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Lisa Mason Ziegler
When flower sales suddenly go quiet, it can feel scary — especially when you’re new in business. In this episode, Lisa shares encouragement and practical next steps for slow weeks, reminding flower farmers to stay steady, keep finding customers, and just don’t quit. Mentions Download our FREE phone app for live shows and great deals! The Flower Farmer Club, Presented by The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today we're thrilled to share an inspiring story! Meet Tricia from The Simple Sunflower, an organization that’s making a big difference in our community by repurposing flowers for those in need. In this interview, you'll learn what they do, how they do it, and ways to apply this in your own community as well. Together, we can bring a little more joy into the world, one bouquet at a time! MENTIONS The Simple Sunflower: Website, InstagramShop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Early May is the perfect moment to pause, take a clear look at your garden, and make smart adjustments before the season gets away from you. In this episode, we walk through what to evaluate right now—from cool flowers to warm season plantings—so you can stay on track for a smoother, more productive season. Mentions The BIG Calendar-Journal June 27, 2026: Open Farm & Warehouse Tour InfoShop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Let’s talk money—the kind that keeps your flower farm alive or quietly drains it dry. In this episode, Lisa digs into the tough truth about spending on the farm: what’s worth it, what’s not, and how to make choices that lead to long-term success instead of slow collapse. If you're ready to face your farm finances head-on, this one's for you. Originally published as episode #337 on 4/08/25. Mentions Free Phone App for Live Gardening Shows: Get the App Lisa's Course, Flower Farming School Online Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
A simple moment in the garden can remind us of what really matters. In this episode, Lisa shares how birds bring balance, beauty, and natural pest control—and how easy it is to welcome them into your space. Mentions & How to Learn More Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy Lisa's Book, Vegetables Love Flowers June 27, 2026: Open Farm & Warehouse Tour Info Video: Growing & Maintaining A Native Plant Border Merlin Bird ID phone app by Cornell Lab of Ornithology Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today, we’re diving deep into the wonderful world of cutting gardens. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this guide will help you create a cutting garden that brings joy and beauty to your life. Here, Lisa covers what you need to know to make your cutting garden thrive. Originally aired 5/13/25 Mentions [Register Here] Free Training with Lisa: The Secret to Big, Beautiful, Abundant Summer Flowers Online Courses: The Easy Cut Flower Garden, Cool Flowers from Seed to HarvestBooks: Cool Flowers, Vegetables Love Flowers, The Cut Flower HandbookSeed Collection: Cut-Flower Garden Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Better flowers don’t always come from more effort—they come from better choices. Here, Lisa shares how working with nature, not against it, can transform your garden into something stronger, simpler, and more rewarding. Mentions Find locally-grown flowers: localflowers.org Lisa's book: Vegetables Love FlowersThe BIG Calendar-JournalShop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
On episode 28 of The No-Till Flowers Podcast, Lisa Mason Ziegler joined host Jennie Love to discuss all things seed starting! Jennie's focus is on regenerative farming. She invited Lisa on the show to compare seed starting techniques and discuss methods that support superior seed germination and seedling growth sustainably and regeneratively. Both Lisa and Jennie share lots of great resources for additional research and learning, see below for some of those links. Podcast excerpts are published with permission. Originally aired as Field & Garden episode #228 in March '23. Mentions Link to the original No-Till Flowers episode on Apple Podcasts Lisa's Book: Cool Flowers Eliot Coleman's Book: The New Organic Grower (affiliate link) Dr. Deno's Book: Seed Germination Theory & Practice (free PDF) Jeff Lowenfel's Book: Teaming With Bacteria (affiliate link) Podcast Series: Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Starting a garden is exciting — but the real joy comes from following through on the small, important steps that make everything work. In this episode, Lisa shares how doing less, but doing it better, can completely change your garden and bring the joy back. Mentions Deer Repellent Sprays: Tree Guard, I Must Garden, Liquid Fence Book: The New Organic Grower by Eliot ColemanProducts: Biodegradable Mulch Film, Flower Support Netting, Row Cover KitShop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today I'm diving into a topic that I've never really talked about before: collaboration versus competition. Why are we so afraid of competition? Let's explore why collaboration can actually be more beneficial. Mentions Amy's Organic Garden on Instagram Online Workshop: Collectives101 The Flower Farmer Club, presented by The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Most garden problems start before the first seed is planted. In this episode, Lisa shares the five simple setup decisions that make a cutting garden easier to care for—and far more productive. Mentions Products: Garden Fork & Spade, TGW Seed Collections, Biodegradable Mulch Film, The BIG Calendar-Journal, The Cut Flower Handbook Online Courses: The Easy Cut Flower Garden, Flower Farming School Online Irrigation Suppliers: Dripworks and Berry Hill Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
If I had the opportunity to restart my business today based on what I have learned since starting in 1998, these are some of the things that would change the course of my business. They seem so simple now, but when I was in the weeds-- I never even thought of these things! Hope they help! ~Lisa P.S. Listen through to the very end for an uplifting note from Jennifer! Mentions Lisa's Course: Flower Farming School Online Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
If your garden (or your to-do list) feels too big, this episode will feel like a deep breath. Lisa shares how cutting back her growing space—on purpose—actually increased her productivity, lowered stress, and brought the joy back into her season. Learn why “smaller” can make you a stronger, more profitable grower, and the simple shifts that help you get more from the beds you already have. Mentions The BIG Calendar-Journal from The Gardener's Workshop Book: The New Organic Grower by Eliot Coleman Live Class with Lisa: "Where to Sell Cut Flowers: Finding the Best Markets for YOUR Farm" Lisa's Course: Flower Farming School Online Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today, I’m thrilled to share some important tips for anyone dreaming of starting a flower farming business. As I look back on my journey, I wish I had these resources when I started. This is about the three key steps that can lead to failure as a flower farmer. I’ve seen many passionate people vanish from the business, and it’s often due to skipping over some basic but crucial steps. I'd love to keep YOU from failing, and I hope these tips help you navigate the challenges of flower farming and keep your passion alive. ~Lisa Mentions The Flower Farmer Club, presented by The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
In this episode, Lisa shares the deeper truth behind nearly 30 years of growing, teaching, and building The Gardener’s Workshop: success didn’t come from pressure or perfection—it came from following the quiet pull toward the work she loves. From discovering gardening as a dyslexic learner to building tools and resources that help others succeed, this is a gentle, inspiring reminder to listen to the tug that keeps you showing up, season after season. Mentions Documentary, The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia The BIG Calendar-Journal Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
In this episode, Lisa shares a gentle but game-changing reminder: a focused plan beats a flashy one every time. If you're building a flower farm (or dreaming of one), tune in to hear why growing a few reliable crops, resisting the urge to overcomplicate, and sticking to your plan can lead to real, lasting success. P.S. Listen through to the end for a special note from Julia! Original air date 1/31/23 as Field & Garden #222 Mentions Arnosky Family Farms on Instagram Lisa's Course: Flower Farming School Online Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Don’t Go It Alone: The Flower Farmer’s Superpower Dreaming of flower farming success? There’s one simple (but powerful) strategy that can save you time, money, and burnout: community. In this episode, Lisa shares why building a solid support network might be the most important decision you make as a beginner flower farmer. Mentions Lisa's Private Online Community: The Flower Farmer Club Lisa's Course: Flower Farming School Online Book: The Flower Farmer by Lynn Byczynski Discover our online courses! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. It was guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave is always happy to share his knowledge with our listeners! Topics Covered: Getting smart deals on plants and bulbs in winterAlstroemeria for cut flowers - what to knowProtecting plants from sudden cold and winter pestsLilies - which types can work for youVase life, what lasts and what does notRescuing a weedy perennial bedPeony care basicsPruning limelight hydrangeasOverwintering lisianthus and snapdragonsOrdering plugs and suppliesUnderrated and overrated cut flowersQuick seasonal checklistEpisode originally aired 12/17/25 on Instagram. Join Lisa and her guest hosts Wednesdays at 3:00PM Eastern time to get your cut flower growing questions answered by the experts! MentionsField & Garden #361: Snapdragon Growing with Dave Dowling Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers: ASCFG.org Dave's Course: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
What Dogs Teach Us About Flower Farming, Business, and Joy If you love flowers and dogs, this one’s for you. In this episode, Lisa reflects on how the simple routines dogs love—like the same walk every day—can teach us powerful lessons about farming, business, and finding joy in repetition. Tune in to hear how consistency and calm can build not only better farms, but better lives. Mentions Mental Aspect account on Instagram Lisa Books The BIG Calendar-Journal Discover our online courses! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today’s episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, with featured guest Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers in Baltimore, MD. Ellen is a floral designer who creates exclusively with flowers and foliage purchased from local growers. She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener’s Workshop. In this Q&A, Ellen highlights the need for understanding florists' requirements, offers flower recommendations, and addresses challenges in winter sourcing. She emphasizes visual marketing and the power of storytelling to connect with others in the flower industry. Mentions Ellen’s newsletter signup FlowerMore Community Connect with Ellen: Ellen Frost Flowers (Instagram), Website Ellen Online Courses: Florist School Online, Preparing to Sell to Florists Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Encore: Our most popular episode of 2025! Original air date January 14, 2025 Today, I want to dive into the topic of cool flowers and the importance of planting them in very early spring. The basic idea is to plant these flowers in cool to cold conditions to get the best performance out of them, which can happen in fall, winter, or very early spring. Many people have been led away from planting during these unusual times. But I assure you, this is where the magic happens! For flower farmers, planting cool flowers can significantly boost your business. We’re talking about flowers like: Bells of IrelandSweet peasStockSnapdragonsLisianthusLarkspurStatusPoppiesWhen planted at the right time, these flowers bloom earlier, grow taller, produce more stems, and are more resistant to diseases and pests. Listen in to learn who can plant in this window, when and what to plant, and more! Mentions Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers Lisa's Book, The Cut Flower Handbook Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest The Flower Farmer Club, presented by The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Ever catch yourself thinking, “I could never do that”? In this episode, Lisa Mason Ziegler unpacks the quiet assumptions that stop so many people before they ever plant their first row. Mentions ASCFG - Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers Mimo Davis at Urban Buds: Website, Instagram Lisa's Course: Flower Farming School Online Discover our online courses! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Why Starting From Seed Changes Everything for Your Cut Flower Garden Seeds are small but powerful! In this episode, Lisa breaks down why starting from seed gives you more variety, better timing, stronger plants, and huge savings. From common mistakes to simple rules that make seeds sprout reliably, plus why soil blocking is her go-to method, this episode will give you the confidence to start (or improve!) your own seed-starting routine. Mentions Lisa Talks Seed Starting on the No-Till Flowers Podcast Online Course: Seed Starting Made Easy Seed Starting Equipment Category Soil Blocking Mix Recipe & Instructions About Soil Blocking: Free Online Resources Discover our online courses! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Timing is everything when it comes to cool flowers! In this episode, Lisa explains the simple but crucial “very early spring” planting window — when to start, how to prepare, and why getting it right makes all the difference. Whether you’re growing sweet peas, snapdragons, stock, or others, this practical episode will help you plan, plant, and grow the gorgeous blooms you crave! Mentions Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers Spiral-Bound Edition: The Cut Flower Handbook The BIG Calendar-Journal The Garden Fork Discover our online courses! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Discover how serving your community can spark creativity, confidence, and real business growth. In this episode, Lisa shares simple, practical ways to connect, collaborate, and give back, and why those connections become one of your farm’s greatest strengths. Mentions: Discover our online courses! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Discover how a simple idea—planting a native border—became a powerful living shield around Lisa’s flower farm. In this episode, you’ll learn why native plants matter more than you think, how a “halo” habitat can protect your land, and the practical steps to create your own wildlife corridor, no matter the size of your space. Mentions: Book: Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy Field & Garden #368: Why & How I Use Leaves Video: Growing & Maintaining a Native Plant Border Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Dreaming of blooms beyond your field season? Join Sunny Meadows Flower Farm as they share hard-earned lessons from two decades of growing in hoop houses and greenhouses. Learn how season extension opens up year-round sales, supports your team, and transforms your flower business—whether you're just adding your first tunnel or leveling up your entire operation. Mentions: Online Course: Grow Cut Flower Crops in Hoop & Greenhouses Learn more about and connect with Steve & Gretel Adams and their business, Sunny Meadows Flower Farm. Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
In this episode, Lisa shares her favorite secret weapon for building rich, living soil — leaves! Learn how Grandpa Ziegler inspired a lifelong practice that feeds the soil, saves water, reduces weeds, and supports a thriving ecosystem. Lisa explains when and how to collect leaves, what kinds to avoid, and simple ways to turn them into “leaf mold gold” for your own garden. Whether you have a small backyard or a flower farm, this episode will change how you see every leaf that falls. Mentions Download our phone app for your FREE course on building a trellis tunnel! Lisa's book, Vegetables Love Flowers The BIG Calendar-Journal Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Flower farming is full of beauty, but turning that beauty into a profitable business takes strategy. In this episode, Lennie Larkin breaks down the real numbers behind a thriving flower farm, from understanding profit margins and valuing your time to pricing, marketing, and knowing when to pivot. You’ll learn practical, down-to-earth tips for making smart money decisions, avoiding common pricing traps, and building a farm that not only blooms but lasts. Whether you’re dreaming of your first acre or refining your current systems, this conversation is your roadmap to a more sustainable and rewarding flower business. Mentions Lennie's Upcoming Event (Nov 2025): Sell Your Flowers Summit Lennie’s Instagram: flowerfarming.forprofit Lennie's online course: Profitable Flower Farming Field & Garden #362: "What's Your Problem?" Mentorship Roundtable Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Starting a flower business comes with its fair share of jitters — and most new growers face the same three big fears: Are my flowers good enough? Will I have enough to sell? How much should I charge? In this episode, Lisa shares her own early experiences as a new grower and the simple habits that transformed anxiety into steady progress. Whether you’re in your first season or thinking about taking the leap, this conversation is packed with real-world strategies to help you quiet the doubts and find your footing. Mentions Register in Oct '25 for Lisa's Live Masterclass, "Where to Sell Cut Flowers: Finding the Best Markets for YOUR Flower Farm" Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
The hardest part of starting a flower farm isn’t growing, it’s getting past the fear that keeps you from beginning. In this episode, Lisa shares why fear shows up at the start and how to take simple, practical steps to finally move forward with confidence. Mentions Register in Oct '25 for Lisa's Live Masterclass, "Where to Sell Cut Flowers: Finding the Best Markets for YOUR Flower Farm" Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Fear has a sneaky way of keeping flower farmers and small-business dreamers stuck in place. In this episode, Lisa shares a simple plan for breaking through fear, building momentum, and finally moving toward the business you want. Mentions Field & Garden #363: The Silent Partner: Fear Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
How I’m Slaying Fear and Downsizing My Flower Garden In this episode, Lisa opens up about a big change on her farm - downsizing her gardens to match the season her business is in now. She shares how fear quietly holds us back, how she’s facing it head-on, and why scaling down doesn’t mean losing your identity as a grower. If you’ve ever felt stuck between what was and what’s next, this conversation will help you take that first brave step forward. Mentions Field & Garden #362: "What's Your Problem?", A Mentorship Roundtable Lennie's online course: Profitable Flower Farming Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Running a flower business comes with big questions: Where should I sell? How do I make the most of my time? In this episode, Lisa Mason Ziegler and Lennie Larkin join me for a candid chat with farmer Torrie Anderson. From farmers markets to flower passes, we share honest advice and real-world strategies that can help you find clarity in your own business. Mentions Lennie's online course: Profitable Flower Farming Lennie’s Instagram: flowerfarming.forprofit Torrie Anderson, The Flower Farm at Young's Mill Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
I’ve been growing snapdragons for over two decades and thought I had a handle on it—but NOT after this discussion with Dave Dowling! In this episode, we are talking about extending the harvest season, how to do that but variety selection, harvesting, conditioning, and more! This is but a small sampling of what it is like to learn from Dave. I am so pleased to have Dave as one of our online course instructors. Learn more about his course, Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Connect with Dave on Instagram & Facebook Originally aired in 2022 as Field & Garden episode #98. MentionsDave's Course: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
