Growing Flowers, Growing Dreams: The Journey of a Beginner Flower Farmer, Grace Rose

Many people aspire to live a simple life on a farm or homestead but wonder what it takes to make that dream come true. Social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok showcase examples of those who have achieved this, leading some to believe that only those with special circumstances or who take bold risks can make it happen. Nonetheless, even if you're an average person with a corporate job and household responsibilities, it's still possible to turn your dream into a reality. "But how?" you're probably asking in your head.

Join me, Hannah Seligson, the gal behind Grace Rose, on my journey to pursue my dream of being a flower farmer!

It all started a couple of years ago in my backyard and porch, with multiple containers exploding with colorful blooms. Erin Benzakein's book Cut Flower Garden and Jesse Frost's The Living Soil Handbook were the resources I used to help guide me.

Not long after watching Erin Benzakein's hit series, Growing Floret, a documentary series that follows Erin and the Floret Farm team on their flower farm, I realized I wanted to start a flower farm of my own someday. I then started researching how to start my cut flower garden at home and watched various YouTube videos from Blossom and Branch Farm, No-Till Growers, Garden Answer, Charles Dowding, and many others. I spent months taking notes, drafting blueprints of my future raised beds, purchasing seeds, marking my calendar when I needed to start sowing the seeds, and transforming my basement into a seed-sowing station.

Once I saw my first seeds sprout, I couldn't believe it - it was working! I could grow things from seed! I then realized I could grow anything from a seed. This newfound skill struck a chord, and my passion for flowers had officially ignited. I wanted to learn more about growing different types of flowers, soil health, regenerative farming, and other sustainable gardening methods.

However, my curiosity quickly exceeded the available resources, so I started looking into other ways to learn more about flowers and how to grow them on a larger scale without using chemicals or pesticides. So, I came up with a game plan:

• Research any existing flower farm courses, certifications, or programs/workshops based on criteria that was important to me. That criteria included the following:

  • Affordability: Evaluate the cost of the program or certification, considering tuition fees, materials, travel expenses (if applicable), and any additional costs.

  • Time frame: I wanted to ensure the duration of the program, including the length of courses, workshops, or apprenticeships, as well as any required time commitments, was something I could commit to.

  • Focus on flower farming: I wanted to find courses or workshops that cover topics relevant to flower farming, such as cultivation, post-harvest handling, and business management.

  • Sustainability and community aspects: These aspects were personally important to me, so I wanted to ensure any program I pursued addressed sustainable farming practices and encouraged community involvement.

I also needed to start talking to farmers to learn more about what they enjoy or don't about small-scale farming to better determine, based on their experience and perspective, if this is something I still want to pursue. I pestered farmers and larger-scale gardeners online, as well as connected with local non-profits about their small-scale farm initiatives.

In the meantime, I diligently saved some funds to apply to these courses and enrolled in Cornell's Small Farm Program, specifically their Cut Flower Production course. Additionally, I have my sights set on joining Floret's Online Workshop as soon as enrollment opens!

During my quest for resources, I learned a valuable lesson about the importance of discerning whose advice to trust when it comes to regenerative farming practices and gardening. The owner of Canterbury Creek Gardens, a reputable micro-farm in Westlake, Ohio, kindly cautioned me about this, ensuring I steer clear of costly or detrimental mistakes.

Friendly tip: This blog post, Making the World's Best Soil, by the owner of Canterbury Creek Gardens, was so helpful and a great read!

I can't wait to share my learnings from Cornell with you after completing the course!

---

So, for now, I've started this new blog where I hope to share my journey towards my dream to have a flower farm someday. Lucky for you, my day job as a Developer Advocate in the tech industry entails translating complex technical concepts into clear, engaging written content. I have experience writing blogs, articles, tutorials, and documentation that help developers understand and effectively use a company's technology or platform.

But this role is not just about creating content; it's also about listening to the community, understanding their needs and challenges, and bringing those insights back to the company. Therefore, I'm hoping by applying these skills, that I can leverage this blog so that it not only informs and educates you all about the pursuit of flower farming but also builds a community and advocates for the interests of the flower farming industry.

Within this blog, I will share the ups and downs of starting a flower garden and embarking on this journey towards the scary housing market for the land to expand this dream to a farm. From sowing the first seeds to watching the flowers bloom, I aim to give you an inside look into the process. I hope my experiences will inspire you to pursue your dreams and embark on your journey of growth and self-discovery.

Together, we will cultivate a community that cherishes the joy and wonder that flowers bring into our lives.