| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Clare |
Posted - Jul 19 2004 : 09:10:58 AM
Here's an idea for those of you with a couple acres of land and wondering how to use it. A flower bouquet subscription service might be an option. Here's a link to an article that is about one woman's venture...and gives you ideas and specific plants that work well for cut flowers, although you may need to adapt this to your area of the country. These types of ideas give me itchy feet--- I want to try them all! Enjoy!
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2004/0718/plant.html
Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural |
| 17 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| atwell |
Posted - Jul 21 2005 : 11:55:48 AM
Marcia!!Thanks so much for the lead on the books..I will check these out for sure!I wish I would have jumped on this this spring ...but I guess I will have a lot of time to chew on this and formulate a plan!NEXT YEAR for sure!!
Laura!!
Thanks for asking about the storm..it was like a mini hurricane for a short while!!! scary!!I can sympathize with your "closing on your farm frustration" I cant tell you how much of a nightmare it was to get my place ! But I think the farm broker was on the crooked side  ! 
Lets just say I will never go through that again and I am dying here!!Good luck with it though!! Like tom petty once said" the waiting is the hardest part! taking some photos now sounds like a good start too..always best to make the most of the situation.
Have Fun Ladies!!
susan
FatQuarterQuiltFarm
Long Arm Machine
Quilting ~and~
Fabric Flea Market |
| LJRphoto |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 11:30:06 PM
Susan,
Hickory Corners is a couple of hours northeast of New Buffalo. I just drove past there tonight, I hope you faired well in the storm. We spent the afternoon at Grand Mere and then drove up to Hickory Corners for my daughter's riding lesson. I wish we could just get this property closed on and be up there all the time! I'll be on pins and needles until we are moving in.
I think I'll grab some black and white film this week so I can shoot some samples of my own kids and borrow a few others and get a little word of mouth going.
Laura |
| Celticheart |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 8:43:58 PM
Susan,
I've been thinking about doing this also and have done a little research. There are a couple of books available. The one I have is Flowers for Sale by Lee Sturdivant. I think you can find it on Amazon. I also saw one listed on here somewhere, I think--The Flower Farmer. I'm going to order that one too. Flowers for Sale has all sorts of ideas and different approaches to marketing your cut flowers.
Good luck.
"I suppose the pleasure of country life lies really in the eternally renewed evidence of the determination to live." Vita Sackville-West
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| atwell |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 5:35:06 PM
CLARE!!!!
once again you are my hero!!!!!!!!!    keep on rockin my world thru this website! I loved the newfarm website and signed up for the newsletter!
LJR photo! I love the idea of the kids photos on location especially
in the flower field!! Sounds like a FABULOUS farmgirl idea...by the way I know about where Jasper co in IN is...where is hickory hills, MI? I am very close to New Buffalo MI.......just curious we could be neighbors.....sort of..........
susan
FatQuarterQuiltFarm
Long Arm Machine
Quilting ~and~
Fabric Flea Market |
| Clare |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 5:19:51 PM
Girls, Check out the http://www.newfarm.org website. There are all sorts of posts relating to retail flower growing. You might have to search to find them all, but it's worth it!
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
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| atwell |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 5:03:13 PM
Flower girls!!
I too am having thoughts of doing the same...! for about 4 years while I was working in the city I would drag a bucket of flowers twice weekly to my building and sell them to showrooms on my floor. It was a huge hassle ( I took the train for 2 hours to get there then had to wheel my cart for 10 blocks and then set them up in vases..) but the city folk seemed to enjoy them and Im going to be growing flowers anyway......Next spring I am going to try the same with local busines here in town and surrounding areas. Im curious to what your customers are like and in what type of metro or not areas?? Around here it is pretty agricultural( have their own flower gardens) but there are other nearby towns that are growing ...In the city it was easy because everyone was so starved for fresh natural things. They even loved what we gals call weeds!! In the latest MJF mag there is a lady who does this too...even put her kids thru college!!!This really is a great idea because when spring hits I have to be OUTSIDE!!!I have a meadow that is overgrown with weeds but also has tons of bulbs, peony,sweetpea, poppy and queen annes lace!!hahahI like the 2 bunches in a bucket idea, I was also thinking of providing them with large ball jars for vases that could be recycled..In the city I was charging$15-$ 30 depending on size..
what does everyone out there charge and do you offer different sizes?? are there anybooks that could recommend what are the best for cutting? Does anyone suggest taking a master gardeners course?