In this episode of Field and Garden, Lisa Mason Ziegler shares the skill that transformed her flower farm, her business, and her life: choosing her mood. From small habits like saying a cheerful phrase out loud to keeping a gratitude list and taking a daily walk, Lisa explains how these simple practices can help you stay calm, positive, and resilient — even when life gets messy. Mentions Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today, we're sharing a recent interview that Layne and Lisa did with Scott Shepherd on The Flower Podcast. They covered lots of great topics and common questions about Cool Flowers, perennials, biennials, and more! So listen in, and enjoy! Re-aired with permission from The Flower Podcast. Mentions The Flower Podcast, with host Scott Shepherd Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne (watch on YouTube) The Cut Flower Handbook The BIG Calendar Journal Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
The BIG Calendar-Journal: The Brain of My Flower Farm Ever feel overwhelmed by seed starting and succession planting? In this episode, Lisa Mason Ziegler shares the origin story of the BIG Calendar-Journal—the wall calendar that turned her flower farm around. Discover how a giant calendar became her farm’s brain, why it works better than a garden journal or spreadsheet, and how it transformed chaos into a weekly rhythm of seed starting, planting, and harvesting. You’ll learn: How succession planting became manageable (and profitable). The practical system Lisa uses to track planting dates, seed starts, and harvest notes. Tips for setting up your own BIG Calendar-Journal at home or on the farm. Whether you’re a home gardener or a flower farmer, this tool can help you plan smarter, stay consistent, and build your own record of growing success. Mentions The BIG Calendar-Journal, from The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
What makes The Flower Farmer Club such a special place for flower farmers and gardeners? In this episode, Lisa Mason Ziegler pulls back the curtain on the hidden benefits of her popular online membership community. She shares the vision behind the Club, why she considers it an honor to mentor others, and how this community helps growers overcome the common struggles of isolation, overwhelm, and unreliable information. From finding camaraderie and accountability to learning from the experiences of others, Lisa explains how the Club was built to support your flower farming journey every step of the way. Mentions The Flower Farmer Club, presented by The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Thinking about starting a flower farm? 🌻 In this episode, Lisa Mason Ziegler shares honest insights from her own journey—what it really takes, what to expect in the early days, and how to know if flower farming is the right path for you. If you’ve ever dreamed of turning a love for flowers into a business, this is a must-listen! Mentions Book: The New Organic Grower by Eliot Coleman Join the Waitlist: Lisa's BIG Calendar-Journal Free Bug ID Phone App: SEEK by iNaturalist Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) TGW Phone App/Live Shopping Show Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. It was guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave is always happy to share his knowledge with our listeners! Topics Covered Peony care: fertilizer timing, summer watering, and planting in warm zonesDahlia care: watering needs, pests, mildew, pinching, and harvest techniquePest and disease basics: powdery mildew and spider mitesSunflowers and crop rotation: how to plant and when to amend bedsFoliage picks for cut flower farms and shade-friendly perennialsPractical reminders: soil tests, drip irrigation checks, harvest times Episode originally aired 6/25/25 on Instagram. Join Lisa and her guest hosts Wednesdays at 3:00PM Eastern time to get your cut flower growing questions answered by the experts! Mentions Southern Peony: Growing Peonies in the South Walters Gardens, an online perennial wholesaler Dave's Course: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
In this special episode of Field & Garden, we're thrilled to share an interview that originally aired on The Dirt on Flowers podcast. Lisa Mason Ziegler dives into the world of cool-season hardy annuals — what she calls “cool flowers” — and why fall planting can be a game-changer for flower farmers and gardeners alike. Whether you're new to the concept or looking to refine your approach, this conversation is full of practical tips, inspiration, and real-world insights. Mentions The Dirt on Flowers Podcast: Website, Instagram, Apple Music Book: Cool Flowers Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
These are the top 5 mistakes I see folks making related to Cool Flowers, don't be one of them! 1. Not knowing your first & last frost dates, along with your lowest expected winter temperature 2. Not preparing your garden beds ahead of time 3. Not knowing how each seed prefers to be started (indoors or outside, direct sow vs transplants) 4. Not providing the right environmental conditions seed sprouting and optimal seedling growth (light, temperature, air, and water) 5. Failing to realize that you do NOT have to start all seeds yourself (plugs are an option!) Avoid these common mistakes to save time, money, and most importantly, your sanity! Mentions Silage Tarp Plug Suppliers: Farmer Bailey, Ball Hort/Colorlink Cool Flower Seeds from The Gardener's Workshop Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest TGW Phone App/Live Shopping Show Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
If you are a Southerner or a Northerner, you may think the Cool Flower concept doesn't work for you. Nothing could be further from the truth! When you find your planting time sweet spot, you will be the envy of all your grower friends, and your customers will think you are nothing short of a miracle worker! As a Southerner, I spent years at the farmers market watching customers love on my sweet peas and tell me why they can't be grown here - Ha! Meanwhile, I hear from my northern flower farming friends that they have become driven to find ways to get this plant family in the ground earlier and earlier each year to reap the benefits! Cool Flowers are for everyone. Myth busted, truth unveiled! Enjoy this week's episode for my best Cool Flower tips and recommendations for Southerners and Northerners. Mentions Request the FREE webinar: 3 Foolproof Steps to Success with Cool Flowers Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers Request the Cool Flowers video book study Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest Lisa's Book, The Cut Flower Handbook TGW Phone App/Live Shopping Show Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Stepping away and looking at the big picture, it is easy to see why and how we have been skipping over spring crops. Some of us go to extremes to get warm plants blooming sooner than they should be and others are still planting this family way too late to reap the rewards that well-established plants give. Warm-season plants are familiar, which makes them seem easier to grow. I want to fast forward to where this journey of embracing seasonality with cool-season hardy annuals can lead. This is a trend that I have seen over and over, and I think it is so smart. My first experience with flower farmers making a clear decision to move away from offering summer crops and focusing on spring and or fall crops was with good friends Megan and Jonathan Leiss of Spring Forth Farm in North Carolina. I met them before their babies came, and I watched as they started a family, lived the homesteading life, and grew cut flowers as a piece of their family life, not allowing it to consume them. They developed their model as an early to late spring offering flower farm. Now we're seeing more and more flower farmers realizing they can maintain control as they grow their businesses, molding them into a more manageable part of their life. I had the honor of visiting one of my student's farms a couple of years ago. She came to the rescue of furnishing some flower crops for a photo shoot for my newest book, The Cut Flower Handbook. I knew I wanted to revisit her farm with the team to learn and film about how she got into flower farming and where her journey is headed. I was thrilled to hear her story of creating a more manageable flower farming business. Our visit with Emma will be released as a Field & Garden podcast episode later this season. Mentions Request the FREE webinar: 3 Foolproof Steps to Success with Cool Flowers Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest Emma Mobley, End of Nowhere Flower Farm Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
I stumbled into growing annuals. I initially began planting perennials, but I quickly saw the error of my ways - I was going to run out of space, QUICK! As my business was gaining more demand than flowers I had-- I became a little crazy figuring out how to make the most of my total property of 1.17 acres that also had my home and outbuildings. I already had a nice stand of hydrangeas in our landscape and thought-- bingo, use it all. But then I needed a consistent supply-- I didn't see it yet but annual plants were knocking down my door. Then I got it! To maximize my space and to have a consistent supply I needed annuals. What I discovered along that journey is that annuals are the perfect fit for the small-space flower farmer. It's the recommended way all farmers get started to learn how to farm, maintain, seed start, harvest, and find customers: Low investment,Max production small space,Constant ability to change up-colors & varieties,The annual system has been so misrepresented A little-known reality of the "Annual Farmer" is that this style of farming can become an asset to your home. I could literally stop farming any day, plant trees or grass, and call it a life well lived. Mentions Online Courses from The Gardener's Workshop Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
💐 Struggling with flower pricing or choosing the right crops? Get real-world advice from a seasoned flower farmer and coach on how to price confidently, pick profitable perennials, and deal with pesky pests like thrips. Whether you're just starting or growing your flower biz, these tips will help you build a thriving, sustainable farm. 🌿 Learn how to: Set smart prices for retail and wholesale Use foliage like raspberry & eucalyptus to boost bouquet value Grow reliable, profitable perennials Manage pests with an ecological mindset Mentions Lennie’s Instagram: flowerfarming.forprofit Lennie's online course: Profitable Flower Farming The Gardener’s Workshop on Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Discover the Top 3 Perennials that truly earn their keep on a cut flower farm! Join Lisa Mason Ziegler and Dave Dowling as they share expert advice on growing peonies, Baptisia, and sedum -perennials that offer high yield, low maintenance, and long-term profitability. Perfect for beginner and seasoned flower farmers alike. Mentions Dave's Course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More Flower Farming School Online: Growing Cut Flower Crops in Hoop and Greenhouses Ball/Colorlink: plant broker Walter's Gardens: perennial wholesaler Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Ready to take your flower farming to the next level? Join Lisa Mason Ziegler as she shares how to transition from growing annuals to incorporating perennials, bulbs, and woodies into your operation. Learn how succession planting, smart crop choices, and careful planning can create a more sustainable and profitable business. Lisa offers real-life lessons, practical tips, and the encouragement every grower needs to grow confidently and thrive. Mentions Lisa's Course: Flower Farming School Online: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More Dave's Course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
💐 Want to make more money (and avoid wasting it) in your flower farm? In this episode, Lisa Mason Ziegler shares her hard-earned tips for choosing the best crops to grow for profit. From low-cost annuals to succession planting and market-smart decisions, get practical advice to help you grow a thriving flower business. Whether you're just starting out or refining your crop plan, this episode is packed with insights you can use right away! Mentions Lisa's Course: Flower Farming School Online Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
How Flower Farmers Can Survive (and Thrive) During Hard Times 🌻In this heartfelt episode, Lisa Mason Ziegler shares real-world lessons from 30+ years of flower farming—through 9/11, the 2008 crash, COVID, and today’s economic uncertainty. Learn how to adapt, pivot, and stay rooted when crisis strikes. 🌱 Whether you're a new grower or a seasoned farmer, this episode offers both inspiration and actionable advice. Mentions Video: Flower Business Opportunities, A Roundtable With The Pros Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Welcome to another episode of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, Ask a Florist, featuring guest host Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers in Baltimore, MD. Ellen is a floral designer who creates exclusively with flowers and foliage purchased from local growers. She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener’s Workshop. In this episode, Ellen fields questions about: telling the story of local flowers, making bouquets, post-harvest care and handling, flower delivery best practices, and pricing your flowers, among others. Mentions The Flower Farmer Club, presented by The Gardener's Workshop Ellen’s newsletter signup Ellen’s YouTube Channel FlowerMore Community Connect with Ellen: Ellen Frost Flowers (Instagram), WebsiteEllen Online Courses: Florist School Online, Preparing to Sell to Florists Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Thinking of starting a garden? 🌿🌸 Learn the crucial difference between a garden and a landscape and why your approach matters! With the right mindset and simple steps, your garden can flourish and bring you joy. Dive in for my practical tips that make gardening rewarding and fun! Mentions Field & Garden #342: The Simplicity of a Cutting Garden Books: Cool Flowers, Vegetables Love Flowers, The Cut Flower HandbookSeeds: Flowers, Veggies, Herbs Get our free LEARN app here. Get our free SHOP app here. Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today, we’re diving deep into the wonderful world of cutting gardens. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this guide will help you create a cutting garden that brings joy and beauty to your life. Here, Lisa covers what you need to know to make your cutting garden thrive. Mentions Online Courses: The Easy Cut Flower Garden, Cool Flowers from Seed to HarvestBooks: Cool Flowers, Vegetables Love Flowers, The Cut Flower HandbookSeed Collection: Cut-Flower Garden Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today, Lisa dives into the experiences and insights of Diane Szukovathy of Jello Mold Farm. A passionate flower farmer and co-founder of the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market, through her journey, we explore the importance of standards in the floral industry, the power of collaboration amongst flower farmers, and the creation of a valuable new resource for flower farmers everywhere. Mentions Get the Book: Floral Standards About Diane and Jello Mold Farm Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today’s episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one featured guest host Lennie Larkin, author of Flower Farming for Profit and owner of B-Side Farm in Oregon. She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener’s Workshop. In this Q&A, Lennie fielded questions about time management, marketing your flowers, building an email list, and more. Mentions Lennie’s Instagram: flowerfarming.forprofit, B-Side Farm Lennie's online course: Profitable Flower Farming The Gardener’s Workshop on Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Let’s dive into why overplanting can be a problem. You might think, “Oh, I’ll just plant a little more!” But when you do this, you can overcrowd your garden. This makes it harder to care for your plants, leading to chaos. Mentions Open Farm Event: June 28, 2025 Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Join Lisa Mason Ziegler and Ellen Frost as they discuss the limitations of floral recipes and the beauty of creating unique designs with local flowers. Discover how flexibility, communication, and community relationships can empower you to confidently make unique floral arrangements without using recipes. Mentions Ellen’s newsletter signup Ellen’s YouTube Channel Follow on Instagram: Ellen Frost Flowers, Local Color FlowersEllen Online Courses: Florist School Online, Preparing to Sell to Florists Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Let’s talk money—the kind that keeps your flower farm alive or quietly drains it dry. In this episode, Lisa digs into the tough truth about spending on the farm: what’s worth it, what’s not, and how to make choices that lead to long-term success instead of slow collapse. If you're ready to face your farm finances head-on, this one's for you. Mentions Free Phone App for Live Gardening Shows: Get the App Lisa's Course, Flower Farming School Online Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular “Ask a Flower Farmer” live Q&A session on Instagram. Daniel Schavey of Petal Pickers Flower Co. in Greenville, SC hosted this one. Daniel is a 9th-year flower farmer growing in zone 8a and an alumnus of most of The Gardener’s Workshop’s online courses. Here, Daniel offers an update on his growing season and answers questions on topics such as growing flowers for Mother's Day, seed starting and growing tips, how to "hedge your bets" in flower farming, and so much more! Mentions Petalpickers.com: fresh flowers shipped nationwide, dahlia tuber, cutting, and bulb sales Online Courses from The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today’s episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. However, this one we called Ask a Florist featured guest hostess Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers in Baltimore, MD. Ellen is a floral designer who creates exclusively with flowers and foliage purchased from local growers. She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener’s Workshop. In this Q&A Ellen fielded questions about: farmer-florist relationships, design tips for weddings, marketing flowers to florists, must-have greenery for bouquets, planning wedding florals, and pricing your flowers, among others. Mentions Ellen’s newsletter signup Ellen’s YouTube Channel FlowerMore Community Follow on Instagram: Ellen Frost Flowers, Local Color Flowers Ellen Online Courses: Florist School Online, Preparing to Sell to Florists Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Should you sell your flowers to florists? What attributes make a farmer a good match for selling to a florist? Here, Lisa chats with Ellen about her experiences working with 40+ flower farmers in her region. Learn what she thinks it takes to be successful in this popular selling channel and how you can accomplish it. Mentions Ellen’s newsletter signup Ellen’s YouTube Channel Follow on Instagram: Ellen Frost Flowers, Local Color FlowersEllen Online Courses: Florist School Online, Preparing to Sell to Florists Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
