April 23, 2025

Episode 713: Sydney Fee of Fee, Fi, Fo Farm on how her sustainable hospitality and tourism background supports her farmer-florist enterprise

55 minutes

https://youtu.be/ILIsMQVb0xs?si=apa9xNGFjmMBb6gq

I’m always so inspired by the paths taken by our Slow Flowers Members to create their floral endeavors and today’s guest has a fabulous back-story, which we’ll share with you today. Sydney Fee of Fee, Fi, Fo Farm is based in New York’s Finger Lakes Region, home to nearly 150 wineries and many destination wedding venues. Sydney is entering her fifth year as a farmer-florist, growing intensively in a 1,500-square-foot cutting garden and borrowing planting space at a nearby bed-and-breakfast to serve local CSA customers and more than a dozen weddings this season. She does this while also working full-time as an event planner at a sustainable winery – and you can only imagine how these varied chapters add up to a beautiful story. I’m excited for you to meet Sydney Fee and learn more.

Sydney Fee of Fee, Fi, Fo Farm

Fee, Fi, Fo Farm

We have a bonus interview that will begin today’s episode, as I am joined by past guest of the Slow Flowers Podcast Katie Lila of Flowers for People and "Follow the Blooms," who returns to tell us about her television series’ upcoming second season with details on how to submit your idea for an episode featuring you, your farm or floral design work, or your community connections. We are also celebrating the news that “Follow the Blooms” season one has a new home on public television – and you’ll be able to watch the replay of the fun episode about the 2023 Slow Flowers Summit in Bellevue, Washington. The bonus interview includes a video highlight from that episode.

Sydney inside her 25-by-60-foot micro farm (left) and Sydney with a floral installation (right)

The micro farm at peak season

Next, you’ll meet our featured guest, Sydney Fee of Fee, Fi, Fo Farm, who I recently interviewed for the Slow Flowers Podcast. I first met Sydney Fee in 2022 when she attended the Slow Flowers Summit in New York (followed by her attendance at the Bellevue Summit in 2023 and the Banff Summit in 2024). It’s a joy to welcome her to the Podcast today. Owner and operator of Fee Fi Fo Farm based in Montour Falls, New York, Sydney is a lover of sustainability, nature, planning, flowers, and weddings.

Seasonal Harvest for the Fee, Fi, Fo Farm CSA

Fee Fi Fo Farm strives to sustainably cultivate lovely flowers to share with the community, while also educating the public and shining a light on the importance of supporting domestic flower farms. On her own tiny plot of land, Sydney is dedicated to producing beautiful blooms in the most sustainable manner.It began in 2020 when she planted a few seeds with help from a brother armed with a degree in horticulture. That led to her passion for cut flowers as Sydney realized the importance of spreading the message of how crucial supporting domestic flower farms is.Let’s jump right in and meet both Katie and Sydney – as we all discuss the joys of locally-grown blooms.Sydney has shared lots of beautiful floral photos to illustrate today’s interview about Fee, Fi, Fo Farm, and you’ll find those, as well as her social places, so you can gain more appreciation for her entrepreneurial and sustainable floral projects. Find and follow Sydney Fee and Fee, Fi, Fo Farm on Instagram and Facebook

Slow Flowers Summit 2024 with Katie Lila of Follow the Blooms. From left: Gina Lett-Shrewsberry, Katie Lila, Debra Prinzing & Olivia Yates O'Donnell

Follow the Blooms details: Katie Lila is on the hunt for flower-obsessed creatives, growers, artists, and event visionaries who want to take their creativity beyond the vase and onto the screen. If you've ever asked yourself, "What else can I do with flowers?" or if you’ve got a project that makes people stop and stare, she wants to hear from you! Find and follow Katie Lila and Follow the Blooms on Instagram.

Click to Submit Your Idea to "Follow the Blooms"

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