The Dirt on Flowers

In this episode of The Dirt on Flowers , hosts Lyndsay and Shannon welcome Maggie from Petal Back Farm in Wisconsin. Maggie shares her journey from corporate life to flower farming, driven by a passion for photography and growing. She discusses how Petal Back Farm evolved to include weddings, retail sales, and nationwide tuber and seed sales. The conversation focuses on photography as a powerful b...

In this episode of The Uncut with Lyndsay and Shannon , the duo recaps their post-vacation "hell week," 4th of July celebrations, and the challenges of fireworks near high tunnels. They discuss slow market sales during a heatwave, the pros and cons of wholesale flower arrangements, and debunk "get rich quick" flower farming myths. Shannon shares a new wholesale trial with a grocery store, while Ly...

In this episode of The Dirt on Flowers , Lyndsay and Shannon celebrate America's 250th birthday by reflecting on 250 years of American agriculture. They discuss how farming has evolved from a way of life for most Americans to a highly specialized, mechanized industry. The hosts highlight the growing disconnect between consumers and agriculture, emphasizing the importance of educating customers abo...

In this episode of The Uncut with Lyndsay and Shannon , the two flower farmers catch up on their week's highs and lows. They bond over sunburn struggles, share laughs about regional expressions, and discuss retirement dreams. Lindsay celebrates a lightning-fast dahlia workshop sellout, while Shannon navigates staffing challenges caused by visa issues. They dive into practical dahlia care tips, deb...

In this episode of The Dirt on Flowers , Lyndsay and Shannon discuss how incorporating artisan and local vendors can elevate farm events. They share personal experiences transitioning from frequent open farm days to fewer, more curated events featuring vendors, food trucks, and activities. Key topics include vendor curation, communication strategies, pricing models, administrative workload, and th...

In this episode of The Uncut with Lyndsay and Shannon , the two flower farmer hosts record a pre-planned episode while vacationing at the beach. They discuss the challenges of stepping away from farm life and encourage listeners to prioritize taking breaks. Lyndsay and Shannon share practical tips, including blocking vacation dates in advance, pre-scheduling marketing content, delegating tasks to...

In this episode of The Dirt on Flowers , hosts Lyndsay and Shannon welcome Shannon's husband Judd. Together, they tackle one of flower farming's biggest challenges: weed control. Judd shares practical strategies, including the "stale seedbed" technique, multiple tillage passes, and timely cultivation. The group discusses tools like the Planet Junior cultivator, biodegradable plastic mulch, and cov...

In this episode of The Uncut with Lyndsay and Shannon , the two flower farmers chat about pre-vacation farm chaos, the June slowdown in flower sales, and a disappointing farmers market. They discuss balancing retail and wholesale during slow periods, managing cash flow, and scaling back summer markets. They reflect on their early selling days, encouraging new vendors to just show up. Lindsay and S...

In this episode, Lyndsay and Shannon discuss how to find and manage great employees for flower farms. They emphasize that prior flower experience isn't essential — personality and mindset matter most. The key traits they look for include personal ownership, curiosity, flexibility, toughness, and the ability to thrive in a focused role. They also highlight the importance of clear communication, rea...

In this episode of The Uncut with Lyndsay and Shannon , the hosts share updates from their flower farms. Lyndsay discusses an exciting lavender gin collaboration with a local distillery, while Shannon is surviving a two-day swim meet despite back issues, and battling invasive house sparrows on the farm. They chat about growing larkspur, dahlias, and planning fall crops like amaranth and marigolds....

In this episode of The Dirt on Flowers , hosts Lyndsay and Shannon deliver honest, tough-love advice about the realities of flower farming. They tackle common pitfalls, urging farmers to stop wasting time on non-essential details and focus on generating income. They debunk the myth that expensive equipment is necessary to start, emphasizing that humble beginnings build character. The hosts stress...

In this episode of The Uncut with Lyndsay and Shannon , one host shares a heartfelt story about moving from her lifelong family farmhouse to a new home, navigating emotional challenges alongside her unsettled cat, Judy. She discusses managing the farm from a slight distance, grocery flower sales, and a tricky wholesale opportunity with a grocery chain. The hosts also offer advice for third-year fl...