I’m thrilled to share an inspiring story with you today. I want to introduce you to Tricia from The Simple Sunflower, an organization that’s making a big difference in our community by repurposing flowers for those in need. In my chat with Tricia, you'll learn what they do, how they do it, and ways to apply this in your own community as well. Together, we can bring a little more joy into the world, one bouquet at a time! Mentions The Simple Sunflower: Website, Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Are you planting for success or setting yourself up for failure? Today, I’m excited to talk about something that many flower farmers, especially those just starting, often overlook. Are you a part-time flower farmer planting for a full-time flower farmer? This question is crucial to your success in the flower farming business. The bottom line is, don’t plant a full-time garden with part-time hours. Be realistic about what you can handle. And most importantly, don’t feel pressured to grow everything in your first season. Take your time, enjoy the process, and grow at a pace that works for you. I hope this helps you see the path to success in flower farming more clearly! Mentions Lisa's Course, Flower Farming School Online Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. It was guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave is always happy to share his knowledge with our listeners! Topics Covered Managing gladiolus bulbsPeony growing & maintenanceHydrangea pruningHoliday arrangements using seasonal foliageGrowing bulbs in cooler temperaturesTiming your plantings for Christmas flowersStoring & planting Iris bulbsDirect sowing cool season hardy annuals (Cool Flowers) Episode originally aired 12/11/24 on Instagram. Join Lisa and her guest hosts Wednesdays at 12:30PM Eastern time to get your cut flower growing questions answered by the experts! Mentions Dave's Course: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Flower farming isn't just about the blooms, it's about the journey! Join Lisa Mason Ziegler as she shares her insights on facing challenges and making smart choices in the world of flower farming. Your good life awaits! Mentions Lisa's Course, Flower Farming School Online Lisa's Course, The Easy Cut Flower Garden Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today, I want to dive into something really important for anyone looking to succeed in flower farming or any kind of business: grit. I believe developing grit is a choice. It’s not something you’re born with; it’s something you cultivate over time. Each time you face a fear or a challenge and choose to push through, you’re building your grit. Mentions Lisa's Course, Flower Farming School Online Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today I’m thrilled to share some important tips for anyone dreaming of starting a flower farming business. As I look back on my journey, I wish I had these resources when I started. This is about the three key steps that can lead to failure as a flower farmer. I’ve seen many passionate people vanish from the business, and it’s often due to skipping over some basic but crucial steps. I'd love to keep YOU from failing, and I hope these tips help you navigate the challenges of flower farming and keep your passion alive. ~Lisa Mentions The Flower Farmer Club, presented by The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today I'm diving into a topic that I've never really talked about before: collaboration versus competition. Why are we so afraid of competition? Let's explore why collaboration can actually be more beneficial. MentionsThe Flower Farmer Club, presented by The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today I am here to share my thoughts on something that has had a big impact on my flower farming journey personally: community. A community is powerful no matter where you currently are on your flower farming journey. I created The Flower Farmer Club to be a safe place for us all to be motivated and encouraged, and to be a place for learning and exploration! I am so eager to join you on your adventure and I look forward to seeing you in the club. MentionsThe Flower Farmer Club, presented by The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today, I want to dive into the topic of cool flowers and the importance of planting them in very early spring. The basic idea is to plant these flowers in cool to cold conditions to get the best performance out of them, which can happen in fall, winter, or very early spring. Many people have been led away from planting during these unusual times. But I assure you, this is where the magic happens! For flower farmers, planting cool flowers can significantly boost your business. We’re talking about flowers like: Bells of Ireland Sweet peas Stock Snapdragons Lisianthus Larkspur Status Poppies When planted at the right time, these flowers bloom earlier, grow taller, produce more stems, and are more resistant to diseases and pests. Listen in to learn who can plant in this window, when and what to plant, and more! Mentions Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers Lisa's Book, The Cut Flower Handbook Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest The Flower Farmer Club, presented by The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Did you know that we have another podcast series? It’s called Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne, and it’s become really popular! This is their top podcast episode of 2024, the one with the most overall listens, and it’s about succession planting Cool Flowers. If you like this one, please consider subscribing to Seed Talk wherever you get your podcasts. You can also watch Seed Talk on our YouTube channel (see the Seed Talk playlist there), or listen to Seed Talk anytime in the podcast section on our website. *Winner, Best of 2024* Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne Curious about planting cool-season hardy annuals beyond very early spring? Wondering which cool flowers you should consider succession planting? Here (in episode #75), Lisa and Layne cover potential consequences of planting cool-season hardy annuals later in the season, what makes a cool flower a good candidate for succession planting, and succession-planting tips for several flowers. Listen and learn how to succession plant for an abundant cool flower garden! Mentions: ”Seed Talk” YouTube Playlist Episode 50 – Sweet William Variety Comparison: Amazon vs. Sweet Episode 72 – Bupleurum Germination & Succession-Planting Tips Shop: Cool-Season Seeds “Seed Talk” Topic Suggestion Form TGW YouTube Channel Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The “Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne” podcast is produced by The Gardener’s Workshop and co-hosted by Lisa Mason Ziegler and Layne Angelo. Lisa is the founder and owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, where Layne works as Seed Manager. Lisa is the award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers, Cool Flowers, The Cut Flower Handbook, and the publisher of Flower Farming School Online, Farmer-Florist School Online, and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with her on social media. Layne is an avid gardener, seed starter, and engineer who loves learning and applying her technical knowledge to all areas of life, including gardening and growing flowers.
Our most popular episode of 2024! Here, Lisa was featured on The joegardener® Show podcast, joining host Joe Lamp’l to discuss the Cool Flowers concept and how she got started growing this fantastic group of spring stunners! They covered topics such as: How to determine which Cool Flowers you can grow in your region When and how to start your Cool Flowers from seed The special care requirements of flowers planted in the fall and in very early spring What you should do to prepare in the fall even if you don’t plant until very early spring Mentions Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers The Flower Farmer by Lynn Byczynski The New Organic Grower by Eloit Coleman Bio360 Biodegradable Mulch Film Row Cover Hoop Kit Cool-Season Hardy Annual Seeds Full The joegardener® Show Episode #274 Podcast & Blog Post Available Here Joe’s Book, The Vegetable Gardening Book Joe’s online course, Organic Vegetable Gardening Watch Growing a Greener World and connect with Joe: Website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter Free Resources on our website Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers, The Cut Flower Handbook, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone in Business Today, we're discussing stepping out of your comfort zone, a challenge many face when starting a new business. In new ventures, like a flower farm, we often seek help from peers. While this can be comforting, it may also lead to stagnation. Spending too much time with others who are struggling can hinder our progress. Successful individuals share key habits: They make decisions based on facts, not assumptions. They recognize that time is money. They surround themselves with more successful people. The company we keep influences our behavior. If we only seek help from those at our level or below, we risk feeling stuck. Ask for advice from those who have succeeded. Embrace challenging environments. Recently, I was encouraged to attend a small business conference. Initially, I felt overwhelmed and doubted my ability to contribute. It's normal to feel scared in new situations. But stepping out of your comfort zone—those daunting experiences can transform your business. We all face challenges along our journeys, so let's support each other in striving for growth! Mentions Free Resources on our website Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. It was guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave is always happy to share his knowledge with our listeners! Topics Covered Caring for dahlias in high heat Growing ranunculus, daffodils, & tulips for a spring wedding Overwintering snapdragons Growing ranunculus in tunnels Beginner-friendly fall-planted flowering bulbs Storing daffodil bulbs prior to planting Growing ornamental kale Ranunculus post-harvest care Grow lights for home gardeners Allium preferred growing conditions Spacing for planting peonies Episode originally aired 9/25/24 on Instagram. Join Lisa and her guest hosts Wednesdays at 12:30PM Eastern time to get your cut flower growing questions answered by the experts! Mentions Dave Dowling on social: Facebook, Instagram Dave's Online Course: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Val Schirmer's Online workshop: Forcing Glorious Blooms for the Holidays & Beyond Discover our online courses! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
A Golden Opportunity: The Power of Leaves Today, I’m excited to share one of the first lessons I learned in gardening that has shaped my entire flower farming career. This episode is all about the amazing benefits of leaves, specifically how they can transform your garden into a thriving ecosystem. Especially for those of you who might see leaves as a nuisance, I want to help you understand their true potential. Listen to learn the "Who, What, When, Where, and Why" of adding leaves to your growing space! Mentions Lisa's book, Vegetables Love Flowers Blog Post, Garden Gold Free Resources on our website Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Hello, I'm Lenny Larkin! I run B Side Farm in Oregon and have written a book called Flower Farming for Profit. My focus is on helping flower farmers grow their businesses effectively. I also offer online courses, including a short course called Profitable Flower Farming, which helps people understand the business side of flower farming. Today I'd like to answer your questions on topics ranging from business tactics to planting schedules. Let's begin! What Are Your Thoughts on Pricing Flowers? Pricing can be tricky! Beginners often hesitate to charge more for fear of losing customers or worry about undercutting fellow farmers by pricing too low. A good starting point is researching local prices by visiting other farms or checking wholesaler comparisons for market insights. When selling directly, remember that customers are aware of flower market prices. By staying updated on costs, you can competitively price your products and maintain profitability. How Many Flower Varieties Should New Farmers Grow? As a beginner in flower gardening, start small and simple. Focus on ten to twenty varieties instead of trying to grow everything at once. This way, you can nurture them without feeling overwhelmed. Avoid the common mistake of growing too many types of flowers at once, which can lead to confusion. Instead, experiment with a few different flowers to see which ones thrive and are popular, allowing you to specialize effectively. Where Can I Learn to Design Bouquets? Learning bouquet design is best through hands-on practice, so don't hesitate to experiment! YouTube has great resources with designers like Julio from The Flower Hat and Amy Balsters, who offer tutorials to help you master bouquet design. What About Investing in Perennials and Shrubs? If you're tired of starting seeds and want a change in your routine, consider investing in perennials and shrubs. They add lasting beauty to your farm or garden. Start small, as they can be costly upfront. I once invested $25k in peonies, but most farmers begin with just a hundred plants. You might also grow hydrangeas and spireas, which are both beautiful and popular. How Do I Work on Pricing with Florists? Pricing flowers can be challenging. It's important to discuss requirements and budget constraints with florists. If flower costs exceed their budget, ask about alternative types they might buy. This feedback can help adjust your inventory. Final Thoughts I love being part of this flower-farming community! We’re all in this together, and I’m here to help you navigate the challenges of running a flower farm. Please follow me on social media at the links below! Mentions Lennie’s Instagram: flowerfarming.forprofit, B-Side Farm Lennie's online course: Profitable Flower Farming Dave's online course: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More Spring Meadows: flowering shrub wholesale liners & pots The Gardener’s Workshop on Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Smaller is Better: My Motto for 2025 Today I discuss the concept of “smaller is better,” which is my goal for 2025. This realization hit me after facing challenges in the last two years and was reinforced by a paragraph in my book, The Cut Flower Handbook. When I began flower farming in 1998, I had a limited space of 1.17 acres. I focused on attracting customers rather than just growing flowers. If a bed underperformed, I quickly replanted it for efficiency. Years later, I bought an additional acre and a half, which initially felt like a dream but led to "growing pains." Despite investing in equipment, our efficiency dropped, and our income did not rise as expected. As my operations expanded, chores became overwhelming. I struggled to keep up with planting and weeding, often playing catch-up instead of preventing weeds. Timely actions are critical in maintaining quality. Over time, my business shifted from large-scale production to focusing on select customers and educating aspiring growers. However, I didn’t reduce flower cultivation as much as I should have, resulting in excess work and expenses. As I head into 2025, I aim to optimize flower production by better utilizing our space. We’ve initiated a plan to dedicate specific areas for growing flowers, emphasizing quality over quantity. Friends, behaviors matter in flower farming. In 2025, let’s embrace the idea that smaller is better! Mentions Lisa's book: The Cut Flower Handbook Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular “Ask a Flower Farmer” live Q&A session on Instagram. Daniel Schavey of Petal Pickers Flower Co. in Greenville, SC hosted this one. Daniel is an 8th-year flower farmer growing in zone 8a and an alumnus of most of The Gardener’s Workshop’s online courses. Here, Daniel offers an update on his growing season (including a BIG problem with his Dahlias) and answers questions on topics such as Cool Flowers, his most profitable crops, and so much more! Mentions Petalpickers.com: fresh flowers shipped nationwide, dahlia tuber and fall bulb sales Bio360 Biodegradable Mulch Film Online Courses from The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode is an interview that Lisa recently did on The Flower Podcast with host Scott Shepherd. Scott and Lisa covered a broad range of topics, including: The importance of evaluating your season & your goals regularly How perfectionism is a hindrance to success (70% is good enough!) Making every effort to start your business with cash (debt-free) Take the time to get to know your market & what your clients want Always eat the ugly frog first! If you haven't listened to The Flower Podcast, you should check it out here! Mentions Lisa's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. It was guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave is always happy to share his knowledge with our listeners! Topics Covered Watering Tips for Sunflowers & Lilies Growing Limelight Hydrangeas Tips for Fall Planting Campanula Dealing with Leaf Hoppers Storing Dahlia Bulbs Over Winter Managing Vole Damage Best Flowers to Plant in Tropical Areas Harvesting Tips for Astilbe Growing Lisianthus & Snapdragons Preventing Botrytis on Peonies Pre-sprouting Techniques for Ranunculus Propagation Methods for Peonies Managing White Flies Harvesting Tips for Various Flowers Episode originally aired 6/26/24 on Instagram. Join Lisa and her guest hosts Wednesdays at 12:30PM Eastern time to get your cut flower growing questions answered by the experts! Mentions Dave on social: Facebook, Instagram Dave's Course: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Discover our online courses! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Whether you're new or improving your farm, these insights can help. The journey can be tough, but with commitment and adaptability, the rewards are worth it. Take the time to learn and experiment—your efforts will pay off. 1. Find Your Markets Understanding your market is the first step to successful crop planning. Consider factors like demand and pricing, which can change quickly, making thorough analysis vital. Identify Your Customers: Know your target audience, whether florists, event planners, or supermarkets. Understand Their Needs: What flowers do your customers want? This informs your growing decisions. Plan for Timelines: Different markets have varying timelines; florists may need early week deliveries, while farmer’s markets may focus on weekends. 2. Grow Diverse & Complementary Crops Diversity is essential in flower farming, as variety enhances beauty and increases resilience against pests & diseases. Seasonality: Educate your customers about seasonal flowers, like tulips in spring. Mix Early, Mid, and Late Season Flowers: Keep offerings fresh year-round by offering complementary flowers. Plan for Customer Demand: Grow flowers that excite customers at different times, such as Iceland poppies early and zinnias later. 3. Build Soil Health and Pest Resistance Healthy soil is vital for plant growth. Regular soil testing helps you make informed decisions about amendments. Adding organic matter improves soil structure, enhancing water retention and aeration. Monitoring moisture levels is crucial, as both overwatering and drought harm plants. Thus, maintaining soil health requires ongoing attention. Use Compost: Add compost regularly to enrich soil. Practice Crop Rotation: This maintains soil fertility and reduces disease. Encourage Beneficial Insects: Create habitats for beneficial bugs to control pests naturally. 4. Implement Succession Planting Succession planting is essential for a steady supply of flowers and requires careful planning. Timing significantly affects yield, so growers should consider factors like climate and plant variety. Plan Multiple Plantings: Plant the same crops at different times for continuous harvest. Focus on Consistency: Customers value being able to purchase their favorite flowers regularly. 