In this final episode of the season, Sarah and Katie celebrate their milestone of completing Season 1 of the podcast and plan to return with Season 2 in March 2026. They share an update on the working bee at Grown By Lightning Hollows, reflect on the challenges of irrigation and seedling care in the Summer heat, share their data on four crops from the Spring season including Delphinium, Ranunculus, Corn Cockle (Agrostemma), and Pansies. They also give recommendations for resources and podcasts for flower farmers to enjoy over the break before the return.
In this episode, Sarah and Katie discuss:
Ultimately, they highlight the joy of selling to florists and the importance of adapting to market demands.
Find Sarah's companion resource with more detail and examples here: www.quaylecottage.com.au/shop
Nikki's book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Pie-Gets-Bigger-Complementors-Competitors/dp/0646715984
In this conversation, Nikki Davey discusses the importance of collaboration in the flower farming industry, emphasising the need for an abundance mindset rather than a competitive one. She shares her journey from finance to flower farming, explores innovative practices that can benefit the flower industry, and highlights some case studies other agricultural sectors that she mentions in her book "The Pie Gets Bigger". The discussion also touches on the impact Grown Not Flown has on the flower farming community and the future of collaborations within the industry. Nikki stresses the importance of treating flower farming as a legitimate business and the need for data-driven decisions to enhance productivity and sustainability.
In this conversation, Katie and Sarah reflect on the past month of November on their Hunter Valley farms. They discuss some of the challenges they've been facing such as hot dry weather, compaction and compost contamination. This conversation highlights the complexities of agricultural business and resilience in the face of environmental challenges.
Film & Foliage:
www.instagram.com/filmandfoliage
Wildflower Academy:
www.instagram.com/academywildflower
The Harvest:
www.quaylecottage.com.au/theharvest
In this conversation, Sarah and Katie are joined by Ash Wheelhouse, a seasoned floral designer and founder of Wildflower Academy. They explore the intricacies of floral design, the challenges faced by florists, and the importance of local sourcing. Ashlee shares her journey in the floral industry, the impact of the pandemic on her business, and the creation of 'The Harvest', a local flower hub that connects growers and florists. The discussion also delves into the sourcing process for wedding flowers, the importance of focus when shopping, and the value of building relationships with growers. The challenges of sourcing local flowers compared to imports are explored, highlighting the benefits of quality and cost. The conversation also touches on the customisation available when working with local growers and the growing demand for unique and unusual floral varieties. Finally, the barriers to importing seed for desired flower varieties are discussed, shedding light on the complexities of the floral industry. In this conversation, Ash discusses her journey in the floral industry, focusing on the transition from traditional practices to sustainable methods, the establishment of Wildflower Academy, and the importance of community among florists. The dialogue explores the evolving perception of floristry as an art form, the significance of personal branding, and practical advice for growers considering entering the wedding market. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the perspectives of both florists and growers, effective marketing strategies, the importance of CRM systems for managing events, and the complexities of pricing in the floral industry. They also discuss the intricacies of floristry, including the challenges of foraging, pricing strategies, and the value of craftsmanship in floral design. They explore how growers can better understand their worth and the importance of community collaboration in the industry. The discussion also touches on personal favourites in flowers and trends.
This conversation explores the intricacies of selling flowers retail, focusing on roadside stands. Sarah and Katie discuss the selection of flowers, the different ways to sell flowers direct to consumer, the benefits and challenges of retail versus wholesale, customer engagement, marketing strategies, payment methods, and pricing. They also touch on the importance of social media and the hidden costs associated with running a flower business. Overall, the discussion provides valuable insights for aspiring flower sellers.
Bec, from Dish the Dirt, discusses the evolution of the Australian flower farming community, the challenges faced by growers, and the impact her podcast has had. We explore the importance of collaboration between growers and florists, the role of community in the industry, and the significance of platforms like Growers Avenue. The discussion also touches on sustainability practices, the future of flower farming, and advice for new growers entering the field.
In this episode, Katie and Sarah discuss their experiences as flower farmers in Australia during October. They share insights on weather challenges, planting updates, and the success of their harvests, particularly focusing on Corn Cockle/Agrostemma. The conversation also touches on the balance between work and farming, the complexities of ordering and growing dahlias, and the introduction of new woody perennials to their farms. Additionally, they explore financial aspects of flower farming, including budgeting and profitability, while looking ahead to future planting and seasonal changes.
Chapters
00:00 October Wrap-Up: Weather Challenges and Planting Successes
04:53 Harvesting Corncockle: Yields and Lessons Learned
09:05 Weddings and Floral Design: Balancing Business and Personal Life
15:24 Jobs and Seasonal Transitions: Navigating Burnout and Motivation
22:10 Roses and Thrips: Challenges in Flower Farming
27:17 Insecticidal Soap and Dahlias
29:45 Ordering Tubers and Delivery Challenges
33:38 Selling Dahlia Tubers and Storage Issues
35:15 Woody and Perennial Shrubs
39:00 Taking Cuttings and Success Rates
41:05 Budgeting for Farm Expenses
43:32 Profitability and Revenue Insights
45:13 Current Blooms and Seasonal Changes
This episode is a heartfelt conversation with Jess and Cait, who share their experiences and insights into the world of retail floristry. They discuss the importance of sustainability, the challenges and joys of working with local flower growers, and the unique connections they foster with their community through their shop, The Little Garden. They discuss their commitment to local sourcing, the impact of COVID-19 on their business, and their philosophy of radical honesty and community support.
Bed Rotations & Sowings - Template spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lHdGneb_V7inYF9mMgZKfKXSpdOrYHg8xbnFwKJu7gY/edit?usp=sharing
(You are welcome to copy and paste this template into your own spreadsheet to use)
In this conversation, Sarah and Katie discuss their approach to crop planning. After discussing how they choose what they grow in a previous epsiode, this conversation dives into what they do after they have their list of flowers. From where crops are placed, mapping their growing spaces, planning sowing dates and successions, and managing the timing of it all.
In this episode, Sarah and Katie, two flower farmers from Australia, interview Casey from Three Dogs Flower Farm. Casey shares her journey from being a botanist to starting her flower farm, discussing the challenges and triumphs along the way. The conversation covers topics like seed saving, favourite flowers, and the importance of local adaptation.
In this episode, Sarah and Katie, two flower farmers from Australia, discuss their experiences and insights into flower farming. They explore how they choose what to grow based on market needs, personal preferences, and constraints. The conversation delves into the importance of profitability, data analysis, and the balance between joy and financial viability in farming. They also share their experiences with trialling new crops and the challenges they face in the industry. The episode wraps up with a look at future plans and the excitement of upcoming interviews with other growers.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Flower Farming and Seasonal Changes
06:18 Constraints in Flower Farming: Space, Time, and Climate
14:11 Risk Tolerance in Flower Farming: A Balancing Act
28:57 Crop Planning: Lessons Learned and Future Goals
34:03 Understanding Crop Costs and Labor
38:40 Balancing Joy and Profit in Crop Selection
44:13 Trialing New Crops and Learning from Failures
59:17 Engaging with Florists and Customers for Crop Planning
In this episode, Katie and Sarah, two flower farmers from Australia, discuss the rapid transition to high temps in early Spring, share insights on direct sowing techniques, the excitement of designing for weddings (and Katie's big wedding drama). The conversation also touches on the complexities of colour descriptions and reflections on their farming journey as they look forward to the rest of the season.
Chapters
00:00 Spring Weather Changes and Impact on Flower Farming
06:08 Irrigation and Watering
12:40 Direct Sowing and Seed
19:05 Flowering Varieties and Seasonal Blooms
25:20 Wedding Preparation and Drama
31:28 Flower Sales Success
40:11 Physical Challenges in Flower Farming
48:42 Crop Trials
55:15 Seasonal Transitions and Future Planning
In this episode, Katie interviews Sarah about her unique experience in the world of flower farming. She discusses her urban growing space, the evolution of the crops she grows, and the importance of community. The conversation delves into the challenges she faces, particularly regarding time constraints and small space growing, and how she navigates the business side of selling flowers to florists.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Flower Farming Journeys
10:02 Selling to Florists: The Business Side
14:39 Challenges in Flower Farming
19:35 Time Management and Farming Practices
24:00 Partnerships in Flower Farming
28:37 Future Crop Expectations and Innovations
In this episode, Sarah interviews Katie about her journey into flower farming, discussing her growing space, customer base, and the challenges she faces. Katie elaborates on her property, the flooding issues, and her approach to growing flowers sustainably. She also touches on her sales strategies, including a roadside stand and selling florists, and expanding her growing space. The conversation highlights the joy of harvesting, the business mindset required for flower farming, and the story behind the name 'Grown by Lightning Hollows.'
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Flower Farming Journey
05:56 Customer Base and Sales Avenues
11:51 Favourite Aspects of Flower Farming
17:28 Weekly Workflow
23:18 Future Plans
In the very first episode of the Bloommates podcast, Sarah and Katie, two passionate flower farmers from Australia, share their journey into flower farming, their motivations for starting the podcast, and their experiences in the industry. They discuss the need for more Australian-specific content in the flower farming community, their personal stories, and the diverse flower varieties they grow. The episode also touches on building a customer base with florists and their future plans for the podcast, including upcoming episodes and topics.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Bloommates Podcast
06:05 Personal Stories and Backgrounds
12:00 Starting Out in Flower Farming
21:49 Building a Florist Customer Base