First Year Flower Farm: What I'm Learning
I pushed back on the idea of a flower farm for a while. My gardens were growing in size with each passing year. With that growth came more flowers for the pollinators. Every year for about four years, I thought about trying to become a “flower farmer…” only to quickly tell myself that it couldn’t be done on my family's tiny budget, thus ending that idea.
The problem was, I couldn’t escape my love for flowers or the desire to farm. My desire got so big I could no longer shove it off. I had to at least try.
So here I am, at the very beginning of my flower farm journey. Here are the top five things I’ve learned so far when planning a flower farm.
Stick With What You Know, Then Try Something New.
Yes, there are so many different flower varieties out there. Each new color can easily catch your eye. If you’re on a very small budget like me, you’ve got to walk in with a plan. Think through what you know how to grow, what are easiest to grow, and then if you have the budget, try a couple new varieties. Remember, you’re promising flowers. You need to know what you’re growing should work out.
Choose An Avenue For Selling Beforehand.
There are several avenues you could go down for selling flowers. The route you choose will determine how you market, the colors you choose for bouquets, etc. My greatest desire was to meet people in my community, and serve them with the joy that local flowers can bring. I quickly knew retail would be my choice avenue, but even within retail there's choices to make. Flower stands, farmer's markets, and partnering with a local storefront are a few ways you could make money through retail. Some others avenues include wholesale, a u-pick flower farm, or wedding design.
Learn About Bouquet Recipes.
Bouquets are more than just a group of flowers together. Thought is put into each unique bouquet. Several types of flowers are involved like spikes, focals, discs. Then you have what we call “fillers,” like greenery and airy elements. Knowing the amount of each that need to be used in a bouquet to get to a certain price point takes some planning. It is wise to get acquainted with different bouquet recipes and plan out some ideas before you have flowers blooming.
Crunch The Numbers and Stay on Track.
Flowers are enticing. It is so easy to overspend on bulbs, tubers, seeds, etc. If you have a tight budget, start very small. Yes, it is sad to think you may not have Spring blooms in the first growing season, but many summer annuals are cheaper, easier to grow, and can get you on the right track to purchasing bulbs for the following Spring. Keep record of what you spend, and don’t forget to include everything in your budget. Seeds and bulbs are not the only thing you’ll need for the farm. Think through seed trays or soilblocks, harvesting buckets, website, compost, etc. When looking at the overall plan, it makes it easier to narrow down what seeds you’ll need in the first year.
Don’t Forget to Enjoy It.
I love flowers. I love the hard work and the gift of giving the beauty of the farm to others. My budget may be small, I may not be growing everything I wish to grow, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have something unique to offer. Enjoy the process of learning. Be creative, work hard, stay on track, and keep dreaming. I’m excited to see where the flowers will take us!