5. Assess Available Resources Take the time to thoroughly assess your situation, as hasty decisions can lead to unforeseen consequences. Preparation is key, but avoid overthinking; find a balance that suits you. Know Your Space: Understand your land and what you can manage. Utilize What You Have: Use existing tools and resources. Consider Renting Equipment: If you need tools, consider renting when starting out. Crop planning is about the bigger picture. Challenges may arise, but this strategy sets your flower farm up for success! Mentions Lisa's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Hey, friends! It's Lisa Mason Ziegler, and today we're diving into the topic of time management in flower farming. Let’s explore how to make the most of your time while building your flower business. Key Points to Consider Everyone Has the Same 24 Hours: Remember, everyone has the same amount of time each day. It's all about how you choose to spend it. Effective Time Management is Essential: Flower farming involves juggling many tasks like planting, harvesting, and marketing. You need to manage your time well to succeed. Control Your Spending: When starting a business, avoid overspending on seeds and plants. Make sure you’re making more money than you spend! Harvesting is Key: The timing of your harvest is crucial. You must deliver flowers at the right stage for sale. Marketing and Business Tasks: Dedicate time to market your flowers and handle business tasks, so you’re not overwhelmed. Managing Your Time Wisely Be Realistic: Only take on tasks you can manage well while you learn about flower farming. Structure Your Days: Create a daily schedule that prioritizes important tasks. For example, designate specific days for harvesting and selling. Create Systems: Develop systems for how you do things on your farm. This will help streamline processes and make it easier to train employees in the future. Delegate Tasks: Learn to let go of some responsibilities. It's important for growth! Network and Learn: Make time to network with other flower farmers and continue learning. Attend conferences and take courses to improve your skills. Efficiency in Flower Farming Garden Layout: Organize your garden layout to improve efficiency. This can save you time during harvesting and other tasks. Plan Ahead: Keep track of when to order seeds and supplies. Planning helps avoid last-minute stress. Flexibility is Key: Be prepared to adjust your plans based on weather and market conditions. Flexibility can help you handle unexpected changes. Final Thoughts Time management is crucial for success in flower farming. It's not about working every waking hour; it's about working smart. Remember, successful flower farmers manage their time effectively. So, take control of your time, and watch your flower business thrive! Until next time, friends! Ciao! Mentions Michelle at Roots Cut Flower Farm Lisa's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Sales & Pricing in Your First Season of Flower Farming Welcome to flower farming! If you're new to this industry, knowing about sales and pricing is crucial. This podcast covers strategies for your first season, including pricing transparency and customer loyalty. The Importance of Pricing Transparency Pricing transparency is key for your flower farming business. It's about being clear with customers and aligning with industry standards. Asking customers what they would pay can harm your reputation. Instead, set your prices based on research of reputable flower farmers and your costs. This creates a strong foundation for your pricing strategy. Remember, pricing can differ by location and market. A $25 bouquet may seem small in one area and substantial in another, so adjust based on local conditions and product quality. Understanding Seasonality It's important to educate customers about flower seasonality. Many may not know when certain blooms are available, leading to unrealistic requests, like brides wanting out-of-season flowers. Share your knowledge of seasonal blooms. For example, if peonies will be available next week, let customers know in advance to create anticipation and strengthen your connection. No Bartering, Please Bartering can undermine your professionalism. Haggling might imply you're not serious. Set clear prices and stick to them; customers should either buy at the price or not. Sticking to your prices builds trust and respect for your brand. It's better to reward loyal customers than negotiate with others. Rewarding Loyal Customers A rewards system for loyal customers can increase sales. Consider subscriptions for regular deliveries, providing steady income and fresh flowers for your best customers. Also, offer bulk discounts for larger orders, defining what qualifies as "bulk." For instance, a dozen bunches may qualify, but smaller amounts do not. Waiving delivery fees for larger orders can encourage bigger purchases and foster loyalty. Keeping It Simple As a new flower farmer, it might be tempting to offer many bouquet sizes, but this complicates things. Focus on one standard-sized bouquet that competes with supermarkets. Simplifying your offerings makes production easier and boosts profitability, allowing you to prioritize quality. Not Everyone Is Your Customer Understand that not all customers are a good fit. Some may expect more than you can provide or be difficult to please. Letting go of these customers helps you focus on those who appreciate your work. If a customer frequently complains or makes unreasonable demands, consider referring them elsewhere. Your time is valuable, and focusing on the right customers will yield better results. Building a Loyalty Program A loyalty program can encourage repeat business. Implement a punch card system for a free bouquet after a set number of purchases to reward loyalty easily. Show appreciation to regulars with special offers or freebies to retain customers and encourage referrals. Conclusion As you navigate your first season, remember that learning and adapting are vital. Stay connected with industry professionals and adjust your strategies as necessary. With dedication, you can create a successful flower farming business. For more resources, please visit our website. Mentions Lisa's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Marketing in Your First Season as a Flower Farmer Hello, friends! Welcome back to another episode of Field & Garden, where I help anyone, anywhere, learn how to grow cut flowers. Today, I'm excited to share some valuable tips on marketing and selling flowers, especially in your first season. This is such an important topic, and I hope to inspire you to take action! Getting Ready for Your First Season Let’s dive into how to market your flowers before you even have them! This is crucial because the best time to start marketing is before you have buckets of flowers waiting for customers. In fact, you want to have people excited and ready to buy your flowers even before they bloom! Facing the Challenges of Marketing It’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the business side of flower farming, especially marketing. It can seem daunting, but facing these challenges will get easier over time. Don't give up after one or two attempts; persistence is key! Remember, marketing is simply about educating people about what you do and how they can buy from you. Top Ten Marketing Tips for Flower Farmers Here are ten points to help you market your flowers effectively: Highlight Local Flowers: Always include your location in your posts. People want to know where they can buy your flowers, so make it clear. Showcase Seasonal Varieties: Talk about unique flowers that are only available locally. Highlight their beauty and why they are special. Emphasize Sustainable Practices: Share your commitment to sustainable farming methods. Educating customers about your practices can attract environmentally conscious buyers. Promote Artisan Bouquets: Your bouquets will be different from what people see in stores. Whether you make them or allow customers to create their own, this is a unique selling point. Variety and Diversity: Offer a wide range of flowers. Consistent quality is what keeps customers coming back, not just new trends. Personalized Service: Build relationships with customers through excellent service. Good customer care can lead to repeat business. Farm-to-Table Experience: Consider inviting customers to your farm for tours or events. This helps them connect with your flowers in a meaningful way. Specialty Cuts and Unique Blooms: Highlight the nostalgia of garden flowers. These are often the flowers that remind people of their childhood. Offer Workshops: You don't have to be an expert to host workshops. Start by inviting people to cut their own flowers and create bouquets. Community Involvement: Share your connections with local businesses. This reinforces the importance of supporting local economies. Building Anticipation Remember, the goal is to create excitement around your flowers before they are ready to sell. By using these marketing strategies, you can warm up your audience and have them clamoring for your flowers when they are available! Until next time, happy flower farming! Lisa Z. Mentions Lisa's Online Course, Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Jennie Love's Online Course: Making Workshops Work for You Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Lisa shares her 2025 plan to downsize her growing space and encourages those with smaller spaces to optimize their production in the following areas: bed spacing and maintenance, soil health, weed prevention, intensive planting techniques, and succession planting. Mentions Podcast: Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne Free Phone App: The Gardener's Workshop Live Shop Lennie's Online Course: Profitable Flower Farming Products: Bio360, Flower Support Netting Irrigation Suppliers: Berry Hill, Dripworks Lisa's Book: The Cut Flower Handbook Lisa's Online Course, Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Lisa lays the groundwork for you to succeed out of the gate, rather than suffering through failures to find your way to a great cut flower garden. Whether you're new to the cutting garden concept or you've been unsuccessful starting one in the past, listen in for the three key factors that will lead you down the path to gorgeous cut flowers! Mentions Lisa's Book: The Cut Flower Handbook Lisa's Online Course, Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Discover essential insights into the world of flower farming, where passion meets perseverance! This episode dives deep into the heart of flower farming, unraveling the layers of determination, business acumen, and preparation needed to thrive. From the first-hand experience of someone who started their journey 25+ years ago, learn about the highs and lows of stepping into the unknown, the resilience required to overcome the myriad challenges, and the critical importance of a strong business foundation to sustain your passion for flower farming. Embark on your path to becoming a successful flower farmer today by understanding the importance of preparation and equipping yourself with the tools needed for a flourishing future in flower farming. Mentions Book: The Flower Farmer by Lynn Byczynski Lisa's Online Course, Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today’s episode features our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one was hosted by Lisa Mason Ziegler, a flower farmer with over 25 years of experience, author, online instructor, founder of The Gardener's Workshop, and self-proclaimed "head bottle washer." During this session in early May, she fielded questions on the following topics... Topics: buckwheat cover crop, weed suppression & prevention, harvesting strawflowers, how to store seeds, recommended soil for raised beds, perennials for shade gardens, fertilizing cool flowers in the spring, succession planting, protecting plants from squirrels and rabbits, scouting for pest and disease damage, Sweet William varieties & successions, early and late-season sunflowers Lisa hosts these live Q&As on Instagram every Wednesday at 12:30 pm Eastern time, and we occasionally have guest hosts on as well - we invite you to check it out! Mentions Lisa's Online Community: The Gardener's Workshop Club Our Live Shopping Phone App: Download Link Lisa's Book: The Cut Flower Handbook Online Course: Cool Flowers From Seed To Harvest Products: Stand-Up Hoe, Neptune's Harvest Catch "Ask A Flower Farmer" live on our Instagram! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today’s episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one featured guest host Lennie Larkin, author of Flower Farming for Profit and owner of B-Side Farm in Oregon. She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener’s Workshop. In this Q&A Lennie fielded questions about bouquet pricing, floral design, how to research your local market, and more. Topics: Tiered pricing for bouquets, principles of floral design, flower markups, researching your market to develop your business model, building bouquets efficiently Mentions Lennie’s Instagram: flowerfarming.forprofit, B-Side Farm Online course: Profitable Flower Farming The Gardener’s Workshop on Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
In this episode, Lisa visits Emma Mobley's flower farm in Suffolk, VA. Emma shares her journey of transitioning to flower farming and discusses her new business model, focusing on spring and fall blooms. Listen as she reveals her selling strategies, challenges, and what the future holds for End of Nowhere Flower Farm. Note: video version of this podcast available on our YouTube channel Mentions Website: End of Nowhere Flower Farm Find Emma on Instagram or Facebook Discover our online courses! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today’s episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, normally called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one, however, we called Ask a Florist, and it featured guest hostess Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers in Baltimore, MD. Ellen is a floral designer who creates exclusively with flowers and foliage purchased from local growers. She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener’s Workshop. In this Q&A Ellen fielded questions about floral design, the different flowers she uses throughout the year, and some great business questions too. Other topics mentioned: floral design for beginners, long-lasting flowers, arranging in mason jars, what Ellen designs with during the winter months, foam-free floral mechanics, the first steps toward selling your flowers, how to get the best vase life from your flowers, how to sell to a florist for the first time, flower cart sales, flower pricing for florists, buying bulk flowers, using social media as a tool to tell your story, spring focal flowers, price undercutting. Mentions Ellen’s newsletter signup Ellen’s YouTube Channel Instagram: Ellen Frost Flowers Instagram: Local Color Flowers Ellen's courses: On-Demand Mini-Workshop: Preparing to Sell to Florists Florist School Online: Growing Your Business with Local Flower Sourcing Field & Garden Podcast #130: Local Color Flowers – A Design Studio’s Year Month-by-Month with Ellen Frost Seed Talk Podcast #52 – Zinnia Challenges with Florist Ellen Frost The Gardener’s Workshop on Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
I had a wonderful time visiting Torrie Anderson's place, The Flower Farm at Youngs Mill, back in June. Located just a couple of miles from my farm here in Virginia, Torrie is one of my dedicated students who has truly embraced the lessons and made remarkable progress! Now in her third year of flower farming with her husband and four children, join me to learn about Torrie's journey and hear her plans for the future. Mentions Website: The Flower Farm at Youngs Mill Find Torrie on Instagram or Facebook Discover our online courses! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. It was guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave is always happy to share his knowledge with our listeners! Here, he answers questions about snapdragons, baptisia, ranunculus, peonies, larkspur, lisianthus, and so much more. Other topics include the updated USDA hardiness zone map, managing thrips and aphids, powdery mildew, fertilizing and pinching techniques, his all-time favorite perennials to grow for cut flowers, and making a profit from flower farming. Mentions USDA Hardiness Zone Map - updated Nov 2023 Bulb Supplier: Ball/Colorlink, or Call for Account Setup: 800-686-7380 Dave on social: Facebook, Instagram Dave's Course: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Discover our online courses! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
These are the top 5 mistakes I see folks making related to Cool Flowers, don't be one of them! 1. Not knowing your first & last frost dates, along with your lowest expected winter temperature 2. Not preparing your garden beds ahead of time 3. Not knowing how each seed prefers to be started (indoors or outside, direct sow vs transplants) 4. Not providing the right environmental conditions seed sprouting and optimal seedling growth (light, temperature, air, and water) 5. Failing to realize that you do NOT have to start all seeds yourself (plugs are an option!) Avoid these common mistakes to save time, money, and most importantly, your sanity! Mentions Silage Tarp Plug Suppliers: Farmer Bailey, Ball Hort/Colorlink Cool Flower Seeds from The Gardener's Workshop Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest TGW Phone App/Live Shopping Show Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
If you are a Southerner or a Northerner you may think the Cool Flower concept doesn't work for you, but nothing could be further from the truth! When you find your planting time sweet spot you will be the envy of all your grower friends, and your customers will think you are nothing short of a miracle worker! As a Southerner, I spent years at the farmers market watching customers love on my sweet peas and tell me why they can't be grown here - Ha! Meanwhile I hear from my northern flower farming friends that they have become driven to find ways to get this plant family in the ground earlier and earlier each year to reap the benefits! Cool Flowers are for everyone. Myth busted, truth unveiled! Enjoy this week's episode for my best Cool Flower tips and recommendations for Southerners and Northerners. Mentions Request the FREE webinar: 3 Foolproof Steps to Success with Cool Flowers Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers Request the Cool Flowers video book study Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest Lisa's Book, The Cut Flower Handbook TGW Phone App/Live Shopping Show Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Stepping away and looking at the big picture, it is easy to see why and how we have been skipping over spring crops. Some of us go to extremes to get warm plants blooming sooner than they should be and others are still planting this family way too late to reap the rewards that well-established plants give. Warm-season plants are familiar, which makes them seem easier to grow. I want to fast forward to where this journey of embracing seasonality with cool-season hardy annuals can lead. This is a trend that I have seen over and over, and I think it is so smart. My first experience with flower farmers making a clear decision to move away from offering summer crops and focusing on spring and or fall crops was with good friends Megan and Jonathan Leiss of Spring Forth Farm in North Carolina. I met them before their babies came, and I watched as they started a family, lived the homesteading life, and grew cut flowers as a piece of their family life, not allowing it to consume them. They developed their model as an early to late spring offering flower farm. Now we're seeing more and more flower farmers realizing they can maintain control as they grow their businesses, molding them into a more manageable part of their life. I had the honor of visiting one of my student's farms a couple of years ago. She came to the rescue of furnishing some flower crops for a photo shoot for my newest book, The Cut Flower Handbook. I knew I wanted to revisit her farm with the team to learn and film about how she got into flower farming and where her journey is headed. I was thrilled to hear her story of creating a more manageable flower farming business. Our visit with Emma will be released as a Field & Garden podcast episode later this season. Mentions Request the FREE webinar: 3 Foolproof Steps to Success with Cool Flowers Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest Emma Mobley, End of Nowhere Flower Farm Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Why Grow Annuals? I stumbled into growing annuals. I initially began planting perennials but I quickly saw the errors of my way-- I was going to run out of space, QUICK! As my business was gaining more demand than flowers I had-- I became a little crazy figuring out how to make the most of my total property of 1.17 acres that also had my home and outbuildings. I already had a nice stand of hydrangeas in our landscape and thought-- bingo, use it all. But then I needed a consistent supply-- I didn't see it yet but annual plants were knocking down my door. Then I got it! To maximize my space and to have a consistent supply I needed annuals. What I discovered along that journey is that annuals are the perfect fit for the small-space flower farmer. It's the recommended way all farmers get started to learn how to farm, maintain, seed start, harvest, and find customers: Low investment, Max production small space, Constant ability to change up-colors & varieties, The annual system has been so misrepresented A little-known reality of the "Annual Farmer" is that this style of farming can become an asset to your home. I could literally stop farming any day, plant trees or grass, and call it a life well lived. Mentions Online Courses from The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular “Ask a Flower Farmer” live Q&A session on Instagram. Daniel Schavey of Petal Pickers Flower Co. in Greenville, SC hosted this one. Daniel is an 8th-year flower farmer growing in zone 8a and an alumnus of most of The Gardener’s Workshop’s online courses. Here, he answers questions on topics such as Mother’s Day flowers and pricing, ordering plugs vs. starting from seed, purchasing and saving ranunculus corms, and so much more! Other topics covered: hydroponic tulips, when to plant dahlia tubers, tuberose growing tips, peonies for Mother's Day, perennial phlox, starting small with flower farming, ranunculus harvest stage, starting zinnias from seed, shipping flowers, foliage and greens for Mother's Day, sunflower seed starting. Mentions Petalpickers.com: fresh flowers shipped nationwide, dahlia tuber and fall bulb sales Follow on Instagram: Petal Pickers, The Gardener's Workshop Book, The Cut Flower Handbook Book, Postharvest Handling of Cut Flowers and Greens High Tunnels from Farmers Friend Lisianthus plugs: Ball Colorlink, Farmer Bailey, Leo Berbee Online Courses from The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Take control now, because if you don’t, nobody will! Resist distractions, structure your workdays to get the tasks that matter done, grow more of less, endlessly market your business, and streamline everything! Mentions Lisa's Favorite Hat to Beat the Heat! Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
