Field and Garden with Lisa Mason Ziegler

Latest Episodes:

#119: What is a Collective, Anyway? Interview with Amelia Ihlo Apr 05, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, I am exploring the question: "What is a floral Collective, and how is it different from a Co-op?" I discussed this and so much more with Amelia Ihlo of Rooted Farmers. Amelia lays out the ins and outs of this flower selling model that I believe is a key piece of the future locally-grown cut-flower industry.

Amelia has plenty of boots-on-the-ground experience with this business model as a flower farmer herself. She was part of starting a collective several years ago to better serve her customers and to work with other growers in the Boston area. She went on to start RootedFarmers.com, an online marketplace connecting flower buyers with flower sellers. Rooted Farmers now works with collectives nationwide.

Today we introduce the launch of Amelia's on-demand workshop published by The Gardener's Workshop, called Collectives 101: A Guide for Joining & Selling through Regional Wholesale Hubs. Read more about Amelia and her new on-demand online workshop here.

The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-wining author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social!

#118: The Book That Changed My Life: Interview with Author Lynn Byczynski Apr 02, 2022

Show notes

Friends, Lynn Byczynski's book, The Flower Farmer is what redirected my life path. While Lynn and I have come to be friends through the years, it was a surreal moment to chat with her about the book that changed everything for me.

I also loved hearing about her other major contribution to the farming world, founding Growing For Market over 30 years ago. It is a magazine for farmers by farmers and also played a key role in forming me as a flower farmer. One of Lynn's longtime passions has been growing delicious food. It wasn't surprising to learn that Lynn's family's business has become the USA distributor of the Seeds From Italy line of seeds.

Mentions

Book: ⁠The Flower Farmer by Lynn Byczynski⁠ (affiliate link)

Seed from Italy: Website, Blog, Instagram

Dee Hall of Mermaid City Flowers: Instagram, Website, and the site Black Flower Farmers

Online Courses published by The Gardener's Workshop

Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!

The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!

#117: Lisa on The Urban Farm Podcast (Beneficial Insects, Succession Planting, and More!) Mar 31, 2022

Show notes

Hello and welcome to the Field & Garden podcast! I'm Jessi Graven with The Gardener's Workshop. Today I’d like to share some clips from an interview that Lisa recently did on The Urban Farm Podcast with host Greg Peterson. Here they discussed Lisa’s book Vegetables Love Flowers and also covered topics such as beneficial insects & creatures, the importance of native plants, succession planting, and starting a 3-season cut-flower garden in your vegetable patch. I hope you enjoy!

Mentions & Links:

The Urban Farm Podcast with Host Greg Peterson

Lisa Mason Ziegler’s book, Vegetables Love Flowers

Jessica Walliser’s book, Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden

Doug Tallamy’s book, Bringing Nature Home

Online Courses from The Gardener's Workshop

#116: Failed Expectations Mar 29, 2022

Show notes

We are so hard on ourselves when we hit a wall or fail. I've found that the reality so often for me is that my expectations weren't based on any facts or experiences, just hopes, and dreams. No wonder it didn't work out!

Stepping back and rethinking the process can change it all.

Hopes + Dreams + Experience + Knowledge = a smoother and straighter road to success.

I hope this episode meets you where you are, encourages you, lets you know you are not alone, and sows the seeds of hope that there is another way.

Mentions:

Request the webinar: What It Takes To Be A Flower Farmer

Sunny Meadows Flower Farm: Instagram Website

Flower Farming School Online: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More with Lisa Mason Ziegler

Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More with Dave Dowling

I hope you enjoy this episode.

The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-wining author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social!

#115: The Evolution of a Flower Farmer with Jennie Love Mar 26, 2022

Show notes

Listen as Jennie Love of Love n' Fresh Flowers in Philly and I discuss the evolution of her flower farm and business. From starting a cutting garden in a community plot to blazing the way as a pioneer in the farmer-florist industry. Named by Martha Stewart as one of the top 10 Farmer-Florist.

Jennie shares the changes to the way she farms and to her business -- all-natural evolution to staying relevant and successful. Join us for a candid chat.

Mentions:

Connect with Jennie: Love n' Fresh Flowers Website Instagram Pinterest No-Till Flowers Podcast

Jennie's courses: Making Workshops Work for You Farmer-Florist School Online: The Wedding Process

I hope you enjoy this episode.