In this episode of The Dirt on Flowers , Lyndsay and Shannon chat with Nikki Bartley of Cross Street Flower Farm in Norwell, Massachusetts. Nikki shares her 11-year farming journey, from running a vegetable CSA to building a thriving flower farm with a retail barn shop, pick-your-own tulip and dahlia events, and seasonal festivals. She also recounts an inspiring trip to Europe, visiting tulip farm...

In this milestone episode of The Uncut with Lyndsay and Shannon , the hosts celebrate reaching one million downloads while keeping things refreshingly real. They chat about office noise frustrations, naming their angry alter egos, and the challenges of planting tubers in wet conditions. Lyndsay shares her peony struggles with thrips, while Shannon's spring blooms are finally arriving. They answer...

In this episode of The Dirt on Flowers , Lyndsay and Shannon dig into crop-level profitability and the decision framework flower farmers need to decide what to grow, what to scale, and what to cut. Using tulips and sunflowers as concrete case studies, they walk through the full set of cost drivers — material inputs, labor (including owner labor), shrink/waste, storage and handling, equipment choic...

This week on The Dirt on Flowers, Shannon and Lyndsay catch up on what’s thriving, what’s struggling, and the crops they’re loving most this season. From surprisingly gorgeous tunnel-grown Bells of Ireland to statice, snaps, and all-time favorite cool flowers, they share the varieties earning permanent spots on the farm. They also get honest about disappointing peony seasons, overwintering losses,...

In this episode of The Dirt on Flowers , hosts Lyndsay and Shannon welcome Lydell Steiner from Tilmor, a family-owned equipment company in Northeast Ohio, to discuss weed control and mechanization in flower farming. They explore different tractor types, cultivation strategies, and planting systems suited for small-scale growers. Lydell highlights Tilmor's innovative equipment, including the Power...

Mother’s Day weekend is officially behind us, and Shannon and Lyndsay are recapping everything — the wins, the weather stress, leftover bouquets, flower bars, pricing experiments, customer behavior, and the lessons they’re taking into next year. They also talk about handling negative reviews, donation request burnout, and creative ways to support their communities while protecting their businesses...

In this episode of The Dirt on Flowers , Lyndsay and Shannon discuss farm emergency preparedness after both recently experienced situations requiring 911 calls. They're joined by Lyndsay's brother, Dr. Cole Biehl, a pathologist, who provides expert guidance on handling common farm emergencies. Shannon shares a frightening experience involving a worker's severe allergic reaction to a spider bite. C...

In this midweek episode of The Uncut with Lyndsay and Shannon , the two flower farmers catch up on spring crop updates, including peony delays caused by a recent cold snap and an anticipated mid-season flower gap. They celebrate wrapping up their spring subscription and dive into Mother's Day preparations, sharing organizational tips and pricing strategies. The hosts also discuss a business lesson...

In this episode of The Dirt on Flowers , hosts Lyndsay and Shannon welcome Sue McLeary of Passionflower, a Michigan-based floral designer with over 20 years of experience. Sue shares her accidental journey into floristry, her transition from weddings to teaching, and her innovative wire armature corsage technique. She offers advice for flower farmers looking to develop design skills, discusses col...

In this episode of "The Uncut," flower farmers Lyndsay and Shannon chat candidly about farm life, self-care, and the realities of running a flower business. They explore the difference between luck and fortune, emphasizing that success comes from persistence and calculated risk-taking. The duo updates listeners on their peony and ranunculus crops, discussing weather challenges and the importance o...

In this episode of The Dirt on Flowers , hosts Lyndsay and Shannon interview Nikki Van Lith of Lovely Hollow Farms in Caldwell, Idaho. Nikki shares her unconventional journey from a cattle ranching family to running an experience-driven flower farm, hitting six figures during COVID-19. She discusses her farm's you-pick days, live music, food trucks, and craft events, along with challenges like sea...

In this episode of The Dirt on Flowers, Lyndsay and Shannon talk about the highs and challenges of busy spring flower farming season. They share lessons from record-breaking markets, handling customer complaints, and why negative feedback often says more about the person leaving it than your business. They also dive into Mother’s Day prep, including pre-orders, pricing, crop timing, and how to piv...

In this episode of Dirt on Flowers , Lyndsay and Shannon share an in-depth conversation about growing tulips. They cover planting techniques, including no-till and dump methods, harvest timing, and wet versus dry storage. The hosts discuss labor efficiency, pricing strategies for retail and wholesale, and calculating true bulb costs by factoring in roughly 30% waste. They also offer advice on hand...