In this episode, Lisa and our newest TGW instructor Lennie Larkin offer a look inside our online course, Profitable Flower Farming. Mentions Online Course: Profitable Flower Farming with Lennie Larkin Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
In this episode, Lisa and guest Lennie Larkin discuss her journey into flower farming, her move to Oregon, and the creation of her educational business. They also delve into the challenges of profitable flower farming, the future of the domestic cut flower industry, and introduce Lennie's new online course published by The Gardener's Workshop. Mentions New Online Course: Profitable Flower Farming with Lennie Larkin Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. Guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, also a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave is always happy to share his knowledge with our listeners! Here, he answers questions about lilies, ranunculus, peonies, lisianthus, calla lilies, and so much more. Other topics include dianthus, sweet peas, eucalyptus, bells of Ireland, viburnum, cosmos, dahlia gall, sunflowers, pinching, new garden bed preparation, and selling to florists. Mentions Ball Seed's Cut Flowers Info Hub Dave's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Lisa's Book, The Cut Flower Handbook Facebook Group: Lisianthus Seed Starters The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram Discover all of our online courses! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today’s episode features Lisa Ziegler and Layne Angelo as they introduce their new online course. It was over a year in the making and is called Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest. Listen in as they talk about their inspiration and how the course came to be, what it includes, and answer audience questions. Mentions Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
A quick little set of reminders for busy flower growers! 1) Weeds: You need a prevention plan, plus a plan to extinguish any that survive when they're small. 2) Succession planting: designate resources/time to getting those successions done, it needs to be a top priority. 3) Always be selling: be on the lookout for additional sales opportunities, putting feelers out continuously. 4) Don't run out of supplies: purchase with an entire season in mind so that you're not stuck waiting for something. 5) Do paperwork weekly: put it in your schedule weekly, as this task gets more overwhelming if you don't keep up with it. Mentions Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today’s episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, normally called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one, however, we called Ask a Florist, and it featured guest hostess Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers in Baltimore, MD. Ellen is a floral designer who creates exclusively with flowers and foliage purchased from local growers. She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener’s Workshop. In this Q&A Ellen fielded questions about floral design, the different flowers she uses throughout the year, and some great business questions too. Mentions Ellen’s newsletter signup Ellen’s YouTube Channel Instagram: Ellen Frost Flowers Instagram: Local Color Flowers Florist School Online: Growing Your Business with Local Flower Sourcing On-Demand Mini-Workshop: Preparing to Sell to Florists PDF: Pro Tips to Make Your Flowers Last Follow on Instagram: @florxeight, local rose grower Floral Hydrator: Quick Dip The Gardener’s Workshop on Instagram Postharvest Handling book in the ASCFG bookstore The Floral Coach® Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
I don't know about you, but I am always anxious about spring. A lot is riding on it, right? Weather, seed sowing issues, never enough help, everything seems urgent, netting-netting-netting... seedling care, and then bedmaking, planting, and harvesting starts. What I have learned after decades of facing anxiousness is that constant support, encouragement, and prioritizing are what get me through and have led to less anxiousness overall. Hope this helps, Lisa Mentions Workshop: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest The Gardener's Workshop Club Flower Farming School Online: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. Guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, also a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave is always happy to share his knowledge with our listeners! Here, he answers questions about peonies, snapdragons, lilies, stock, and so much more. Other topics include dried flowers, tulips, how long it takes to grow seedlings, fertilizing in the field, cosmos, when and where to pinch plants, treatments for aphids and thrips, viburnum, orlaya, grow lights, dahlia tubers, fertilizers, poppies, RootShield, calla lilies, and celosia. Mentions Dave's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Lisa's Books: Cool Flowers, The Cut Flower Handbook Ball Seed's Cut Flowers Info Hub The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram Discover all of our online courses! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Don’t allow these things to hold you back from pursuing your flower farming business dreams. No acreage, tractor, or greenhouse? No problem. I didn’t have any of those during the first decade of my flower farm. Originally aired 9/27/22 Mentions Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) Online Courses from The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular “Ask a Flower Farmer” live Q&A session on Instagram. Daniel Schavey of Petal Pickers Flower Co. in Greenville, SC hosted this one. Daniel is a 7th-year flower farmer growing in zone 8a and an alumnus of most of The Gardener’s Workshop’s online courses. Here, he answers questions on topics such as high tunnel growing, lisianthus, tips for new cut flower growers, hydroponic tulips, and so many more! Other topics covered: microclimate trial & error, selling to florists, ranunculus, tuberose, aphids, deer fence, roses, dahlias, sunflower successions Mentions Petalpickers.com: fresh flowers shipped nationwide, dahlia tuber and fall bulb sales Follow on Instagram: Petal Pickers, Cuts of Color, Scratch House, The Gardener's Workshop Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) Lisianthus plugs: Ball Colorlink, Farmer Bailey, Leo Berbee Online Courses from The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Join Rhonda Graves and Lisa for another episode of Bug Talk! Today, they expand into the broader topic of restoring the natural order on your farm or in your garden: the benefits, the methods, and the rewards. They share all of their favorite resources for learning more about what YOU can do to improve the natural conditions in your space. Recommended Reading Vegetables Love Flowers Bringing Nature Home Good Garden Bugs The Life Cycle of Butterflies The Secret Lives of Backyard Bugs Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden Good Bug Bad Bug Other Resources Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Start A New Habitat: Homegrown National Park Identify Bugs: iNaturalist phone app Identify Birds by their call: Merlin phone app Other Bug Talk Podcast Episodes: Japanese Beetles Bug Talk with Nancy Lawson, The Humane Gardener What Happens to Bugs in Winter? Native Bees with Dr. Barb Abraham Bug Talk with Author Jessica Walliser Bug Talk: Ants on Peonies Bug Talk: They All Have A Purpose Bug Talk with Lisa & Rhonda Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
We are so hard on ourselves when we hit a wall or fail. I’ve found that the reality so often for me is that my expectations weren’t based on any facts or experiences, just hopes, and dreams. No wonder it didn’t work out! Stepping back and rethinking the process can change it all.Hopes + Dreams + Experience + Knowledge = a smoother and straighter road to success. I hope this episode meets you where you are, encourages you, lets you know you are not alone, and sows the seeds of hope that there is another way. I hope you enjoy this episode. ~Lisa Z. MentionsRequest the webinar: What It Takes To Be A Flower FarmerSunny Meadows Flower Farm: Instagram WebsiteFlower Farming School Online: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More with Lisa Mason ZieglerFlower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More with Dave Dowling Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. Guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, who is also a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave has such a wealth of knowledge to share! Here, he answers questions about dahlias, hydrangeas, tulips, lisianthus, and so much more! Other topics include pest management, crop rotation, organic vs. conventional fertilizers, seedling care, zinnias, sunflowers, celosia, and gladiolus. Mentions Other Ask A Flower Farmer podcast episodes featuring Dave Dowling: #269, #266, #247, #244 Dave's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Ball/Colorlink: Wholesale Plant, Bulb, & Seed Supplier The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram Discover all of our online courses! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Lisa was recently featured on Growing For Market podcast, joining host Andrew Mefferd to discuss concepts from her new book, The Cut Flower Handbook. Topics covered include: The current US market demand for cut flowers Cool vs. warm season flower crops Professionalism in flower farming Succession planting concept for continuous blooms Podcast excerpts are published with permission. Mentions Lisa's Book: The Cut Flower Handbook Full original Growing For Market episode #55 podcast Available Here Book: The Flower Farmer by Lynn Byczynski Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) The Slow Flowers Society Discover our online courses! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
After almost a year in development, we're so excited to tell you about our new online community! Membership Features: Monthly live Q&As with Lisa Z! Exclusive training sessions Expert guidance from Lisa Commiserate with your flower-loving peers Interactive challenges keep you inspired to succeed Private club platform - no tracking or advertising Access anytime from your phone, tablet, or computer Who Is This Online Club For? Aspiring Flower Farmers Established Flower Farmers Passionate Flower Gardeners Mentions More about The Gardener's Workshop Club Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Lisa was recently featured on The joegardener® Show podcast, joining host Joe Lamp'l to discuss the foundational concepts from her new book, The Cut Flower Handbook. Topics covered include: The soil blocking method of seed starting Cool vs. warm season flower crops Natural weed & pest prevention Succession planting concept for continuous blooms Podcast excerpts are published with permission. Mentions Full The joegardener® Show Episode #351 Podcast & Blog Post Available Here Lisa's Book: The Cut Flower Handbook Book: The Flower Farmer by Lynn Byczynski Products: Soil Blocking Tool, Biodegradable Mulch Film, Flower Support Netting Soil Blocking Mix Recipe & Instructions Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Starting and being in business is overwhelming! Yep, it's true. And the overwhelm doesn't just stop one day, you have to take control and make it happen. Only you can make that choice. Add to that the stress of flower farming, and it becomes clear why so many new growers never leave the starting gate. In this episode, I'm sharing one of the keys to getting started and staying in business as a flower farmer. Allow yourself the fair opportunity to learn how, I highly recommend it! (Encore presentation, originally aired March 2021) Mentions Learn about our Online Courses Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
In September '22 Lisa was featured on The joegardener® Show podcast, joining host Joe Lamp’l to discuss the Cool Flowers concept and how she got started growing this fantastic group of spring stunners! They covered topics such as: How to determine which Cool Flowers you can grow in your region When and how to start your Cool Flowers from seed The special care requirements of flowers planted in the fall and in very early spring What you should do to prepare in the fall even if you don’t plant until very early spring Mentions Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers The Flower Farmer by Lynn Byczynski The New Organic Grower by Eloit Coleman Bio360 Biodegradable Mulch Film Row Cover Hoop Kit Cool-Season Hardy Annual Seeds Full The joegardener® Show Episode #274 Podcast & Blog Post Available Here Request Lisa’s Free Resource: Cool Flowers Planting Guide Joe’s Book, The Vegetable Gardening Book Joe’s online course, Organic Vegetable Gardening Watch Growing a Greener World and connect with Joe: Website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Growing, giving, and receiving cut flowers is good medicine for whatever ails you. I learned this firsthand from Stevie’s mom's memorial service. The stories of Ruby sharing my flowers amongst the thousands of pound cakes she baked and shared were evidence of the power of flowers. Sharing them is an excellent ending to a flower's journey. Mentions Lisa's newest book: The Cut-Flower Handbook Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Enjoy this short podcast to get relieved of the pressure to start seeds now. ~Lisa In the episode, I share the reality that this rush and pressure we feel to start seeds in early spring is a result of marketing, and it is not the only time to start seeds! In fact, many of us could start seeds all 12 months of the year. I hope this gives you the nudge to jump in where you are and not feel like you're behind. Mentions Book: Vegetables Love Flowers Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This time of year we have lots of folks reaching out because of fears they are experiencing about their Cool Flowers facing cold weather. I understand and suffer from the same thing from time to time. It’s natural, and we need to do all we can to meet their needs to maximize success. This chat I hosted includes encouragement and some steps to follow that stack the cards in favor of your cool-season hardy annuals. Mentions Video Series: Cool-Season Flower Chronicles Blog: The Secret Sauce of Growing Cool-Season Flowers Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
In this encore presentation of Lisa's very first episode of Field & Garden, she covers a couple of really big topics: 1) How NOT to freak out if you decide to peek under your row covers in mid-winter, and 2) How to use this time to harness the power of succession planting as you plan out your bed space throughout the coming year. As avid cut flower gardeners and farmers, we know that the dead of winter is not just for dreaming! Now is also the time to carefully plan your bed space for maximum production. P.S. Do you peek under the row covers? I find it to be the scariest thing this farmer can do in mid-winter! ~Lisa Mentions Book, Cool Flowers Rocket Snapdragons Nigella/Love-in-a-Mist Book, Vegetables Love Flowers Blog, Storing Seeds Longer Cover Crop, Crimson Clover Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Tests and lessons (failures!) lead to perseverance. Perseverance is a required ingredient for a small business. We must continue despite failures, difficulties, or opposition. Don't give up or give in to fear. Facing fear in business never ends, so we must all learn to overcome it. Remember... "Fear is a mile wide, but only an inch deep." - Lisa Z. Mentions Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Join Lisa, Dave, and Gretel as they discuss the Flower Farming School Online Trio Sale. The culmination of several years of work, these schools are being offered as a complete set for the first time, and for a limited time only. Students now have the opportunity to gain immediate access to beginner through expert-level teachings for cut flower farming, both in the field and in structures, in a format that fits their lifestyle and needs. If you're looking for the most time and cost-efficient way to have a thriving flower farm, both now and into the future, then these courses are for you! Mentions Flower Farming School Online: The Trio Sale *limited time only* Sneak Peek Videos for all three courses Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Did you know that we have another podcast series? It's called Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne, and it's become really popular! This is their top podcast episode of 2023, the one with the most overall listens, and it's the first episode in a 3-part series about cut-and-come-again Cool Flowers. If you like this one, please consider subscribing to Seed Talk wherever you get your podcasts. You can also watch Seed Talk on our YouTube channel (see the Seed Talk playlist there), or listen to Seed Talk anytime in the podcast section on our website. *Winner, Best of 2023* Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne Wondering which cool flowers will branch and produce multiple rounds of blooms? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the first half of their list of “cut and come again” cool flowers. They cover why each of these plants is worth growing, approximately how many stems you can expect per plant, and tips for succession planting. From Ammi to golden drumsticks, listen to the podcast and learn about the productivity of these cool-season hardy annuals! The video version of Lisa and Layne’s conversation will be posted to The Gardener’s Workshop’s YouTube channel, where all “Seed Talk” episodes are organized into a playlist. In addition, auto-generated transcripts are available for viewing on YouTube. If there is a question or topic you would like to hear discussed on a future episode of “Seed Talk”, please fill out the form linked below. We would love to hear your suggestions! Mentions: “Seed Talk” YouTube Playlist Shop: Cool-Season Hardy Annual Seeds, Book: Cool Flowers “Seed Talk” Topic Suggestion Form TGW YouTube Channel TGW iPhone App (iOS App Store) TGW Android App (Google Play) Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The “Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne” podcast is produced by The Gardener’s Workshop and co-hosted by Lisa Mason Ziegler and Layne Angelo. Lisa is the founder and owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, where Layne works as Seed Manager. Lisa is the award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers and the publisher of Flower Farming School Online, Farmer-Florist School Online, and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with her on social media. Layne is an avid gardener, seed starter, and engineer who loves learning and applying her technical knowledge to all areas of life, including gardening and growing flowers. Thanks for joining us!
