Field and Garden with Lisa Mason Ziegler

This week talking about the life of the cool-season hardy annual and so much more. Everyone can plant this group---it's just that we may all plant at different times depending on where we are gardening. Watch the videos and request the resources:   The Cool-Season Flower Chronicles series  Find me over on TheGardenersWorkshop.com !

Such a frustrating subject, how to price your flowers? Warning this episode is not going to tell you how much to sell a flower for. My suggestion is to stop asking how much? but to ask how do I figure out how much I need to sell my flowers for? Professional education is the ticket. If this question had a simple answer, it won't be in the top 5 questions I get weekly. Here is the thing-- pricing is...

My struggle since day one as a flower farmer? Thinking I needed more and more growing space.  I expanded and expanded as I could being a city dweller and it worked. I successfully commercially farmed, made money, provided employment to my family and friends, and flowered southeastern Virginia for over 2 decades.  Now, I’m in a full-circle moment. I am excited to take all my experiences and to focu...

Oh boy, are you as exhausted, hot, overwhelmed, and as behind as I am? Sometimes just hearing others are suffering too helps—I know just recording this helped me! I hope one of my fixes will help you.  Here are the two links I mentioned:  Webinar request: Sunflowers for the WIn! Connect with me!

Friends, are you considering doing events? Wondering how to make more from the flowers you grow? This episode can answer some of your questions and plant the seeds of opportunity.  Jennie shares from her experiences that it is a reality to generate a 6-figure net income as a professional farmer-florist.  I hope this episode gets you thinking outside of your current business box.  Jennie's Online C...

Well, friends more on growing Lisianthus. When I posted on social media about the way I handle growing them in the field of my little urban farm--it really sparked questions and conversation. So this episode touches on more and recaps some of those posts and the video I previously shared on social media. You will find links to all here on my post: Answering Lisianthus Questions. I hope this is hel...

I am so pleased to share our latest project: The Flower Farmer Show.  Currently, it is a talk show that I host over on the Clubhouse social media app on Wednesdays at 1pm ET. But expect more coming down the pike friends! The Clubhouse app is available to iPhone and Android users. It is a social media platform that works through your cell phone number. You can't just join, but have to have an invit...

Friends I want to encourage you to keep after your dream! Even if you are a new gardener, live in the middle of the city, don't have much land, and/or can't have a greenhouse---you can become a flower farmer, I did! Focus on what you can do, not on what you can't do with what you have. Mentions: The Flower Farmer book By Lynn Byczynski Our flower-based business online courses.

This simple step is so easily forgotten or brushed aside. It is so great to baste in the wins but also to talk about and note the fails. Debriefing at key times can help so much! While I think journaling is great for a release, I find that noting on the BIG CALENDAR is an easy to read method that is the most helpful to your flower farming business.  I am all about my people (crew), our processes,...

Are you a dabbler? Want to become a professional cut-flower grower? Dave Dowling and I are offering up what you need to take the plunge with Flower Farming School Online.  Links: Lisa's course page: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, & More! Dave's course page: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, & More! Hope to see you in school someday! Lisa

Again folks Dave is offering up his practical approach and sharing tips. In addition to those shared in this episode, Dave made a PDF with additional farm hacks.  Dave's generous sharing from his years of farming can change the way you farm and do business. I know he has had a profound effect on me and my business.  Did you know that Dave has created an online course that is packed with his style...

As I sift through the mountains of resources we have created over the years, I am finding some real gems.  I had to share a portion of my conversation with Dave Dowling that took place on Facebook last season. As usual, he is providing those priceless firsthand experience tips that he has become so well known for in the cut-flower industry.  Resources mentioned: Request the PDF: Dave's Favorite Bu...

I think when we hear the term "mulch" many of us automatically think of the wood chips that are so commonly used in landscapes, but there are many other choices and different ways to use them. The definition of mulch is simply a protective layer of material that we lay on the soil surface to protect the soil. It can be organic like leaves, bark, straw, etc. or inorganic like landscape fabric, plas...

