The Blooming Solopreneur

Have you ever heard of a grave tender?

Until 2017, I hadn't either. Today, gravesite beautification is still one of the primary services I offer through Serene & Green—and it's work I find incredibly meaningful.

Grave tenders are essentially cemetery visitors for hire. We visit gravesites on behalf of people who can't—or simply prefer not to—do the work themselves.

That might mean tidying and weeding, planting flowers, delivering a wreath on a holiday, safely cleaning a headstone, or simply showing up on a meaningful date and sending a photo afterward.

And I've come to realize that what my clients are really paying for isn't the flowers or the weeding.

They're paying for the peace of mind that comes from knowing someone showed up.

In this episode of The Blooming Solopreneur, I'm taking you behind the scenes of this unusual little corner of the service-business world.

We'll talk about:

I'll also share a few examples from my own clients that illustrate why this work means so much more than simply maintaining a piece of ground.

Could grave tending be a fit for you?

I've created a free Grave Care Business Fit Check to help you think through whether this kind of work fits your interests, temperament and current season of life.

Visit betsyblockblooms.com/fitcheck to get your copy.

Want to take the next step?

Enrollment for the Fall 2026 cohort of Peaceful Profit: How to Start and Build a Sustainable Grave Care Business opens September 29.

This four-week online course covers the things I wish I'd known when I started Serene & Green in 2018—including how to set up your business, create and price your services, find your first clients, and build a grave care business that's sustainable for you.

The Fall cohort begins October 12 and includes two live Zoom Q&A sessions.

Join the waitlist for early-bird pricing at betsyblockblooms.com/waitlist.

And if grave tending isn't for you—but someone popped into your mind while listening—I'd love for you to share this episode with them.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 LINKS + MENTIONS:

🌟 Freebie: Grave Care Business Fit Check
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/fitcheck

🌟 Join the waitlist
Peaceful Profit: How to Start and Build a Sustainable Grave Care Business
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/waitlist

📩 Connect with Betsy
[email protected]

💻 Website
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/

👉 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/betsyblockblooms/

What if the goal of this next chapter isn’t simply to be happy?

A recent New York Times opinion piece by Mark Edmundson, “There’s Something Better Than Happiness,” got me thinking about our cultural obsession with comfort—especially as we approach retirement and later adulthood.

I don't agree with everything in the piece. I believe deeply in rest. In doing nothing. In beach chairs, naps, leisurely mornings and afternoons with absolutely nothing productive to show for them.

But I also know that some of the times I've felt most alive haven't been the times I've been most comfortable. They've come when I'm learning, experimenting, making something, solving a problem or stretching myself in a new direction.

I call that productive discomfort.

In this episode, I explore the difference between pleasure and fulfillment—and why I think a rich life has room for both. I also talk about the value of having a “project”: something you've chosen for yourself simply because you're curious about where it might lead.

Your project could be learning Italian. Building a garden. Taking up pottery. Training for a 5K. Volunteering. Starting a podcast. Launching a side hustle.

For me, one of those projects involves 220 peony plants growing in a field in Maine—and not a single bloom to show for it yet.

As I approach retirement myself, I'm realizing that I don't want the next 20 or 30 years to be one long vacation. I want less pressure, certainly. More rest, absolutely.

But I also want curiosity. Challenge. Purpose. Things to look forward to.

In this episode:

So yes—plan the vacation. Sit on the beach. Read the novel. Take the nap.

Rest is never wasted time. But maybe comfort doesn't have to be the destination.

A question to take with you

Do you have a project right now?

Not a chore or obligation. Something you've chosen because you're curious about where it might lead.

Send me a DM @betsyblockblooms and tell me what you're pursuing. I'd love to cheer you on.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
LINKS + MENTIONS:

Mark Edmundson, “There’s Something Better Than Happiness,” The New York Times

🌟 Grab my freebie:“Ignite Your Spark: 5 Questions to Guide Your Side Hustle Journey”
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/spark

📩 Connect with Betsy
[email protected]

💻 Website
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/

👉 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/betsyblockblooms/

Sometimes the big dream has to wait.

