Field and Garden with Lisa Mason Ziegler

What Dogs Teach Us About Flower Farming, Business, and Joy If you love flowers  and  dogs, this one’s for you. In this episode, Lisa reflects on how the simple routines dogs love—like the same walk every day—can teach us powerful lessons about farming, business, and finding joy in repetition. Tune in to hear how consistency and calm can build not only better farms, but better lives. Mentions Menta...

Today’s episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, with featured guest Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers in Baltimore, MD. Ellen is a floral designer who creates exclusively with flowers and foliage purchased from local growers. She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener’s Workshop. In this Q&A, Ellen highlights the need for unders...

Encore: Our most popular episode of 2025! Original air date January 14, 2025 Today, I want to dive into the topic of cool flowers and the importance of planting them in very early spring. The basic idea is to plant these flowers in cool to cold conditions to get the best performance out of them, which can happen in fall, winter, or very early spring. Many people have been led away from planting du...

Ever catch yourself thinking, “I could never do that”? In this episode, Lisa Mason Ziegler unpacks the quiet assumptions that stop so many people before they ever plant their first row. Mentions ASCFG -  Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers Mimo Davis at Urban Buds:  Website ,  Instagram Lisa's Course:  Flower Farming School Online Discover our online courses! ⁠⁠Shop the TGW Online Stor...

Why Starting From Seed Changes Everything for Your Cut Flower Garden Seeds are small but powerful! In this episode, Lisa breaks down why starting from seed gives you more variety, better timing, stronger plants, and huge savings. From common mistakes to simple rules that make seeds sprout reliably, plus why soil blocking is her go-to method, this episode will give you the confidence to start (or i...

Timing is everything when it comes to cool flowers! In this episode, Lisa explains the simple but crucial “very early spring” planting window — when to start, how to prepare, and why getting it right makes all the difference. Whether you’re growing sweet peas, snapdragons, stock, or others, this practical episode will help you plan, plant, and grow the gorgeous blooms you crave! Mentions Lisa'...

Discover how serving your community can spark creativity, confidence, and real business growth. In this episode, Lisa shares simple, practical ways to connect, collaborate, and give back, and why those connections become one of your farm’s greatest strengths. Mentions: Discover our online courses! ⁠⁠Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our week...

Discover how a simple idea—planting a native border—became a powerful living shield around Lisa’s flower farm. In this episode, you’ll learn why native plants matter more than you think, how a “halo” habitat can protect your land, and the practical steps to create your own wildlife corridor, no matter the size of your space. Mentions: Book:  Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy Field & Garden...

Dreaming of blooms beyond your field season?  Join Sunny Meadows Flower Farm as they share hard-earned lessons from two decades of growing in hoop houses and greenhouses. Learn how season extension opens up year-round sales, supports your team, and transforms your flower business—whether you're just adding your first tunnel or leveling up your entire operation. Mentions:  Online Course:  Grow...

In this episode, Lisa shares her favorite secret weapon for building rich, living soil —  leaves!  Learn how Grandpa Ziegler inspired a lifelong practice that feeds the soil, saves water, reduces weeds, and supports a thriving ecosystem. Lisa explains when and how to collect leaves, what kinds to avoid, and simple ways to turn them into “leaf mold gold” for your own garden. Whether you have a smal...

Flower farming is full of beauty, but turning that beauty into a  profitable  business takes strategy. In this episode, Lennie Larkin breaks down the real numbers behind a thriving flower farm, from understanding profit margins and valuing your time to pricing, marketing, and knowing when to pivot. You’ll learn practical, down-to-earth tips for making smart money decisions, avoiding common pricing...

Starting a flower business comes with its fair share of jitters — and most new growers face the same three big fears: Are my flowers good enough? Will I have enough to sell? How much should I charge? In this episode, Lisa shares her own early experiences as a new grower and the simple habits that transformed anxiety into steady progress. Whether you’re in your first season or thinking about taking...

The hardest part of starting a flower farm isn’t growing, it’s getting past the fear that keeps you from beginning. In this episode, Lisa shares why fear shows up at the start and how to take simple, practical steps to finally move forward with confidence. Mentions Register in Oct '25 for Lisa's Live Masterclass, "Where to Sell Cut Flowers: Finding the Best Markets for YOUR Flower Far...

