What Is Your Most Important Tool: Madeline Hooper of Gardenfit

What Is Your Most Important Tool: Madeline Hooper of Gardenfit

Author: Scott Shepherd, Host and Flower Educator October 2, 2025 Duration: 1:04:35

What Is Your Most Important Tool?

Madeline Hooper has such a great story. After years in public relations, competing as a ballroom dancer, and teacher she turned her focus to gardening and helping others. Together with her husband, she's spent over three decades creating and caring for their Rockland Farm in New York. She's also the co-creator of the TV series GardenFit, and she shares down-to-earth ways we can take care of our most important tool—our own body.

Whether you're planting, weeding, hauling buckets, or marathon wedding installations, her tips will help you move smarter, avoid aches, and enjoy the work we love for years to come.  It's all about self-care and taking care of our bodies to let them continue to take care of us.

Learn more about today's episode and all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

Subscribe to The Flower Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. We are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and many more! If you have a minute, it would be great if you could leave a review wherever you listen to our podcast. 

You can also watch our conversations on YouTube, in addition to tip-filled videos and educational Lives. Be sure to subscribe to our channel so you don't miss a minute.


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
Rethinking Growth with Lindsey Mizock of Pompelmo Floral [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:14
Scott Shepherd sits down with floral designer and grower Lindsey Mizock of Pompelmo Floral to talk about creativity, freelancing, and what it means to intentionally keep your business small. Lindsey shares insights from…
The Science and Art of Plant Breeding with Dr. Keith Hammett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:38
This week, Scott explores the intersection of science and artistry in the world of flower breeding. Dr. Keith Hammett, New Zealand's leading ornamental plant breeder, shares his passion for developing Dahlias, Sweet Peas…
Starting Fresh with Galena Berkompas, Micro Flower Farm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:23
Starting Fresh with Galena Berkompas Building a new flower farm from the ground up! In this episode, returning guest Galena Berkompas of Micro Flower Farm shares what it's like to start over on a new piece of land in Van…
Planning for Profit with Jenny Marks, Trademarks Flower Farm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:58
My guest today is Jenny Marks from Clifton Springs New York, a grower and educator who has built her business from the ground up. Jenny runs Trademarks Flower Farm, a productive one-acre farm celebrated for its gorgeous…
The Seeds We Save, The Blooms We Shape: Inside Dawn Creek Farm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:41
This week, Scott sits down with Kori Hargreaves, the heart and hands behind Dawn Creek Farm, for a conversation rooted in seeds, selection, and the creative process of flower breeding. Kori shares insights from her decad…