by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Sep 3, 2022 | Podcast
For this edition of Bug Talk, Lisa and Rhonda are joined by special guest Dr. Barb Abraham, an ecology professor, bee researcher and Chair of the Bee City USA – Hampton steering committee. Today they’re talking about native bees. Did you know that you can...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Aug 30, 2022 | Podcast
Warning: lots of flowers, plants, seeds, and dollar bills were lost, injured, and killed in the process of getting here. In fact, success doesn’t happen overnight for any business really. There. True story. Hope this helps, Lisa Mentions: We are so happy about...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Aug 30, 2022 | Happening on a Flower Farm with Lisa Mason Ziegler
Tip #1: Know Your Frost Dates Identify not only your hardiness zone, but also your historic average first and last frost dates. Your hardiness zone can only tell you which flowers you can plant in the fall to winter over. To figure out when you need to plant, in both...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Aug 27, 2022 | Podcast
Today Steve & Gretel Adams (of Sunny Meadows Flower Farm) talk with Lisa about this farming lifestyle they have chosen. They share what they enjoy most about it, what it currently looks like for them, as well as a look back at how far they’ve come. Download...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Aug 27, 2022 | Podcast
Today Steve & Gretel Adams (of Sunny Meadows Flower Farm) talk with Lisa about this farming lifestyle they have chosen. They share what they enjoy most about it, what it currently looks like for them, as well as a look back at how far they’ve come. Download...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Aug 23, 2022 | Podcast
Fall is not only for fresh starts in the garden or on the farm, it can also be a great time to rethink your business. Take some time to throw out mistakes and consider the future of your business. Our businesses are constantly evolving; embrace the opportunity for a...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Aug 20, 2022 | Podcast
In this recent Clubhouse chat Lisa talks about what to do when you have to leave your flower garden or farm during the growing season. Whether you have a scheduled or an unexpected trip coming up, there are a few things you can do before you go that will make your...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Aug 16, 2022 | Podcast
I was recently introduced to the book series via a business mentor friend: “fill in the blank for Dummies”. My full-circle journey of why these books have been a long-haul success nailed me on applying to flower farming. Here I share my six basic...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Aug 9, 2022 | Podcast
This podcast may be for you, you know who you are. You don’t think you are a real farmer because of the growing conditions and resources you find yourself in currently: small growing space, or can’t have or afford structures, or, or, or…. You can...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Aug 2, 2022 | Podcast
Sharing my look back at if only I had known this when I started my flower-growing operation. I could have saved lots of time, money, opportunities, and tears if I had had this advice! Mentions: Flower Farming School Online: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, &...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Jul 26, 2022 | Podcast
I learn so much talking to other gardeners and farmers. After my restaurant-owning cousins set up the TGW company picnic here on the farm, we discussed planting flowers. Joy’s questions reminded me of the struggle that some folks have figuring out what to plant...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Jul 25, 2022 | Blog, Happening on a Flower Farm with Lisa Mason Ziegler
During our high-production years, we sold our cut flowers to florists, grocery stores, farmers markets, and in subscriptions. Want to know what our all-time favorite must-have flowers are? The ones I think EVERY farmer should grow? Read on! #1: Sunflowers But not just...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Jul 19, 2022 | Podcast
Many of us naturally think that cool season gardening is more challenging than warm season gardening. I have found this not to be true. Join me as I run through my thought process to help make my Cool Flowers garden successful! Mentions: We are so happy about our...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Jul 12, 2022 | Podcast
I hope this encourages those facing flat sales. We all walk that path from time to time— but during July and August it is especially discouraging. Take heart flower friends—you can overcome this issue when you recognize it and make changes. We are so happy about our...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Jul 5, 2022 | Podcast
In my experience, most employee issues can be avoided. An employer’s insufficient training, follow up, support, and lack of expectations can set employees up to fail. Going through some steps and thought processes before jumping into hiring can help avoid...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Jul 2, 2022 | Podcast
In this recent Clubhouse chat Lisa talks about the wonderful world of Cosmos! She covers common questions about how to grow them, details about the varieties she’s currently growing, and the very important topics of harvesting and post-harvest handling. Cosmos are a...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Jun 30, 2022 | Podcast
In this recent Clubhouse chat Lisa talks with special guest Ellen Frost about her brand new on-demand workshop called Preparing to Sell to Florists. Ellen’s workshop shares her best tips distilled from fifteen years of experience purchasing locally-grown flowers for...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Jun 28, 2022 | Blog, Books, Business, Flower Farming, Happening on a Flower Farm with Lisa Mason Ziegler
Back before I was a flower farmer, when I was still just a “gardener gone wild” as I like to say, there weren’t very many learning resources available. I started before the internet, folks! So naturally, books were the main way to expand my knowledge. And just as I...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Jun 28, 2022 | Podcast
This is Lisa’s most played and downloaded podcast episode so far, and with good reason. Lisa shares a sweet story of how she first got started growing flowers, and the joy it brought to her as well as her friends and family. In her own words: “It all...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Jun 25, 2022 | Podcast
This is a very special edition of Bug Talk! For this episode, Lisa and Rhonda are joined by author and fellow “bug-hugger” Jessica Walliser. They talk about beneficial insects as well as the food chain and ecosystem that exists in your garden, both large and small...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Jun 23, 2022 | Podcast
Are you growing basil to use in your cut flower bouquets? If not, you should be! In this recent Clubhouse chat Lisa talks about how she got started growing basil, why and how to grow it, her favorite variety, and the very important topics of harvesting and...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Jun 21, 2022 | Podcast
Dreaming big can lead to tackling those big dreams, but also getting lost in the weeds along the way. No one knows better how to get lost than me. I continually have to remind myself to reset. To stick with: being consistent, to follow through, and think about...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Jun 18, 2022 | Podcast
In this episode we catch up with Ellen Frost, TGW instructor and owner of Local Color Flowers floral design studio in Baltimore, MD. Ellen says that now, more than ever, florists are looking to local flower growers as sourcing options. As a studio designer purchasing...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Jun 16, 2022 | Podcast
Are you doing what it takes to get your flowers sold? In this recent Clubhouse chat, Lisa talks about the business of flower sales and how you can manage to start selling to florists, grocery stores, etc. She also discusses a way of selling that is gaining popularity,...
by Lisa Mason Ziegler | Jun 14, 2022 | Podcast
It’s easy to be discouraged when we maybe experiencing: exhaustion, crazy heat or rain or cold, flat sales, broken equipment, or maybe a mean comment about your business. Friends, all of the above mentioned are a part of being in business. We must learn how to thrive...