Fear has a sneaky way of keeping flower farmers and small-business dreamers stuck in place. In this episode, Lisa shares a simple plan for breaking through fear, building momentum, and finally moving toward the business you want. Mentions Field & Garden #363: The Silent Partner: Fear Lisa's Book,  Cool Flowers ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up t...

How I’m Slaying Fear and Downsizing My Flower Garden In this episode, Lisa opens up about a big change on her farm - downsizing her gardens to match the season her business is in now. She shares how fear quietly holds us back, how she’s facing it head-on, and why scaling down doesn’t mean losing your identity as a grower. If you’ve ever felt stuck between what was and what’s next, this conversatio...

Running a flower business comes with big questions:  Where should I sell? How do I make the most of my time?  In this episode, Lisa Mason Ziegler and Lennie Larkin join me for a candid chat with farmer Torrie Anderson. From farmers markets to flower passes, we share honest advice and real-world strategies that can help you find clarity in your own business. Mentions Lennie's online course:  ⁠⁠...

I’ve been growing  snapdragons  for over two decades and thought I had a handle on it—but NOT after this discussion with Dave Dowling!  In this episode, we are talking about extending the harvest season, how to do that but variety selection, harvesting, conditioning, and more!  This is but a small sampling of what it is like to learn from Dave. I am so pleased to have Dave as one of our online c...

In this episode of  Field and Garden , Lisa Mason Ziegler shares the skill that transformed her flower farm, her business, and her life: choosing her mood. From small habits like saying a cheerful phrase out loud to keeping a gratitude list and taking a daily walk, Lisa explains how these simple practices can help you stay calm, positive, and resilient — even when life gets messy. Mentions  ⁠⁠⁠S...

Today, we're sharing a recent interview that Layne and Lisa did with Scott Shepherd on The Flower Podcast. They covered lots of great topics and common questions about Cool Flowers, perennials, biennials, and more! So listen in, and enjoy! Re-aired with permission from The Flower Podcast. Mentions The Flower Podcast,  with host Scott Shepherd Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne  (watch on YouTu...

The BIG Calendar-Journal: The Brain of My Flower Farm Ever feel overwhelmed by seed starting and succession planting? In this episode, Lisa Mason Ziegler shares the origin story of the  BIG Calendar-Journal —the wall calendar that turned her flower farm around. Discover how a giant calendar became her farm’s brain, why it works better than a garden journal or spreadsheet, and how it transformed c...

What makes The Flower Farmer Club such a special place for flower farmers and gardeners? In this episode, Lisa Mason Ziegler pulls back the curtain on the hidden benefits of her popular online membership community. She shares the vision behind the Club, why she considers it an honor to mentor others, and how this community helps growers overcome the common struggles of isolation, overwhelm, and un...

Thinking about starting a flower farm?  🌻 In this episode, Lisa Mason Ziegler shares honest insights from her own journey—what it really takes, what to expect in the early days, and how to know if flower farming is the right path for you. If you’ve ever dreamed of turning a love for flowers into a business, this is a must-listen!  Mentions ⁠⁠⁠ Book:  The New Organic Grower by Eliot Coleman Join...

This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. It was guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course:  ⁠⁠⁠ Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More ⁠⁠⁠ . Dave is always happy to share his knowledge with our listeners! Topics Covered Peony...

In this special episode of Field & Garden, we're thrilled to share an interview that originally aired on  The Dirt on Flowers  podcast. Lisa Mason Ziegler dives into the world of cool-season hardy annuals — what she calls “cool flowers” — and why fall planting can be a game-changer for flower farmers and gardeners alike. Whether you're new to the concept or looking to refine your appro...

These are the top 5 mistakes I see folks making related to Cool Flowers, don't be one of them! 1. Not knowing your first & last frost dates, along with your lowest expected winter temperature 2. Not preparing your garden beds ahead of time 3. Not knowing how each seed prefers to be started (indoors or outside, direct sow vs transplants) 4. Not providing the right environmental conditions s...