition to high temps in early Spring, share insights on direct sowing techniques, the excitement of designing for weddings (and Katie's big wedding drama). The conversation also touches on the complexities of colour descriptions and reflections on their farming journey as they look forward to the rest of the season.

Chapters

00:00 Spring Weather Changes and Impact on Flower Farming

06:08 Irrigation and Watering

12:40 Direct Sowing and Seed

19:05 Flowering Varieties and Seasonal Blooms

25:20 Wedding Preparation and Drama

31:28 Flower Sales Success

40:11 Physical Challenges in Flower Farming

48:42 Crop Trials

55:15 Seasonal Transitions and Future Planning

In this episode, Katie interviews Sarah about her unique experience in the world of flower farming. She discusses her urban growing space, the evolution of the crops she grows, and the importance of community. The conversation delves into the challenges she faces, particularly regarding time constraints and small space growing, and how she navigates the business side of selling flowers to florists.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Flower Farming Journeys

10:02 Selling to Florists: The Business Side

14:39 Challenges in Flower Farming

19:35 Time Management and Farming Practices

24:00 Partnerships in Flower Farming

28:37 Future Crop Expectations and Innovations

In this episode, Sarah interviews Katie about her journey into flower farming, discussing her growing space, customer base, and the challenges she faces. Katie elaborates on her property, the flooding issues, and her approach to growing flowers sustainably. She also touches on her sales strategies, including a roadside stand and selling florists, and expanding her growing space. The conversation highlights the joy of harvesting, the business mindset required for flower farming, and the story behind the name 'Grown by Lightning Hollows.'

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Flower Farming Journey

05:56 Customer Base and Sales Avenues

11:51 Favourite Aspects of Flower Farming

17:28 Weekly Workflow

23:18 Future Plans