Looking Back and Moving Forward in Flower Farming with Lisa Mason Ziegler of The Gardener's Workshop

Looking Back and Moving Forward in Flower Farming with Lisa Mason Ziegler of The Gardener's Workshop

Author: Scott Shepherd, Host and Flower Educator November 5, 2024 Duration: 1:03:16

Lisa Mason Ziegler, cut-flower farmer, author, educator and founder of The Gardener's Workshop is returning to The Flower Podcast. Since 1998, she has cultivated her three-acre urban farm in Southeastern Virginia, producing thousands of flower stems weekly for florists, supermarkets, farmer's markets, and her members-only on-farm market. Lisa has authored several books, including Cool Flowers, and she is the creator of Flower Farming School Online, which has expanded to include courses for both flower farmers and florists, in addition to starting two podcasts, Field and Garden and Seed Talk.

I'm really excited to have Lisa back for a personal year-in-review for flower growers. It's been several years since our last episode, and I always learn something new from my conversations with her. In this episode, Lisa shares some of the valuable lessons she's learned along the way, many that are at the heart of what she teaches in her courses. We talk about the importance of setting clear goals and truly understanding your market. I appreciate how she encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to tackle challenges with confidence while keeping customer convenience front and center. Her practical advice on building a solid foundation for success in flower farming is incredibly helpful, and she also offers a realistic perspective on business and the importance of continually moving forward. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to grow in the industry! 

Be sure to listen Lisa's other episode on The Flower Podcast and also search The Gardener's Workshop on our YouTube Channel to watch my chats and an instagram Live with Lisa. 

Learn more about Lisa and listen to her first episode with today's show notes and all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com 

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Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

The Gardener's Workshop

ASCFG 

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor


Scott Shepherd has spent years immersed in the world of blooms, not just as a host but as an educator, and he brings that entire perspective to The Flower Podcast. This isn't just about pretty arrangements; it's a deep, root-level exploration of the entire floral industry. Conversations here weave between the practical realities of running a business and the sheer creative joy found in a garden. You'll hear from the people whose hands are in the soil-flower farmers and growers-as well as the designers, photographers, and entrepreneurs who translate that natural beauty into art and commerce. Each episode features a different voice from this vibrant community, sharing specific knowledge on trends, techniques, and the personal journeys that fuel a life with flowers. Whether you're a professional florist looking for savvy advice, a hobbyist seeking inspiration, or simply someone who appreciates the intersection of nature and enterprise, this podcast offers a unique bouquet of insights. Tune in for genuine, meandering chats that always circle back to a shared passion, revealing the surprising depth and connectivity within the floral world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Flower Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Flower Farming for Profit: Lennie Larkin with B-Side Farm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:21
Lennie Larkin, the founder of B-Side Farm, took her passion for flowers from a background in adult education to establishing an educational farm. Lennie's experience extends from managing educational farming programs to…
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Growing Ilex for Florists: Lane DeVries with Sun Valley Floral Farms [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Imagine growing up among tulips and lilies in the Netherlands, and then taking that green thumb all the way to building the first Dutch Glass greenhouse in California. From managing the growth of flowers to CEO and Presi…
Growing Heirloom Mums with Steve and Mandy O'Shea of 3 Porch Farm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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For those who might have missed their previous visit to our podcast, let me quickly reintroduce this great duo. They're not just flower farmers; they're visionaries in flower farming, dedicated to being the most sustaina…
Life in Bloom with J Schwanke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:43
A fourth-generation florist, J Schwanke is a flower expert, content producer, and professional speaker, and has not only made an mark within the flower community but has become a trusted voice and a source of inspiration…
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My guest this week is a Horticultural Sales & Marketing strategist with a remarkable 30-year career journey, he has navigated through the world of retail, wholesale, import, and export, licensing, sales, and marketing an…
Creating Forever Floral Designs with Bex Partridge of Botanical Tales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:35
I am excited to introduce Bex Partridge of Botanical Tales in the UK. Specializing in creating sustainable, everlasting designs with dried flowers, Bex skillfully takes them through their lifecycle, from seed to breath-t…