Anna Jane Kocon is the owner of Little State Flower Company. A sustainable 5 acre flower farm based in Tiverton, Rhode Island that produces cut flowers almost year round. Anna Jane has been professionally growing and selling cut flowers for 18 years by pushing the boundaries of her seasons through the use of heated greenhouses, companion planting perennials and diversifying her market based on the time of year. All while maximizing her small and rugged farm space to its utmost potential. Little State Flower Company focuses steadfast on environmentally-friendly growing in an effort to create local, exciting, and creative options for its thriving farm-stand and the wedding and event industry in and around Rhode Island. 

On today’s episode we chat about how she pieced together parcels of land to produce her flowers, how she packages her flowers for her different customer bases, growing foxglove, growing gerbera daisies, and a little about growing in crates. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this packed episode.

Learn more about Anna Jane and Little State Flower Co. along with all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

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Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

The Gardeners Workshop

My guest is Dundee Butcher, a florist, educator, artist, and advocate for sustainability. After training with the premier London florists of Jane Packer Flowers and McQueens, Dundee established the Russian River Flower School in California. Her journey didn't end with education; in 2016, she took a significant leap by co-founding what would become Phoam Lab.

Dundee and her team at Phoam Labs are pioneering the development of next-generation floral foams that are not only biobased and non-toxic but also designed to safely break down in a more environmentally friendly way, setting new standards for our industry.

Learn more here about Accent Decor’s Guide to Foam Free Design with Sue McLeary.

Learn more about Dundee and Phoam Labs with all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

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ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

The Gardeners Workshop

I'm thrilled to welcome my former professor, Dr. Allan Armitage, to this week's episode of the Flower Podcast. Dr. Armitage, a revered expert in cut flower production and a key figure in horticulture, has profoundly impacted the field worldwide We are discussing* his latest project, A Field Guide for Specialty Cut Flowers co-authored with Kelly Garcia. This guide represents Dr. Armitage's extensive expertise and provides essential insights for anyone interested in growing cut flowers and gardening. We'll explore the valuable information in this new book and learn from Dr. Armitage, who remains a mentor and source of inspiration in the horticultural community.

Tune in to this week's episode of the Flower Podcast where we're joined by Dr. Allan Armitage, a distinguished expert in cut flower production and horticulture. We delve into his latest publication, "A Field Guide for Specialty Cut Flowers," co-authored with Kelly Garcia. This guide is a treasure trove of expert knowledge and practical tips for anyone passionate about gardening and growing cut flowers. Dr. Armitage, a mentor and leader in the field, offers insights that promise to inspire and educate gardeners of all levels. Don’t miss this enriching discussion on one of the most comprehensive resources in cut flower cultivation.

Learn more about Dr. Allan Armitage with all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

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Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

The Gardeners Workshop

Today we tackle an increasingly critical and sometimes controversial topic within the floral industry: sustainability. Amid growing concerns about environmental impacts, the conversation on how the floral industry can adapt and evolve is more relevant than ever.

Leading the charge is Rita Feldmann, founder of The Sustainable Floristry Network. Rita's floral journey began in her childhood at her family's flower stand in Melbourne, Australia, and her passion for flowers, combined with a solid background in botany, eventually led her to establish a successful wedding and events business. However, it was her pioneering #nofloralfoam campaign in 2017 that marked a significant shift towards sustainable practices in floristry. This initiative laid the groundwork for The Sustainable Floristry Network in 2019, a platform dedicated to educating florists on eco-friendly practices.

In this episode, we discuss Rita's journey from a local flower stand to spearheading sustainability in floristry, including the network's first training program, Foundation in Sustainability. Join us as we explore how sustainability is reshaping the future of floristry with Rita Feldmann. 

Learn more about Rita Feldmann and the Sustainable Floristry Network and all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

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Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

The Gardener’s Workshop

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

Welcome everyone to a new episode of The Flower Podcast. I love uncovering personal stories from the heart of our industry and today, we're taking a slightly different route to shine light on a very special journey of flower farming and how this journey intertwines with nurturing the soul and creating a space for recovery and rejuvenation in the healing process.

Flowers, with their beauty and symbolism, have long been a source of comfort and connection and in this episode, we’re talking about how cultivating flowers can be a powerful tool for therapy, personal growth, and community connection.

My guest today is Brianne Womack, founder and director of Fields of Grace Flower Farm. Brianne and her family have embarked on a remarkable journey of flowers, love and faith in Shiloh, George. The farm is much more than a business; it's a platform for meeting new people, sharing their passion for flowers, their community and serves as a peaceful retreat for women who have faced trauma of all kinds and also a place to care for the caregivers.

It’s about growing flowers, a designated pick your own space, workshops, second chance blooms and most importantly creating a space for healing and helping others, and it's my hope that you'll finid this episode special.

Learn more about Brianne and Fields of Grace Flower Farm and all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

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Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

Gardener's Workshop

It’s all things dahlias this week with Steve and Sarah Pabody of Triple Wren Farms on The Flower Podcast! Steve and Sarah are here to share their journey, from choosing the perfect dahlia blooms to finding joy in the balance between passion and life. From understanding about dahlia seeds to their Dahlia Legacy Program and the Novice Hybridizer Program, its’s a conversation filled with learning, laughter, and of course our shared love of flowers.

Link to their past episode. 

Link to YouTube IG Live 

Learn more about Triple Wren Farms and all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com 

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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, Live’s, and video extras. 

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

This week we’re replaying a favorite episode from 2019 in Season 2 with Françoise Weeks.

Françoise Weeks, floral artisan and teacher, is this weeks guest on The Flower Podcast. