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
