Meet Lisa
What began as a small cut-flower farm producing for local markets has grown into so much more. Lisa has become a leader in the cut-flower growing industry, author, accomplished speaker and the owner of The Gardener’s Workshop.
It all began in 1998 because Lisa wanted to work in her garden as her career. At first, she sold her cut flowers to local florists and Colonial Williamsburg. The business soon grew to include florist throughout the Hampton Roads region, supermarkets, farmers markets, a members-only on-farm market, and a bouquet drop-off subscription service.
During this time Lisa began giving programs to garden clubs, master gardeners, commercial growers, and other groups. What became apparent is that people were eager for her simplified organic gardening methods and her greatest gift is sharing them.
The next natural step came when Lisa self-published The Easy Cut-Flower Garden in 2011. a 100-page guide on how-to grow and harvest a small home cutting garden. Her program travels began to spread from Texas to Oregon to New York City and she went on to become published with Cool Flowers in 2014 (St. Lynn’s Press) and Vegetables Love Flowers (Cool Springs Press 2018.)
In 2018 Lisa began creating and producing online courses for flower farmers and home gardeners. Embracing this technology is allowing a whole new level of learning with in the garden videos, live Q & A with students of the school courses and so much more.
Lisa’s farm, known as The Gardener’s Workshop is still a small market flower farm (100% outdoor field grown), and an online garden shop. The online store sells the same seeds, tools, supplies, and seed starting equipment that Lisa uses as well as signed copies of her books. Lisa’s simple, instructive, and delightful gardening messages are reaching far beyond any expectation she ever had.
Lisa has been a member of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers since 2001 and served as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director from 2016 to present. She is also a member of the Garden Communicators International.
A Note from Lisa
When I began dabbling in gardening 25 years ago, I never imagined what the future held for me. I was a beginner with a couple of years of gardening experience under my belt when I went on a date with a guy that just so happen to have a big vegetable garden. The rest they say around here is history, but I do want to set the record straight: I did not marry him for his gardening dowry—it was just the bonus!
After marrying Steve in 1996 it didn’t take me long to get knee deep into gardening. I share in my book Cool Flowers how the whole gardening love story unfolded and in Vegetables Love Flowers how I stepped up to take over the extended family vegetable gardens after moving on the Ziegler family homestead in 1997.
It was such a struggle for me those first years because the little experience I had was in shade gardening only—not full sun vegetable and flower gardening. I thought seed-starting struggles would be the end of me and the weeds, I had nightmares about weeds for all of July and August! I had and still have, such a deep passion for growing that I dug my heels in and went on to learn how to garden and then moved on to farming.
This journey led me to becoming an all-natural urban cut-flower farmer in southeastern Virginia. Today I realize that those struggles made me into what I have become today- a teacher that is passionate about helping others to fast forward through the tough parts of gardening to get to the good stuff—growing a garden with as little labor and the most abundance possible and doing it all pesticide free.
Grow a garden, it is good for your soul,
Lisa
The Gardener’s Workshop Team:
The power behind The Gardener’s Workshop
Hi Lisa,
I just finished reading and rereading your book Cool Flowers. I loved it! Thank You! I am going to try it this year. I am a bit confused on “planting dates”. Is this when I should be starting seeds or transplanting into the garden? Here is what I came up with but please correct me if I am wrong.
I am in northern California Zone 9. First Frost 11/20, Last Frost 3/20
For Fall planting
Start seeds Aug week 3 (6-8 weeks before transplant date)
Transplant Oct week 1 (6-8 weeks before first frost)
For Spring planting (Hardy Annuals only)
Start seeds Dec week 4 (6-8 weeks before transplant date)
Transplant Feb week 1 (6-8 weeks before last frost)
Thank You!
Allison Finch
Hi Lisa,
I have enjoyed your book cool flowers and following you on Facebook as well. I have been a high school horticulture teacher and adult night class teacher for several years. I am looking to transition to online teaching. I have enjoyed your presentations and your teaching style. There is always something new to learn and horticulture and flower and vegetable gardening. I’m hoping to take your online class! Thank you
Thanks JoAnn!
Have any advice for Ft Lauderdale gardeners? I moved from NN, VA in 2008 and miss flower gardening possibilities in that region. The soil has to be totally changed here and plants have to deal with drought Oct – May, rain every day and extreme UV rays the rest of the year. Wish you were here to help me with my garden. I’ve turned to orchids, bromeliads and all things tropical. BTW-I first met you when you worked at the vet’s office and small world my daughter just did your sister-in-law’s hair in Plantation, FL yesterday.
Hi Pat! My Ft. Lauderdale cousin just called to say your daughter is cutting her hair– such a small world!
Visiting a local nursery to see what thrives in your area is the best way to figure it all out.
Lisa
We have heard Lisa’s presentation, twice, here in northeast NC. She came to a small, start up market in Elizabeth City and then another time to the Master Gardeners. She was a great speaker and so knowledgeable. ?
I am SO inspired! Thank you for sharing. I would love to establish a small Permaculture training centre in South Africa and invite people from all over the world to come and participate and have a fantastic holiday in South Africa at the same time. ?
Your video about how you started is wonderful! Especially meaningful to me was your message that organic gardening is so simple that people miss it! But beyond gardening it struck a cord with me & my business…. good food & a healthy life style are so simple that people miss them, too! Thanks for confirming my thoughts !!!! Sometimes I think I’m the only one!!!!
You are not alone Karla!
Great story Lisa. Enjoyed the video and so happy you have a new baby, sweet Beri.
Vikki in VA
You are a true inspiration!! I was born and raised on a farm in minnesota and received my High school education at a university of minnesota Highschool but after 4 years in the Marine Corps I ended up with a career in the Airlines. I will be a Farmer forever!!
She is a true inspiration to the gardening world??