Maybe your job is too demanding to launch the business you've been thinking about. Maybe financial responsibilities mean retirement isn't realistic yet. Maybe family commitments are taking up most of your time and energy.

There are seasons when waiting is actually the wise choice.

But there's a difference between waiting passively and preparing actively.

In this episode of The Blooming Solopreneur, I'm sharing what I learned from my own “waiting room era.” At 50, I desperately wanted to leave my career and pursue work that felt more fulfilling — but as the primary breadwinner with two school-aged kids, that wasn't a realistic option.

So I started preparing for a future I couldn't pursue yet.

That period eventually led me to discover grave tending, learn the skills I would need, and launch Serene & Green — my first side business.

In this episode, we'll talk about how you can use your own waiting season to:

And I'll leave you with one question:

If you knew for certain that your dream was going to happen three years from now, what would you start learning or practicing today?

You may not be able to make the big move yet.

But that doesn't mean you can't make any move.

Don't waste the waiting. Turn your waiting room into a classroom.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
LINKS + MENTIONS:

🌟 Grab my freebie: “Ignite Your Spark: 5 Questions to Guide Your Side Hustle Journey”
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/spark

📩 Connect with Betsy
[email protected]

💻 Website
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/

👉 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/betsyblockblooms/

For the past eight years, I thought I was building a side business.

I was learning how to find clients, price my services, host workshops, and grow Serene & Green.

But looking back, I can see I was building something much bigger.

I was building evidence.

Evidence that I could create opportunities for myself.
That I could earn income on my own terms.
That I could solve problems I'd never faced before.
That I could reinvent myself. And most importantly…

That I could trust myself.

This episode is a little different. It's part life update, part reflection, and part announcement.

After nearly 40 years of W-2 jobs—and 17 years at Shipley—I've decided to leave my fundraising career at the end of this year.

People keep congratulating me on my "retirement."

But that's not how I see it.

I see it as the beginning of a new chapter—one where I get to build a business and a life that truly fit who I am today.

If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to start something new, or if a side hustle is really "worth it," I hope you'll give this episode a listen.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 LINKS + MENTIONS:

🌟 Grab my freebie: “Ignite Your Spark: 5 Questions to Guide Your Side Hustle Journey”
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/spark

📩 Connect with Betsy
[email protected]

💻 Website
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/

👉 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/betsyblockblooms/

Let’s go back - way back - back to the very beginning of my passion for flowers, from my great-aunt Ethel’s snapdragons to the tiny backyard garden where it all began. You'll hear how this love of blooms eventually led to the creation of my floral business and my discovery of the Growing Kindness Project—a nonprofit dedicated to spreading joy through flowers.

As a proud Growing Kindness Ambassador, I share how I’ve adapted the mission to fit my life and schedule, and why giving flowers away continues to bring me just as much joy as growing them. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Resources Mentioned:

Become a Growing Kindness Gardener

Growing Kindness Podcast

More about my floral work: sereneandgreen.com

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 LINKS + MENTIONS:

🌟 Grab my freebie: “Ignite Your Spark: 5 Questions to Guide Your Side Hustle Journey”
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/spark

📩 Connect with Betsy
[email protected]

💻 Website
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/

👉 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/betsyblockblooms/

In this episode of The Blooming Solopreneur, I dive into a powerful shift in how we think about work, aging, and purpose. Inspired by a recent talk from Australian author Bec Wilson, I explore the idea of our 50s and 60s as Prime Time—not the end of our working years, but the beginning of something intentional and fulfilling.