Have you learned from Dave Dowling? Saying that Dave is a veteran flower farmer is a bit understating it. He is known in flower farming circles as the walking encyclopedia, I call him our flower genius. And he has such a heart for teaching. Dave's depth of knowledge from what to grow, where to get it, which way to grow it,  and how to harvest and sell it is a business changing experience.   I am s...

Flower support netting, love it or hate it? That's the question! I love it and consider it an important part of my farm. Just the mention of it and I see peoples lips start to twitch. It doesn't have to go that way friend!  Sharing what it is, what it does, what you should net, when you should remove it, and my tips to make using it easier.   Flower support netting product page that includes video...

I am coming to you the week before Mother's Day and thought now is a great time to talk about helping fresh cut flowers last longer. Lots of mentions in this episode and below are the links: Request my article with all the steps to follow: Making the Most of Your Cut Flowers Flower conditioning products: CVBN Tabs, Quick Dip, Flower Food Flower Caddy Dave Dowling's online course: Bulbs, Perennials...

Many years ago when I became heavily involved with the sport and hobby of dogs, I also went to work at a very busy veterinary hospital. This opportunity gave me a unique point of view. I learned about the good of a owning and loving a dog and also just how bad it can go for a dog and how often that happens.  With a little bit of deliberate thought and process you can select a family dog that will...

I hope that taking a walk through a year on my farm, month-by-month will help you see the big picture of gardening and flower farm.  What is the big picture? Creating a garden that you you love and enjoy. Not a place that you always feel behind and all you see is work.  Embrace succession at it's best and create a garden you can love.  My book: Vegetables Love Flowers 

Folks, I am so pleased to share part of a conversation I had with Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers on the florist and the farmer coming together to network, learn from each other, and to do business together. I hope you get some good take away tips!  Learn more from Ellen: Ellen's online course Growing Your Business With Local Flower Sourcing enrollment is open April 19-23, 2021. This is a speci...

As I thought about the subject of this podcast, I began to realize that this topic maybe what truly led me to become a successful business owner. I either set myself up to always have options or I actually have just gotten good at seeing them. Not sure which, but I guess it really doesn't matter.  Not backing myself into a corner in business, in farming, and in life has served me well. I hope this...

Friend are you feeling like you are behind in planting your cutting garden? Please don't! After you listen to this podcast you will understand that embracing the 3-season cutting garden means you are never behind.  Learn my approach to flower farming 100% outdoors in a garden and how it leads to garden you love and want to live with. Not the dreaded garden that you feel like you are always behind...

This is a special edition podcast. It includes the audio from the great conversation I had with Ellen Frost and Dave Dowling on the developing issues with the shortages of imported flowers and the problems that are developing as a result.  Mentions in the Podcast: Request the replay of Ellen and Dave's webinar: 10 Reasons that Florists Don't Buy Local Join the Closed Facebook Group: Florists Buyin...

Living with dogs and a garden can be harmonious, but it takes some work, it doesn't just happen. Because my goldens have always been a big part of my public life, I get lots of questions about how I managed to get them to be so well trained in the garden.  I am sharing my dog stories and the wisdoms that have been shared with me. I was so fortunate to have connected with such gifted dog people thr...

We are heading into the time of the year that folks start thinking it's to late to start seed, when in fact there is almost always seeds to be started. When we embrace annual seed starting fully--- both cool and warm season, the possibilities are endless. Part of the secret sauce to a longer and easier season is to learn when to plant each group in your garden and to run with it!  Checkout: Warm-s...

Where does your mind go when you close your eyes? What do you see? I see where flower farming has led me and I'm so happy to be here. Steve and I are both owners of small businesses. Like all business owners we have worked so hard, made sacrifices, and kept our heads down and continued doing it even when we didn't want too.  Now, as we are entering the time of life that we can stop peddling quite...