Ive worked for a family greenhouse for several years and also did
flower landscaping for several years for a local bank with several branches..but I still feel like I dont know enough!!Thanks girls!!I wish I would have though of this earlier this spring!! oh well!
susan
FatQuarterQuiltFarm
Long Arm Machine
Quilting ~and~
Fabric Flea Market |
| LJRphoto |
Posted - Jul 14 2005 : 1:08:31 PM
How did those of you who have done this get started? What do you consider great success? Giving yourself a paycheck that is comparable to an office job? Comparable to a part time job? I love to garden and I love cut flowers and I love the idea of not having to have an office job. Our lives are changing so quickly and I'm going crazy trying to figure out how to maximize time with my children, provide a decent living, etc. I'm also a photographer and am considering the possibility of starting my own portrait business specializing in children, on location stuff, and have even thought about the fact that if I make a beautiful garden at our new home people might want to have pictures taken there.
What do you all think? Advice on starting a small busines, etc. |
| connio |
Posted - Jun 28 2005 : 5:24:29 PM
Hey Farm Girls Having a cut flower farm is one of my dreams for my land also. The state of Texas is actually encouraging farmers to grow cut flowers because about 90% of the cut flowers sold in Texas are imported! I hate it when I go to the grocery and see roses from Columbia for sale when I could be growing and selling them right here if I could find the time! The state even has a program called GO TEXAN that provides advice and I think may even have grants and low interest loans.
Connie
cozycottage |
| greyghost |
Posted - Jun 26 2005 : 12:56:08 PM
I can't tell you how many times I have dreamed of a wildflower & herb farm. I've thought of it as a "u-pick" kind of thing too, with arranged bouquets available as well, of course. Thanks for the article :) |
| Lena@HickoryGroveFarm |
Posted - Jun 14 2005 : 10:06:47 AM
PS, plant crimson clover- you won't be sorry! It's beautiful, it's nitrogen-fixing, and it makes a great cut flower. I found that it lasts forever in the vase, and one other thing... very interesting: Although I didn't change the water for close to two weeks, it stayed crystal clear, and the flowers stayed fresh as well. Could it be the plant has some antibacterial properties? That could come in handy.
Lena
Budding Farm Girl and Eccentric Artist
see www.marlenam.com |
| Lena@HickoryGroveFarm |
Posted - Jun 14 2005 : 10:03:38 AM
Clare, I will definitely look at this. I have discovered that flowers are something I love to grow. Also, I don't seem to kill them like I do peas. Grin- some things grow, and some things don't, and I've learned to look at it like that.
Thanks for sharing your idea, and for going to the trouble to dig up the link, too.
Budding Farm Girl and Eccentric Artist
see www.marlenam.com |
| Kim |
Posted - May 20 2005 : 5:57:05 PM
What a great place to have, oh the place of my dreams!
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| Eileen |
Posted - May 19 2005 : 09:34:30 AM
I personally know of three farms of this type here where I live. Two of them have also got sheep, chickens and grow vegies for the farmers market. One has a horse boarding and training facility as well as the flowers and veggies. She uses summer interns from Evergreen college and other colleges around the country to keep her farm under controll. She is a single woman. Her daughter just got married last summer in a real country wedding complete with the horses bringing them to the minister. She is planning to get her farm certified for weddings and other farm gatherings as well. Her summer boquets are to die for. They usually all include at least one beautiful sunflower.
Eileen
songbird; singing joy to the earth |
| gena |
Posted - May 18 2005 : 6:18:12 PM
hello-
This is my dream too. Acres and acres of cut flowers and fresh herbs. How did you get started and what did you find were the most difficult obstacles to overcome(besides everyone you know telling you that you're crazy)?
Thank you very kindly,
Gena
got flowers. |
| Clare |
Posted - Aug 09 2004 : 2:04:53 PM
Here's a cool article, very informative:
http://www.newfarm.org/columns/cut_flowers/0804/summermadness.shtml
Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural |
| connio |
Posted - Jul 29 2004 : 2:42:06 PM
Hi Terese I posted a message on "Welcome Wagon", but did not know if you would see it, so I am posting here a second time. I recently purchased 6.5 acres of land near Fort Worth, Texas. My goal is to have a cut flower farm. I am doing lots of research but will look forward to your posts (and those from others) in regard to this fascinating project.
cozycottage |
| terese |
Posted - Jul 27 2004 : 7:33:48 PM
This is exactly what I do and I am having great success at it. It is my second year and I am expanding to full scale next year. |
