🌸 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Dish the Dirt, we're thrilled to welcome back Mardi from Quite Contrary Flower Farm in Gippsland, Victoria. From lawyer to full-time flower farmer, Mardi’s journey is anything but conventional—and that’s exactly what makes it so inspiring.

We dive into what’s changed since she last joined us: refining her business model, narrowing in on specialty crops like dahlias, David Austin roses, and bearded irises, and what it really means to grow your way. Mardi speaks candidly about burnout, quality control, the pitfalls of trend-chasing, and the realities of running a flower farm that’s both sustainable and soulful.

Whether you’re a seasoned grower, a budding florist, or someone who just loves local flowers, this episode is packed with wisdom, humour, and deeply honest insights from someone living and breathing the field every day.

🌿 What We Cover:

• How Mardi went from corporate lawyer to full-time flower farmer

• The evolution of her crop focus and what she’s learned along the way

• Why she doubled down on dahlias, David Austins, and bearded irises

• Selling at the farm gate vs. wholesale vs. retail

• The business realities of flower farming (yes, spreadsheets matter!)

• What makes local flowers so f*#%ing great

• Lessons from the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

• Advice for anyone thinking about diving into flower farming

🌸 Guest:
Mardi – @qcflowerfarm
Founder of Quite Contrary Flower Farm, Gippsland VIC
Specialising in specialty cut flowers grown with heart and intention.

🌼 Links & Resources:

• Quite Contrary Flower Farm on Instagram

• American Specialty Cut Flower Growers Association (for those nerdy vase-life studies!)

💬 Let’s Keep Digging:
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