Find Your Flower Farm Fit: Matching Your Life with the Right Business Model

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When I first started flower farming, I thought there was one “right” way to do it—plant flowers, harvest, sell, repeat. But the truth is, flower farming can look a hundred different ways, and the best model is the one that fits your life, not someone else’s. That’s exactly why I’m launching a brand-new mini-series on the Flower Farmer Forum Podcast called “Find Your Flower Farm Fit.”

This series is designed to help aspiring and current flower farmers take a step back and evaluate what they really want from their business. It’s not about chasing trends—it’s about designing a farm that works for you. In the first episode, I dig into some of the most important foundational questions you can ask yourself when starting (or adjusting) your flower farming journey.

Flower Farming Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that there are many ways to run a successful flower farm. Maybe you’re drawn to weekly bouquet subscriptions, or maybe hosting on-farm events like u-picks and workshops is more your style. Maybe you love the idea of wholesaling or partnering with local florists. Whatever your dream looks like, the first step is identifying what’s actually realistic for your lifestyle and resources.

Assess Your Resources Honestly

Before planting your first seed—or expanding your current operation—it’s essential to take stock of what you truly have to work with. I walk through four key areas in this episode:

• Time: Do you have flexible days to tend your crops, or are you working a 9-5 and farming on evenings and weekends? Be honest about your availability. Time is one of the most underestimated (and undervalued) resources we have.

• Money: Starting a flower farm can be done on a shoestring, but infrastructure does matter. Consider what kind of financial investment you can make early on and where to prioritize it.

• Infrastructure: Do you have access to land, tools, storage space, or a place to make bouquets? Even a small space can be mighty if it’s used wisely.

• Community: This one’s huge. Who is your audience? What are they already buying—and what are they missing? Your community’s needs should influence what you grow and how you sell it.

Time and Flexibility Matter

I’ve learned that time is often more limiting than money. Even if you have the budget for high tunnels and equipment, if you don’t have the hours to plant, weed, harvest, and market your blooms, it’s going to be tough. This episode really encourages you to reflect on your time commitments—family, work, other responsibilities—and build your business around them, not against them.

Understand Your Market

It’s not enough to grow beautiful flowers. You also need to grow flowers people want to buy. One of the best ways to find your flower farm fit is to listen to your community. Are there local florists looking for specific stems? Are people craving on-farm experiences? Is there a gap in wedding flowers or funeral arrangements? These are the types of market questions I encourage listeners to ask early on.

Your Time Has Value

If I could shout this from the rooftops, I would: your time is valuable. I see so many new flower farmers undervalue their products because they’re only thinking about material costs and not factoring in their labor. The hours you spend growing, designing, marketing, and delivering flowers all add up—and they need to be accounted for in your pricing.

This mini-series is meant to give you a framework, a compass, and some tough love as you build or refine your flower farm. Whether you’re still dreaming or you’re knee-deep in dahlia tubers, I hope this episode helps you reflect, refocus, and reimagine your path forward.

You can listen to Part 1 of Find Your Flower Farm Fit now on the Flower Farmer Forum Podcast. And as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts—tag me on social or send me a message and let me know what kind of flower farm you are building.