*Winner Best of 2023* This podcast had the most listens this year! If I had the opportunity to restart my business today based on what I have learned since starting in 1998, these are some of the things that would change the course of my business. They seem so simple now, but when I was in the weeds-- I never even thought of these things! Hope they help! ~Lisa P.S. Listen through to the very end for an uplifting note from Jennifer! Mentions Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. Guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, who is also a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave has such a wealth of knowledge to share! Here, he answers questions about lots of plants, including snapdragons, lisianthus, astilbe, winterberry, willows, baptisia, anemones, ranunculus, peonies, freesia, tulips, and calla lilies. Other topics mentioned: stem strength, harvest tracking, bed/path widths, where to start in flower farming, selling to florists, bulb storage, and wholesale cut flower and plug/liner pricing. Mentions Dave's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Ellen Frost's Online Courses: Preparing to Sell to Florists, Florist School Online: Growing Your Business With Local Flower Sourcing Ball/Colorlink: Wholesale Plant, Bulb, & Seed Supplier The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
I'm looking over my shoulder as I begin to firm up my business goals and plans for 2024. Lessons learned and reminders of advice given is good food for thought. Learning to say no to great ideas that aren't in my wheelhouse is at the top of my list. Mentions The Book That Changed My Life: Interview with Lynn Byczynski Pre-Order Now: The Cut-Flower Handbook Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
I find that many people struggle and quit flower farming before they really get started. Why do they quit? Not because they aren’t trying, but because “they don’t know, what they don't know” and get burned out doing the wrong stuff. How do you learn the right stuff? Networking with those who are ahead of you in their business journey. Mentions December 9, 2023: Gratitude Open Warehouse Lisa's Book: The Cut-Flower Handbook Podcast Series: Seed Talk with Lisa & LayneCourses: Flower Farming School Online Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one was guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink. Dave is also a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave has such a wealth of knowledge to share! Here, he answers questions about lots of plants, including ninebark, dahlias, cool flowers, gladiolus, tulips, lisianthus, snapdragons, amaryllis, peonies, winterberry, daffodils, hydrangea, and ranunculus. Other topics mentioned: thrips, raised beds, pelleted seeds, perennials & woodies for warmer climates, sales outlets, and interplanting. Mentions Dave's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Ball/Colorlink: Wholesale Plant, Bulb, & Seed Supplier The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Join Lisa Ziegler and Jessi Graven as they discuss the writing of The Cut-Flower Handbook. This book is scheduled for release in February 2024 and is available for pre-order now. Pre-order The Cut-Flower Handbook directly from TGW to get our FREE bonus resources! Details HERE. Mentions Lisa's book, The Cut-Flower Handbook Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Join me as I catch up with Gretel Adams of Sunny Meadows Flower Farm in Columbus, Ohio. In this episode, we talk about how life on the farm has changed with the addition of their first child, get an update on their flower farming biz, and learn of another big development in Steve & Gretel's farm and home life. Listen in for the scoop on Sunny Meadows! Mentions Flower Farming School Online: Growing Cut-Flower Crops in Hoop & Greenhouses with Steve & Gretel Adams Learn more about and connect with Steve & Gretel Adams and their business, Sunny Meadows Flower Farm. Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Dried Flowers = Added Value! My goal was to always sell it all fresh, but, there are always leftovers, right? Why not hang them to air dry and sell them as added-value products? Dried flowers are back in vogue and an excellent cash crop to sell alongside your fresh fall flowers and those holiday-blooming bulb containers. Dried straight bunches, bouquets, and wreaths are all in demand. MentionsAbout Ellen Frost: Instagram, YouTube Florist School Online: Growing Your Business with Local Flower Sourcing Mini-Workshop: Preparing to Sell to Florists with Ellen Frost Flower Farming Schools Online: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More!Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Growing Cut-Flower Crops in Hoop & Greenhouses Mini-Workshop: Forcing Glorious Blooms for the Holidays and Beyond with Val Schirmer Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
In this very special episode, TGW staffer Jessi Graven guest hosts as she visits fellow TGW student and established flower farmer Michelle Wheeler of River Bend Blooms in Kentucky! Here, Michelle tells the story of how she came into flower farming, how the business has grown, the selling outlets she's utilizing, and discusses her plans for the future. During the farm tour, she shows us the wildlife conservation practices in place on the farm and gives us a glimpse of her awesome flower truck as well! Michelle would like to extend a BIG "Thank you" to all of our TGW course instructors! She says she's taken almost all of them, and each course helped her grow her business in one way or another. Mentions River Bend Blooms: Website, Facebook, Instagram The Gardener's Workshop Online Courses Arnosky Family Farms Sunny Meadows Flower Farm Book: The Flower Farmer (affiliate link) CREP Program Collective: SOKY Floral Exchange H-2A Temporary Agriculture Labor Program Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer, hosted by Jennie Love of Love ’n Fresh Flowers. Jennie is a well-known and highly sought-after farmer-florist in Philadelphia specializing in field-to-vase wedding and event work. She is also the author of two of our online courses: Farmer-Florist School Online: The Wedding Process, and the online mini-workshop called Making Workshops Work for You. Here, Jennie graciously shares her thoughts on many different topics, including: how to get started as a farmer-florist where to get floral design training and so much more! Other Topics/Questions Covered: Korean Natural Farming treatment for powdery mildew Hardening off seedlings Fertilizing fall seedlings No-till garden bed creation Snapdragon succession planting Overwintering/perennializing dahlias Snapdragon transplant timing Recommended woodies to grow Bridal bouquet process DIY Bucket Contracts Crop planning for annuals & perennials Finding customers Mentions Jennie's Course: Farmer-Florist School Online: The Wedding Process Jennie's Online Mini-Workshop: Making Workshops Work for You Connect with Jennie on Instagram: @lovenfreshflowers, @notillflowers Jennie's Blog at Love 'n Fresh Flowers Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Time for another great chat between Lisa and expert cut-flower grower, Dave Dowling! Dave is also a bulb and plant broker, and the author of our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. In this episode, Lisa & Dave talk about the many ways they've sold their flowers, and how you could be selling the flowers that you grow, too. Topics include: Importance of researching your local market to identify opportunities Understanding that you'll need to try different types of selling to find the best fit for you & your farm Over a dozen different ways to sell your flowers! Mentions Online Courses published by The Gardener's Workshop ASCFG Online Bookstore: Post-Harvest Handling Book Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
What does trusting the process mean? Learning the steps and just keep doing them. I lean on mentors, teachers, organizations, resources, and team members. Everyone needs them all. Business is an ever-evolving and changing force meaning every day has scary stuff— we need backup. Doing this podcast reminded me that all will be well. ~Lisa MENTIONS We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers Book: The Flower Farmer by Lynn Byczynski (affiliate link) Online Courses published by The Gardener's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Get your notepad ready! This is an information-packed crash course in lily succession planting from expert grower and bulb broker, Dave Dowling. Dave is also the author of our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. In this episode, Lisa & Dave cover lily succession planting from start to finish! Topics include: Why to succession plant lilies Intro to crate growing, how to get crates What types of lilies to grow When and where to buy them How to plant them How to care for growing plants When and how to harvest Mentions Lily Bulb Suppliers: Ball Colorlink, Zabo Plant Available Now! Dave's online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Coming out of the dog days of summer is the time to consider: what are my flower needs for next season? While it is fresh in your memory, consider "Where am I selling and when does it start?" These guiding principles will lead you to what you should grow, how much, and when the blooms should begin. Mentions:Our Online Mini-Workshops Seed Starting Saturdays on YouTube Check out the app for our shopping show! Find it Here Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Please enjoy this replay of a webinar that Lisa did with Jennie Love called “Top 5 Mistakes New Farmer-Florists Make.” Jennie & Lisa put this one together with the hope of helping new farmer-florists avoid some common pitfalls - all mistakes that Jennie admits to making herself when she was first starting out. There are some great tips here! Mentions Jennie's Free PDF: Favorite Suppliers of Vases & Other Floral Design Hard Goods Jennie's Course: Farmer-Florist School Online: The Wedding Process Jennie's Online Mini-Workshop: Making Workshops Work for You Connect with Jennie: Love n’ Fresh Flowers Website Instagram Pinterest Cool Bot for your floral cooler Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Do you love the processes of starting, growing, and harvesting lots of cut flowers, but don’t really want to go into business? That is totally doable and in my book, an even higher calling! Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. Lisa's course, Flower Farming School Online: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Check out the app for our shopping show! Find it Here Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today’s episode is a chat that Lisa recently had with Tammy Osselaer, owner of Little Petal Farm in Noblesville, Indiana. During this conversation, they chat about retail sales, farmers markets, the importance of weeding regularly, AND how flower farmers are ALWAYS learning. Listen in to hear how Tammy’s long-time passion for gardening flourished into a thriving flower farm and retail store a few years ago, PLUS what she plans to add next! Mentions Lisa's Course: Flower Farming School Online Website: Little Petal Farm Find Tammy/Little Petal Farm on Instagram, Facebook Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Lisa recently had a chat with Debra Prinzing to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Slow Flowers Podcast. As part of the festivities, Slow Flowers is reairing selected episodes from each year of the podcast, and Debra chose Lisa’s episode for the second year, which was 2014. During this conversation, which originally aired on Instagram Live, Lisa and Debra get a rare chance to reminisce and catch up. Mentions: Listen to Slow Flowers Podcast Episode #621 Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers Book, The Flower Farmer (affiliate link) Book, The New Organic Grower (affiliate link) Lisa's New Book, The Cut-Flower Handbook: Join the Waitlist! TGW Online Schools & Workshops On Instagram: @gardenersworkshopfarm, @slowflowerssociety Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
A well-known writer, speaker, and horticulturist, the TGW family might know Dr. Allan Armitage best as the co-author of one of our favorite reference books, Specialty Cut Flowers. Here, Lisa chats with "Dr. A" about how they met, how he got his start in the industry and helped form the ASCFG, his writing and teaching career, and his current and future projects. Mentions Use free shipping code 'LISA' for book orders at: https://www.allanarmitage.net/shop (valid for US domestic orders only) 2023 ASCFG Conference: Celebrating their 35th Anniversary Armitage's Great Garden Plants Phone App Connect with Dr. A: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Website Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
I vividly remember harvesting flowers that I knew were destined for the compost heap. July and August can be tough sales months, but facing and overcoming it can be done. I hope this helps! ~Lisa Mentions Lisa's course, Flower Farming School Online: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today’s episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, normally called Ask a Flower Farmer. In this episode we instead did an Ask a Florist session with guest host Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers in Baltimore, MD. Ellen is not a flower farmer, but a year-round designer who creates exclusively with flowers and foliage purchased from local growers. She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener’s Workshop. In this Q&A Ellen fielded questions about floral design, the different flowers she uses, and some great business questions too. Mentions: Ellen's newsletter signup Ellen's YouTube Channel Instagram: Ellen Frost Flowers Instagram: Local Color Flowers Florist School Online: Growing Your Business with Local Flower Sourcing On-Demand Mini-Workshop: Preparing to Sell to Florists Jonathan & Megan Leiss' course: The No-Till Micro-Scale Flower Farm The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram Postharvest Handling book in the ASCFG bookstore The Floral Coach® Bloomhouse Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Do you need a break? To continue performing everyone needs time to refuel. For me, marrying into a family that observes Sundays as a day of rest played a significant role in my business success. Looking back I see how it gave me down space to become better. Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. Lisa's course, Flower Farming School Online: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Dave's course, Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Recommended Podcast: Discover the Word Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Lisa, Val, Dave, and Ellen discuss the impacts of the pandemic and how the industry has moved on in the following years from the perspective of a cut-flower grower, a florist, and a wholesale plant broker. Trend Alert: Customizing flower growing to fit your lifestyle, developing a narrow niche to focus on Mentions Ellen's Online School, Dave's Online School, Val's Online Mini-Workshop, Lisa's Online School Association of Specialty Cut-Flower Growers (ASCFG) Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our email newsletters! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one was guest hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink. Dave is also a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave is always happy to share his knowledge with our listeners! Here, he answers questions about many different flowers, including peonies, campanula, flowering kale, stock, calla lilies, eucalyptus, and many more. Other topics mentioned: Best cut-flower varieties of Baptisia, Ninebark, and Smokebush Selling flowers to restaurants Eucalyptus growing tips Celosia high tunnel growing Butterfly ranunculus harvesting Best perennials for newer growers Didiscus planting Ethylene-sensitive plants Obedient plant Bronze Fennel Alliums Using beneficial insects to treat aphids Deer-resistant perennials Mentions Dave's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Ball/Colorlink: Wholesale Plant, Bulb, & Seed Supplier Lisa's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Ellen's Online Course: Florist School Online: Growing Your Business with Local Flower Sourcing Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Now is the time for big-picture planning for next spring: where and when. As I am shuffling our gardens again, I am excited to embark on a smaller garden that produces more. I know where I am planting Cool Flowers and when I should plant which leads me backward to mark the calendar with when I start transplants, have seeds on hand, get beds ready, etc. Take a minute to review the book and related resources to plan for the biggest season of the year, spring. Mentions:Join the waitlist for Lisa's new book, The Cut-Flower Handbook Get the TGW Live Shopping Phone App Online Mini-Workshop: The No-Till Micro-Scale Flower Farm Lisa's book Cool FlowersBlog/Video Series: The Cool-Season Flower ChroniclesCool Season Seeds Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our email newsletters! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Little did I know that being afraid to sell my first flowers was actually the gift that prepared me for a career of success. Becoming a strong, confident seller was not what I thought, it was the result of becoming a prepared and professional flower farmer that led me to selling success. Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. Lisa's course, Flower Farming School Online: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Ellen's online Mini-Workshop: Preparing to Sell to Florists Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one was guest hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink. Dave is also a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave has such a wealth of knowledge to share! He answers questions about many different flowers, including ranunculus, sunflowers, clarkia, celosia, peonies, amaranth, and tulips. Other topics mentioned: High Tunnel Growing Tips, privacy Screen Trees Cooler Storage of Ranunculus, Sunflowers, Lilies Harvesting of Sweet William, Clarkia, Ranunculus Seedling Care for Celosia, Amaranth Seedling Care under Grow Lights Fertilizing Ranunculus Tulip Growing/Tulip Fire Tree Peonies Icelandic Poppy Germination Peony Disbudding Planting Gladiolus over Daffodils Butterfly Ranunculus Mother’s Day Prep & Organization Scouting for Thrips, Aphids, and Tarnish Plant Bugs Mentions Dave's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Ball/Colorlink: Wholesale Plant, Bulb, & Seed Supplier The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Lisa was recently featured on The joegardener® Show podcast, joining host Joe Lamp'l to discuss the concept of succession planting with flowers. Topics covered include: Spreading out & making the best use of your resources Maximizing your harvest over time Flowers that thrive late summer into fall How starting seeds indoors in soil blocks benefits your farm or garden Mentions Full The joegardener® Show Episode #315 Podcast & Blog Post Available Here Products: Silage Tarp, Warm Season Flower Seeds, Flower Support Netting Soil Blocking Mix Recipe & Instructions Book: The New Organic Grower by Eliot Coleman Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Join Lisa Z. and Dave Dowling as they talk about some big improvements and changes to Dave's online school! These changes benefit both current owners of the course and prospective students alike, check them out! Mentions Available Now! Dave's online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode is an encore presentation of a chat with my friend and student Nicole Pitt of Flower Hill Farm. Nicole farms in Boonville, New York on the land of her childhood (and current) home. A former TV news reporter/anchor, Nicole is now in her fifth year of cut flower production, selling through a CSA, to florists, and at her newly opened nursery. In this interview, we talked about how she got into flowers, the challenges faced as she grows her business, and what the future may hold for Flower Hill Farm. Nicole’s story demonstrates how investing in education and applying it to your business’s needs as it grows can be the foundation of success. Originally aired as Field & Garden episode #146 Mentions Flower Hill Farm: Website YouTube Facebook Instagram Lisa's online course: Flower Farming School Online: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Dave's online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Do you refer to yourself as a flower farmer or a cut flower grower? I wonder if our verbal preference is a reflection of our subconscious focus. Either way, I believe telling our story has far more reach and impact in the future than we can imagine. Tell your story often, because it will go way beyond you. ~Lisa P.S. Stay tuned until the end for a special message from Charissa. :) Mentions Lisa's Flower Farming School Online - available now! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our Farm News emails! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
As I am facing the struggle of realigning my business priorities as my book project is wrapping up, I am revisiting class one in Flower Farming School Online which is helping me so much. It is making me take a look at what I’m doing with my business day and what I may need to do to take the next step. If you are overwhelmed in business or looking for your next move, these steps will flush out your path. Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. Lisa's Flower Farming School Online - available now! Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular “Ask a Flower Farmer” live Q&A session on Instagram. This one was hosted by Daniel Schavey of Petal Pickers Flower Co. in Greenville, SC. Daniel is a 7th-year flower farmer growing in zone 8a and an alumnus of most of The Gardener’s Workshop’s online courses as well. Here, he answers questions about lots of flowers, including ranunculus, sunflowers, bells of Ireland, celosia, peonies, anemones, and alliums. Other topics covered: powdery mildew, high tunnel crops, dahlias, woodies, tulips, daffodils, fertilization techniques, learning what grows best on your farm Mentions Petalpickers.com: fresh flowers shipped nationwide, dahlia tuber and fall bulb sales Lisa's Flower Farming School Online - available now! Daniel's source for High Tunnels: Farmers Friend LLC Fox Hollow Peonies on Instagram The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one was guest hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink. Dave is also a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave has such a wealth of knowledge to share! Here, he answers questions about lots of flowers, including ranunculus, sunflowers, bells of Ireland, celosia, peonies, anemones, and alliums. Other topics mentioned: coated seeds, storing seeds, bacterial/fungal issues in greenhouses, growing lilies in bulb crates, storing tulips in a cooler, managing flying insects in the grow room, tarnish plant bug damage, cold-hardy annual seedling care, dealing with aphids & thrips Mentions Dave's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Ball/Colorlink: Wholesale Plant, Bulb, & Seed Supplier The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. This episode was guest hosted by Val Schirmer of Three Toads Farm. Val is a flower farmer based in the Lexington, Kentucky area, and also the current president of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, the ASCFG. She’s one of our course instructors here at The Gardener’s Workshop as well. In this Q&A Val answered questions about forcing bulbs to have ready for winter and spring holidays, both as cut flowers and in potted arrangements. She provides tips about amaryllis, paperwhites, tulips, narcissus, hyacinths, and more! Mentions YouTube Video: Val Schirmer on Ask A Flower Farmer Three Toads Farm Instagram, Facebook, Website Val's Online Mini-Workshop: Forcing Glorious Blooms for the Holidays & Beyond Greenhouse Megastore for deep plastic 6-packs Accent Decor for planters (wholesale only) ADR Bulbs and Ball ColorLink for Bulbs (wholesale only) Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
You never know where your interests and hobbies will take you! Here, Sarah shares her dream scenario, going from a flower enthusiast in a busy healthcare career to a successful flower farmer. She was introduced to the world of local flowers and her local flower community when she attended a design class at Ellen Frost's studio, Local Color Flowers. From there, Sarah chose to dive deep into her floral business education and soon moved to the farm that she runs today, called Strawberry Hill. Now she sells flowers to Ellen! Here Lisa, Ellen, and Sarah celebrate the flower community and the magic of seeing where your interests and passions will lead you. We hope this interview inspires you to seek out your passions and discover where they may take you one day as well. Mentions Sarah Strouse of Strawberry Hill: @strawberryhillmd on Instagram Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers: Website: Local Color Flowers, Instagram: Local Color Flowers, Instagram: Florists Buying Local Online Courses from The Gardener's Workshop Lisa's Book: Cool Flowers Lisa's Hellebore Webinar: Request the Replay Book: Postharvest Handling of Cut Flowers and Greens (sold by the ASCFG) Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. This episode was guest hosted by Amelia Ihlo. Amelia is a flower farmer based in rural New Hampshire and owns the Rooted Farmers online flower-selling platform. She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener’s Workshop. In this Q&A Amelia fielded questions about selling to florists, pricing models, and selling through collectives. Mentions Blog: Rooted Farmers Book: Specialty Cut Flowers *use code "Lisa" at checkout for free domestic (US) shipping!* Amelia talks pricing on the Flower Podcast The Gardener's Workshop Blog: All About Seed Starting On-Demand Mini-Workshop: Collectives 101 with Amelia Ihlo The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today’s episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, normally called Ask a Flower Farmer. In this episode we instead did an Ask a Florist session with guest host Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers in Baltimore, MD. Ellen is not a flower farmer, but a designer who creates exclusively with flowers and foliage purchased from local growers. She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener’s Workshop. In this Q&A Ellen fielded many questions from flower farmers about the details of selling to florists, which is also the topic of her on-demand mini-workshop, link below. Mentions: Website: Local Color Flowers Instagram: Local Color Flowers Instagram: Florists Buying Local On-Demand Mini-Workshop: Preparing to Sell to Florists with Ellen Frost The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) Boston Terminal Ornamentals Wholesale Pricing The Floral Coach® Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today I have BIG NEWS to share! For the first time EVER, my flower farming course is now available ON-DEMAND! Course: Flower Farming School Online: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More! Who Is This Online School For? • Flower Gardeners who want to level up their game • Flower Farmers (Beginner To Advanced) Course Info: • Comprehensive Step-By-Step Guidance for growing, harvesting, marketing, and selling cut flowers! • 54 Video Sessions • 40 Printable Handouts • Keyword Search inside the course to find what you need, WHEN you need it! • Online Learning at Your Own Pace • Receive the ENTIRE course immediately, watch at YOUR Convenience • Lifetime Unlimited Access • Private Online Student Community Course Includes: • Class 1 - Starting and Sustaining a Business • Class 2 - Building and Managing the Working Garden • Class 3 - Selling What You Grow • Class 4 - What to Grow • Class 5 - Starting Seeds • Class 6 - Harvesting and Conditioning Cut Flowers • BONUS 1: “Cool Flowers” Field Grower’s Report • BONUS 2: Exclusive 1,700+ Member Facebook Community • BONUS 3: Access to Our Gallery of 200+ Flower Images • BONUS 4: 34 Bonus Training Videos ⏰ OFFER ENDS SOON! ⏰ • LIMITED TIME - GIFT 1: Cool Flowers, Beyond the Book Online Mini-Workshop • LIMITED TIME - GIFT 2: Preparing to Sell to Florists Online Mini-Workshop with Ellen Frost I'm so happy that we could make this course more accessible and help more people move SUCCESSFULLY and PROFITABLY along their flower farming journey. I hope you join us! Your Friend, Lisa Z. Click Here to Learn More The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
I question everything this time of the season just before the farm bursts into bloom. Will it survive? What is eating that? Why this year? I must remind myself to step back and allow my mind to overrule my impulsive heart's reaction! Hope this brings you relief, Lisa Mentions Lisa's book: Cool Flowers Seed Starting Saturdays on YouTube Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Think you can't grow tulips in your climate? Struggling with really short tulips? Have great tulips, but wish you had them earlier in the season? Gretel and I cover all this and more! Join me as I chat with Gretel Adams of Sunny Meadows Flower Farm in Columbus, Ohio. In this episode, we cover the timely topic of pre-chilled tulips, an option that might just be the solution for you! Included is a great companion resource supplied by Gretel, so be sure to check out the links below! Topics covered: 1) What are pre-chilled tulips? 2) Who can benefit from planting pre-chillled tulips? 3) Where to get pre-chilled tulips, and the different types (5C vs 9C) 5) What problems can arise when planting these tulips? 6) Do you save tulip bulbs? 7) At what stage do you harvest tulips? Download the FREE PDF featuring the Sunny Meadows info sheet about Pre-Chilled Tulips! Link below. Mentions: Request Gretel's free guide: Pre-Chilled Tulips Learn more about and connect with Steve & Gretel Adams and their business, Sunny Meadows Flower Farm. Check out their tulip videos on Instagram! Learn more about the course: Flower Farming School Online: Growing Cut-Flowers in Hoops and Greenhouses Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today’s episode features a takeover of our popular “Ask a Flower Farmer” live Q&A session on Instagram, hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink. Dave is also a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies and More. Dave has such a wealth of knowledge to share! Here, he answers questions on a broad range of flowers, including lilies, freesia, tuberose, snapdragons, lilacs, hydrangea, stock, peonies, tulips, ranunculus, and more! Mentions Learn more about Dave's course, Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Ball/Colorlink: Wholesale Plant, Bulb, & Seed Supplier UMass Lily Leaf Beetle Fact Sheet The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
On episode 28 of The No-Till Flowers Podcast, Lisa Mason Ziegler joined host Jennie Love to discuss all things seed starting! Jennie's focus is on regenerative farming. She invited Lisa on the show to compare seed starting techniques and discuss methods that support superior seed germination and seedling growth sustainably and regeneratively. Both Lisa and Jennie share lots of great resources for additional research and learning, see below for some of those links. Podcast excerpts are published with permission. Mentions Link to the original No-Till Flowers episode on Apple Podcasts Lisa's Book: Cool Flowers Eliot Coleman's Book: The New Organic Grower (affiliate link) Dr. Deno's Book: Seed Germination Theory & Practice (free PDF) Jeff Lowenfel's Book: Teaming With Bacteria (affiliate link) Podcast Series: Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
It is so easy to feel overwhelmed! I know because it is my natural reaction to a challenge or problem. I tend to tackle problems head-on, and then realize how I need to slow down for the many speed bumps so that I can get over them to reach the goal. Overwhelming. Looking in the rearview mirror, I see that not only have I come a long way, but that overwhelm was a necessary piece for me to succeed. I have wounds and scars, but they are what have paved the way for my business. Take heart friends, overwhelm is the pathway to success! Stay tuned until the end for a special note from listener & student Jessica! Mentions Learn more about Dyslexia at dyslexiaida.org Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne: See recent podcast episodes Online Courses from The Gardner's Workshop Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Take a glimpse behind the scenes! Join Lisa, Rhonda, Anne, and Layne for a fun conversation about how each of them became part of The Gardner's Workshop customer service team. As our TGW community grows we continue to focus on providing the very best experience for our customers, and these women are the backbone of that effort. Listen to some fun stories and fond memories, and know these ladies are here for you! Mentions Want to know more? Meet the TGW Crew Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Happy Valentine's Day, friend! Through all the ups and downs, I owe my success to the love and care of my husband Steve and my family. Here I take a moment to share our story and my gratitude. I hope that everyone finds love in their lives that is supportive and caring, and that we all will strive to give supporting love and care to others. Mentions Blog: A Garden Love Story: Lisa & Steve Ziegler Blog: Love in Lisa's Garden Lisa's Book: Cool Flowers Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
What is your point in growing cut flowers? Do you love gardening and sharing flowers? Or is your point to create income? Answering this question and drawing a line in the sand and doing it is liberating. The only wrong answer is not answering this question. Once you know where you want to head it is so much easier to get there. I hope this chat will provoke some thinking, "What is my point?" Please consider reviewing my podcast to help us reach more listeners, your review counts! Mentions Book: A Complaint is a Gift (affiliate link) Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today's episode features an excerpt from Lisa’s show called Seed Starting Saturdays, a live video series born out of necessity during the pandemic. This show provided a way for Lisa to make an appointment to get her weekly sunflower planting done, while also creating an opportunity to interact with her followers live and answer questions. This episode from last summer covered a broad range of topics, including sunflower succession planting, cool flowers fall preparations, and post-harvest cut-flower care and conditioning. The Seed Starting Saturdays series is being retired this month, but all of Lisa’s prior shows have been archived and a playlist created for them on our YouTube Channel, see link below. Watching these videos is a great way to gain knowledge and can be a fun companion while you do your own seed starting! Mentions YouTube Playlist: Seed Starting Saturdays TGW Shopping Show - Download our phone app! Our Sunflower Seed Collection, Seedling Heat Mat, Complete Organic Fertilizer, Seed "Love-in-a-Puff", 128 Cell Plug Trays, Sweet William "Electron", Quick Dip, our Cosmos Seed Collection, Blog & Vlog: Cool Season Flower Chronicles Podcast #160: Cool-Season Flower Checklist Lisa's Book: Vegetables Love Flowers Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Some of the most successful businesses have a simple foundational offering. Don't feel pressured to add more and more--find your market and grow what sells over and over! P.S. Listen through to the end for a special note from Julia! Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. Arnosky Family Farms on Instagram Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Catching up on her farmer-florist business, in-person workshops, and the Philadelphia Floral Guild. Connect with Jennie: Love 'n Fresh website & Instagram, No-Till Flowers Podcast Online School: Farmer-Florist School: The Wedding Process with Jennie Love On-Demand Course: Making Workshops Work for You with Jennie Love On-Demand Course: Collectives 101 with Amelia Ihlo Philadelphia Floral Guide on Instagram Online Flower Selling Platform: Rooted Farmers Field & Garden Podcast #129: The Future of the Cut-Flower Industry: Flower Collectives Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