#114: Jennie Love & Ellen Frost Share Their Top Books Mar 24, 2022

Show notes

Hello and welcome to the Field & Garden podcast! I’m Jessi Graven from The Gardener’s Workshop. Today I’d like to share a chat between Jennie Love of Love 'n Fresh Flowers & Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers, in which they discuss their top books for flower farming, floristry, and business. As you may know, both Jennie & Ellen are online course instructors for The Gardener’s Workshop, but they’re also good friends on top of that. In 2020 Jennie hosted this chat with Ellen on Instagram Live and then shared it with us, so we hope you enjoy!

Jennie's Full Book List

Ellen's Full Book List

Thank you everyone for joining me here on The Field & Garden Podcast, I’m Jessi Graven with The Gardener’s Workshop and I hope you have a great day!

#113: Meet Andrew Mefford of Growing For Market Mar 22, 2022

Show notes

Friends, I don't know if anyone has noticed it yet, but I have been trying to bring to the forefront that farming is the root of many good things. This episode with Andrew Mefford of Growing For Market is another example of the many opportunities that farming affords us. There are many roads less traveled from the farming world that may be a fit for you too.

I came to know Andrew after reading his book, The Organic No-Till Farming Revolution, and through his taking over Growing For Market magazine.

Take a listen to see how being a plant nerd led Andrew to farming and with journalism in his past, Andrew, in his words, now has a hand in advancing the state of local farming.

Mentions:

Request a free digital or print copy from the Growing For Market magazine.

Subscribe with a 25% discount code: Workshop

Find Andrew's books HERE.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

#112: Bug Talk with Lisa & Rhonda Mar 19, 2022

Show notes

Warning friends, this is an episode that may change the way you garden, farm, and view it all.

Meet Rhonda Graves the warehouse manager here at The Gardener's Workshop. But more importantly, Rhonda has a passion (truthfully an obsession) for all that is happening out in the garden, and friends you won't believe what is going on out there. Rhonda is a lifelong gardener, an active master gardener, and a master naturalist.

Did you know that the good beneficial bugs in the world outnumber the bad pest bugs by a longshot?

Rhonda and I are sharing our experiences encouraging the good bugs to combat the bad pest bugs. When invited to the garden and kept happy, beneficial insects will do the heavy lifting on pest control.

We want to whet your appetite, share some of the resources we use with the hope that it will inspire you to step away from pesticides. Join us to give a hand to what is going on just outside your backdoor.

Mentions:

Jessica Walliser's books: Attracting Beneficial Bugs To Your Garden and Good Bug Bad Bug

Doug Tallemy's book: Bringing Nature Home

Mary Gardiner's book: Good Garden Bugs

Xerces Resources

Xerces book: Farming For Beneficial Insects

Lisa's book: Vegetables Love Flowers

We hope this episode helps you.

Lisa & Rhonda

#111: Lisa Z & Dave Dowling: Overcoming Challenges to Become a Flower Farmer Mar 17, 2022

Show notes

Hello and welcome to the Field & Garden podcast! I’m Jessi Graven from The Gardener’s Workshop. Today I’d like to present a conversation between Lisa Mason Ziegler and Dave Dowling from 2019 in which they tackle some of the most common challenges that people face while working to become a flower farmer. There are also some great stories in here about when Lisa and Dave were first starting their flower farming journeys, so I hope you enjoy!

Challenges mentioned: Lack of Experience, No Cooler, No Acreage, No Greenhouse or Hoophouse, No Money, No Delivery Vehicle, No Tractor, Nowhere to sell flowers nearby, No Hired Help, Too Old, Single Parent

Lisa & Dave explain how we can overcome these challenges to achieve our flower farming dreams!

Mentions:

Lisa Ziegler's Online Course: Join the Waitlist

Dave Dowling's Online Course: Join the Waitlist

Available Now: On-Demand Online Workshops

Connect with Lisa on Social Media

Thank you for joining me here The Field & Garden Podcast, I’m Jessi Graven with The Gardener’s Workshop and I hope you have a great day!

#110: Should You Host Workshops with Jennie Love Mar 15, 2022

Show notes

A part of building a successful long-haul business is not putting all your eggs into one basket. Adding workshops and experiences to your business may be the perfect profitable next step.

Listen as Jennie Love of Love n' Fresh Flowers in Philly and I discuss the ups and downs, the how-to and how-not-to add workshops to your businesses lineup. Jennie has years of workshop experience on her farm and taking her workshops on the road.

Mentions:

Connect with Jennie: Love n' Fresh Flowers Website Instagram Pinterest No-Till Flowers Podcast

Jennie's courses: Making Workshops Work for You Farmer-Florist School Online: The Wedding Process

Your host Lisa Mason Ziegler