You’ll hear:

What work can really mean in this chapter of life

Whether you’re dreaming of freedom, craving purpose, or just wondering what’s next, this episode is for you.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
LINKS + MENTIONS:

Bec Williams + Prime Time
https://www.primetimers.net/

Prime Time: The handbook for those in the prime of their life

🌟 Grab my freebie:
“Ignite Your Spark: 5 Questions to Guide Your Side Hustle Journey”
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/spark

📩 Connect with Betsy
[email protected]

💻 Website
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/

👉 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/betsyblockblooms/

In this episode, Betsy shares why she believes that personal, in-person service businesses are the ideal starting point for midlife women ready to dip their toes into entrepreneurship. Drawing from her own experience starting Serene & Green—a gravesite care business launched with just the tools in her garage—Betsy walks through the four big reasons service-based businesses offer flexibility, low startup costs, and meaningful human connection.

If you’ve been overthinking your business idea or worrying that AI will replace your opportunities, this episode will remind you that your hands, heart, and creativity are your greatest assets.

What You’ll Learn

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 LINKS + MENTIONS:

Serene & Green
https://www.sereneandgreen.com/

🌟 Grab my freebie:
“Ignite Your Spark: 5 Questions to Guide Your Side Hustle Journey”
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/spark

📩 Connect with Betsy
[email protected]

💻 Website
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/

👉 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/betsyblockblooms/

Being a solopreneur can be tough—but it’s also deeply rewarding.

In this episode, I’m sharing 7 of the most meaningful and often overlooked rewards of building a business on your own terms. From flexibility and confidence to rediscovering joy and purpose, these lessons have shaped my journey—and might just inspire yours.

If you’re a midlife woman considering a side hustle or in the early stages of building your business, let this episode remind you: it’s not just about making money. It’s about becoming the version of yourself you were meant to be.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

🔗 Listen now and tag a friend who needs a dose of encouragement!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
LINKS + MENTIONS:

🌟 Grab my freebie:
“Ignite Your Spark: 5 Questions to Guide Your Side Hustle Journey”
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/spark

📩 Connect with Betsy
[email protected]

💻 Website
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/

👉 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/betsyblockblooms/

Running a business solo doesn’t mean doing everything alone. Today, I open up about the often-unspoken experience of loneliness as a solopreneur—and the practices I’ve embraced to stay connected, motivated, and grounded. From forming a rock-solid accountability partnership, to volunteering in my community, to investing in lifelong friendships, I share real-life strategies for making this path feel a little less lonely and a whole lot more joyful.

Whether you’re in the early stages of building a business or deep in the weeds, this episode is your reminder that connection isn’t a distraction—it’s essential.

🎧 What you'll hear:

You don't need a team to feel supported—you just need the right people in your corner.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

LINKS + MENTIONS:

Foggy Oak Acres

Appleford

🌟 Grab my freebie:
“Ignite Your Spark: 5 Questions to Guide Your Side Hustle Journey” https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/spark

📩 Connect with Betsy
[email protected]

💻 Website
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/

👉 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/betsyblockblooms/

What if the business you’re building isn’t just a way to earn money or fill your time—but a powerful path to mattering?

In this short, heartfelt episode, Betsy shares a lightbulb moment sparked by a faculty meeting speaker, Zach Mercurio, author of The Power of Mattering. He defined mattering as the opposite of loneliness: the experience of feeling valued and adding value.

This got Betsy thinking—maybe starting a heart-led, service-based business is one of the most meaningful ways to meet this fundamental human need.

You’ll hear:

Whether you’re still in the brainstorming phase or already on the solopreneur path, this episode will leave you feeling inspired to lead with heart, build with intention, and embrace the impact you’re here to make.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
LINKS + MENTIONS:

Zach Mercurio - author of The Power of Mattering

🌟 Grab my freebie: “Ignite Your Spark: 5 Questions to Guide Your Side Hustle Journey”
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/spark

📩 Connect with Betsy
[email protected]

💻 Website
https://www.betsyblockblooms.com/

👉 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/betsyblockblooms/