If I had the opportunity to restart my business today based on what I have learned since starting in 1998, these are some of the things that would change the course of my business. They seem so simple now, but when I was in the weeds-- I never even thought of these things! Hope they help! ~Lisa P.S. Listen through to the very end for an uplifting note from Jennifer! Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Today’s episode features a takeover of our popular “Ask a Flower Farmer” live Q&A session on Instagram, which was hosted this time by Daniel Schavey of Petal Pickers Flower Co. in Greenville, SC. Daniel is a highly-successful 6th-year flower farmer growing in zone 8a and an alumnus of many of The Gardener’s Workshop’s online courses. Here, Daniel answers a broad range of questions on topics such as soil blocking, high tunnel growing, seasonal growing, succession planting, ranunculus tips, and popular trends in the flower world. Mentions The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram Daniel's source for High Tunnels: Farmers Friend LLC Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) Book: Cool Flowers by Lisa Mason Ziegler The Nested Fig Garden on Instagram Petalpickers.com: fresh flowers shipped nationwide, dahlia tuber and fall bulb sales Blocking Mix Recipe & Tips from The Gardener's Workshop Online Course: Growing Cut-Flower Crops in Hoop & Greenhouses Scented Geranium Cuttings/Plugs from Clara Joyce Flowers Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) High Tunnel Grant Info Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Don't let the off-season slip away. Make the most of the non-harvesting season by getting jobs done that help lighten the workload in the season. Restore Get those pebbles off your shoulders Get key steps on the calendar In-season meals Get smart: conferences, read books Find more customers Upgrade business practices Don't be afraid of: "You are only as solvent as your last sale". Keep up the hustle and make it easier to succeed. ~Lisa Z Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. Seed Starting Saturdays on YouTube: Replay from 1/07/23 Get "the BIG calendar" (affiliate link) Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies! Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
In this special episode, Lisa speaks with Jonathan Leiss of Spring Forth Farm about three pitfalls related to cover cropping on the no-till farm: 1) planting cover crops without a plan to terminate them, 2) underestimating the amount of time needed to tarp a cover crop, and this not having beds ready when needed, 3) inadequate seed-to-soil contact when seeding. Lisa and Jonathan commiserate about these common issues and offer strategies to avoid and overcome these challenges. Mentions *SALE $129 (Reg $159)* On-Demand Online Course: The No-Till Micro-Scale Flower Farm Course includes: 4 hours of video instruction, broken into short easy-to-digest segments access to a private student Facebook Group for ongoing instructor support a LIVE Q&A with Jonathan & Megan Leiss (via Zoom) on Feb 20th, 2023 at 8pm Eastern! USDA Cover Crop Chart Book: Managing Cover Crops Profitably by SARE Outreach (Amazon affiliate link) Cover Crop Seed & Supplies from The Gardener's Workshop Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
At the root of my flower farm's success is simplicity. I grew more volume of fewer types of flowers to experience higher profits with less loss. Volume and doing it over and over through the years led us to get better at it with fewer mistakes and mishaps. All good for the bottom line. I never got bored growing more of a variety of flower with fewer varieties because I wasn't relying on the flowers for my satisfaction, it was experiencing a profitable business and the journey that lit me up. Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. TheGardenersWorkshop.com Sister Podcast: Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne Seeds: Prairie Sun Rudbeckia Live Shopping Show: Get the App Here Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Part of our "Best of 2022" replay series, listen again as Lisa offers some great tips for building a successful, profitable business! In this episode, I'm sharing the reminders I wish someone would have tapped me on the shoulder to say "Remember this!" If you are an avid gardener or as I was in the beginning, a gardener gone wild-- you can disregard this list. These reminders are for those that want to build a successful, profitable business: Remember the point: to spend less money than you bring in, better known as profit. Flowers do not sell themselves. You must get up every day and keep doing it. Prevent weeds: paramount. (takes down many potential growers) Grow what sells. Stop comparing yourself. Be a professional no matter what. Every failure is a potential lesson. You can do hard things. Pick up where you are. STOP looking back. I hope this reminds and helps you. -Lisa Mentions Lisa Mason Ziegler's Online Course: Join the Waitlist Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Use January to make the whole flower farming year better. Order the giant calendar and while you wait, fill your freezer with a few key meals to make farming a little easier once the harvesting starts. Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. Jumbo Wall Calendar (affiliate link) Flower Farming School Online: The Basics Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Part of our "Best of 2022" replay series, listen again as Lisa speaks with Dave Dowling about some of the challenges they overcame on their way to becoming flower farmers! Common challenges mentioned: Lack of Experience, No Cooler, No Acreage, No Greenhouse or Hoophouse, No Money, No Delivery Vehicle, No Tractor, Nowhere to sell flowers nearby, No Hired Help, Too Old, Single Parent, etc. Lisa & Dave explain how we can overcome these challenges to achieve our flower farming dreams! Mentions Lisa Ziegler's Online Course: Join the Waitlist Dave Dowling's Online Course: Join the Waitlist Available Now: On-Demand Online Workshops Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
I am pretty quick to see all my mistakes and failures and let the wins sail off into the sunset never to be seen again. Making a list of where I started and where I am now is a beneficial way to know that I have come a long way, even though some days I feel like I am at square one. Make a list and save it for the hard days. ~Lisa Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. The Gardener's Workshop: Free Resources, Online Courses and Garden Shop for gardeners and flower farmers! Books I love that we used to offer in our online garden shop: Good Bug, Bad Bug, The New Organic Grower, The Flower Farmer Book: Cool Flowers Book: Vegetables Love Flowers Blog: Field & Garden Podcasts: Field & Garden and Seed Talk Video Podcast: Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Part of our "Best of 2022" replay series, listen again as Lisa speaks with Dave Dowling about growing snapdragons! I've been growing snapdragons for over two decades and thought I had a handle on it---but NOT after this discussion with Dave Dowling! In this episode, we are talking about extending the harvest season, how to do that but variety selection, harvesting, conditioning, and more! This is but a small sampling of what it is like to learn from Dave. I am so pleased to have Dave as one of our online course instructors. Learn more about his course and get on the waitlist for his June enrollment for Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More! Connect with Dave on Instagram & Facebook Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
As I look forward to next season, I am reminding myself of the roots of a cutting garden. Sometimes a refresher is all it takes to be inspired. Could you use some inspiration too? Listen in. Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. Book: Vegetables Love Flowers Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Part of our "Best of 2022" replay series, listen again as Lisa speaks with Jonathan Leiss of Spring Forth Farm about growing sunflowers! Talking about one of my favorite subjects with Jonathan Leiss of Spring Forth Farm located in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina: sunflowers. We both agree that sunflowers can be major contributors to the bottom line of most flower-growing operations. Jonathan's go-to sunflower is Vincent's Choice with a new addition this year of Premier for its short seed-to-bloom time and shorter height. Mentions Connect with Jonathan & Megan: Instagram Facebook Website Jonathan & Megan's online course: The No-Till Micro-Scale Flower Farm Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
When is very early spring? Who should plant in very early spring? How to plant in very early spring? These and other questions are on so many minds as we are heading out of the fall planting season. Very early spring is when everyone can plant cool-season hardy annuals and here is the 411 on doing it. Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. Book: Cool Flowers Blog: The Cool-Season Flower Chronicles Bio360 Biodegradable mulch film Podcast: Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
For this edition of "Bug Talk" Lisa and Rhonda are joined by master naturalist Nancy Lawson of The Humane Gardener. Nancy talks about how the native plantings in her suburban yard have become ambassadors for introducing her community to native birds and insects. Did you know that brambles are a great feature to have for native creature habitats? Nancy teaches that plants are the solution to many of the common gardening problems that we face. She talks about how to start small in your efforts to incorporate native plants into your landscape, then gradually expand from there. Mentions: Website & Blog: The Humane Gardener, Facebook Nancy's Book: The Humane Gardener Nancy's Book: Wildscape Firefly.org - Firefly Conservation & Research Humane Society: Wildlife Management Solutions Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social!
At the end of the growing season, we are tired and sometimes, a little desperate. Making value-added products, particularly around the holidays, can seem like a great option. But in our efforts to create more cash flow, sometimes we end up spending even more time and money. It can rob us of time, morale, and the opportunities we need to attend to the unsung pieces of life and business: relationships, self-care, business planning, and building our knowledge base. Let's think about and evaluate what else we could or should be doing during this time. Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. Book: The Flower Farmer by Lynn Byczynski Ellen Frost, Local Color Flowers: (Instagram) Local Color Flowers, (Instagram) Florists Buying Local, Ellen's Blog: Vicarious Florist Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Why grow flowers? What do flowers do for us, other than create a beautiful bouquet or table? In this Clubhouse chat, Lisa shares stories of the benefits of growing flowers that you might not have thought about: nurturing your body, mind, and soul. A listener joins in to share her sweet stories as well. We hope this episode offers you encouragement and helps you recognize the good that you do for yourself and your community when you choose to grow flowers. Mentions Book: Vegetables Love Flowers More about Fields of Grace Flower Farm and their mission: Instagram, Facebook, Website *TGW PHONE APP* Get our Live Shopping Show App Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! Are you on the Clubhouse phone app? Join Lisa's club, called Flower Farming, to be notified when she schedules new chats! We're temporarily on hiatus from recording there, but you can listen to our prior chat replays anytime inside the app. The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Cool Flowers seems so familiar to me that I have to remind myself that it is still a little-known planting concept. Because of this, it is new territory for even seasoned gardeners. In this episode, I review the steps I follow to care for my Cool Flower plantings and some of the common causes of plant loss. Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. Podcast: Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne Book: Cool Flowers Blog & Videos: The Cool-Season Flower Chronicles Products: Garden Hoe and Razor Hoe, Row cover kit, Dry fertilizer, Liquid fertilizer, Bio360, Flower support netting Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
In this episode of Bug Talk, Lisa and Rhonda cover a fascinating topic: "What happens to bugs in the wintertime?" As self-proclaimed "bug-huggers," these ladies chat about the different ways that bugs cope with the changing seasons, and what you can do in your garden, landscape, or field to support them along the way. Mentions Book: Good Bug Bad Bug by Jessica Walliser Book: Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden by Jessica Walliser Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Starting and being in business means you must continually expand your horizons to not just grow and keep your biz BUT you must know rules and requirements, laws and ordinances, keep up with new technology, opportunities, and just time to be creative! I use the least demanding season of the year to do this: winter. Invest in yourself and your business, and learn some lessons. Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. Country Folks Grower magazine Flower Farming School Online: Growing Cut-Flower Crops in Hoop & Greenhouses Get the TGW Live Shopping Show App Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
In this episode, Lisa speaks with Gretel Adams of Sunny Meadows Flower Farm about their very popular annual dahlia tuber sale. Dahlias are the top cut-flower crop at their farm, and dahlia tubers are a major part of their fall/winter season sales. Here, Gretel walks us through all the steps from predicting supply, to digging/harvesting, dividing, storing, and prepping for the sale. This year their dahlia tuber sale starts on November 18th, 2022. Mentions Flower Farming School Online: Growing Cut-Flower Crops in Hoop & Greenhouses Connect with Sunny Meadows Flower Farm: Website, Facebook, Instagram Oregon State University research on crown gall disease Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
There are so many possibilities and opportunities in growing cut flowers, sometimes we just don’t have time to consider and explore. In this episode I’m exploring some of the questions I wish someone would have asked me. Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. More about "the big calendar": Easier Next Time. Purchase a big calendar here. Ellen's Recent Podcast Episode on Seed Talk: #9 - Dried Flowers - Grow, Harvest, Dry, Arrange & Store with Ellen Frost Request the Webinar Replay: Dried Wreath Making Tips On-Demand Workshop by Jonathan & Megan Leiss: The No-Till Micro-Scale Flower Farm Flower Farming School Online: Growing Cut-Flower Crops in Hoop & Greenhouses Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
In this episode, Lisa speaks with Gretel Adams of Sunny Meadows Flower Farm about their progression of offering on-farm shopping events and post-fresh flower season merchandise. Here Gretel offers some great tips about what to offer, shares some challenges they've overcome related to these events, and what to consider about yourself and your property before you decide to offer events on your own farm. Mentions Flower Farming School Online: Growing Cut-Flower Crops in Hoop & Greenhouses Connect with Sunny Meadows Flower Farm: Website, Facebook, Instagram Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
While it may sound simple, the lesson of resisting shiny objects is anything but simple. I’ve learned that part of my success is rooted in my ability to resist distractions and new opportunities. Getting up and saying no over and over has been my long-haul success story. Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. New Podcast: Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Learn what happens after "Frostmas" and during winter for a local sourcing design studio that is open year-round. Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers is a veteran in this industry of seeking out, developing, and nurturing local growers to supply her business. Connect: Instagram: Local Color Flowers Instagram: Florists Buying Local Ellen's Blog: Vicarious Florist Courses: Florist School Online: Growing Your Business with Locally Sourced Flowers On-Demand Workshop: Preparing to Sell to Florists Other Field & Garden podcast episodes featuring Ellen: #195: An Insider Look from Florist Ellen Frost #151: Florist Sales #130: A Design Studio's Year Month-by-Month #124: How Local Color Flowers is Evolving Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Big-picture thinking in 5-year bites helps to lead me through the weeds of business. Forget the details and think about what you want your business to look like in 5 years, and then go to work to make it so. Mentions We are so happy about our partnership with the Growing For Market Magazine! A tremendous resource. Use the coupon code: WORKSHOP to get 25% off any print or digital subscription. Live Shopping Show - Get the App! Book: Vegetables Love Flowers New Podcast: Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News! The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!