Growing For Market Podcast

Urban flower farming on multiple plots with Elizabeth Lutz Kelly of Happy Dragon Flower Farm in Ohio


Listen Later

When Elizabeth Lutz Kelly’s flower growing hobby turned into a business, it outgrew the space she had available in her yard in Akron, Ohio. Even though there wasn’t a lot of open space, she asked around her neighborhood and found places that could be growing crops that weren’t. Thus she was able to expand her business with one of the most viable strategies for growing a farm without having to buy more land.

In this interview we hear about Elizabeth’s strategies for growing a lot of flowers in a small area, what crops she grows and how she markets them locally. We also hear about how her dahlia breeding project has led to submitting a variety for possible naming by the American Dahlia Society. We also hear why she’s planting more perennials for cut flowers all year round, how she moves them through her farmstand, and more in this week’s interview with host April Parms Jones!

 

Connect With Guest:
Website: happydragonflowerfarm.com
Instagram: @happydragonflowerfarm
Facebook: Akron Garden Share

 

Podcast Sponsors: Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

This episode is brought to you by Tend, the all-in-one, AI-powered farm management platform trusted by modern growers. Tend helps you cut through the busywork, so you can focus on growing and selling what matters. With Tend, you can plan your crops, assign and track tasks, manage inventory, and handle your sales and accounting, all in one smart, easy-to-use platform. Whether you run a 1-acre farm or manage a large operation, Tend adapts to your scale and style, supporting everything from manual labor to fully mechanized workflows. Try it for free at Tend.com, no credit card required.

 

Tired of breakdowns and not knowing if your old Farmall or Allis G will start? Consider the Tilmor Super E - the electric cultivating tractor built for market growers. With up to 8 hours of runtime, the Super E uses a 48-volt electric system that’s quiet, easy to operate, and dependable. No gas, no noise, no constant repairs and cheaper to operate than a gas tractor. It delivers reliable power that reduces manual labor and keeps your crew motivated. Learn more and see the Super E in action at Tilmor.com.

 

Farmhand is the virtual assistant built for farmers—helping CSAs scale sales, run error-free fulfillment, and deliver 5-star service. Whether you’re at 100 members or 1,000, Farmhand helps you grow without burning out. You’ve heard us—and our farmers—right here on the Growing for Market Podcast. Explore more stories and learn more at farmhand.partners/gfm.
 

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.

 

Nifty Hoops builds complete gothic high tunnels that are easy to install and built to last.  Their bolt-together construction makes setup straightforward and efficient, whether it's a small backyard hoophouse, or a dozen large production-scale high tunnels- especially through their community build option, where professional builders work alongside your crew, family, or neighbors to build each structure -- usually in a single day. Visit niftyhoops.com to learn more.

 

There are a lot of farm sales platforms out there, but there’s only one that’s cooperatively owned by farmers. That’s GrownByyour all-in-one solution to simplify farm sales. GrownBy makes online farm sales easy and affordable; setting up your shop is free, and you only pay when you sell. Join over 900 farms who have already signed up for GrownBy, at grownby.com.

 Subscribe To Our Magazine -all new subscriptions include a FREE 28-Day Trial
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Growing For Market PodcastBy Andrew Mefferd, Katie Kulla, April Parms Jones

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

62 ratings


More shows like Growing For Market Podcast

View all
The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers by Epic Gardening

The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

1,580 Listeners

The joe gardener Show - Organic Gardening - Vegetable Gardening - Expert Garden Advice From Joe Lamp'l by Podcast – joe gardener® | Organic Gardening Like a Pro

The joe gardener Show - Organic Gardening - Vegetable Gardening - Expert Garden Advice From Joe Lamp'l

1,842 Listeners

Farm Small Farm Smart by The Modern Grower Podcast Network

Farm Small Farm Smart

262 Listeners

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast by John Kempf

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

508 Listeners

The Flower Podcast by Scott Shepherd, Host and Flower Educator

The Flower Podcast

242 Listeners

Growers Daily by Farmer Jesse

Growers Daily

404 Listeners

My Digital Farmer Podcast by Corinna Bench

My Digital Farmer Podcast

87 Listeners

The Cut Flower Podcast by Roz Chandler

The Cut Flower Podcast

24 Listeners

The No-Till Flowers Podcast by Jennie Love

The No-Till Flowers Podcast

295 Listeners

Field and Garden with Lisa Mason Ziegler by Lisa Mason Ziegler

Field and Garden with Lisa Mason Ziegler

390 Listeners

The Dirt on Flowers by Shannon Allen and Lyndsay Biehl

The Dirt on Flowers

333 Listeners

Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne by Lisa Mason Ziegler & Layne Angelo

Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne

152 Listeners

The Backyard Bouquet Podcast: Cut Flower Podcast for Flower Farmers & Backyard Gardeners by Jennifer Gulizia of The Flowering Farmhouse

The Backyard Bouquet Podcast: Cut Flower Podcast for Flower Farmers & Backyard Gardeners

90 Listeners

Six Figure Flower Farming by Jenny Marks

Six Figure Flower Farming

162 Listeners

The Market Gardener Podcast by JM Fortier

The Market Gardener Podcast

48 Listeners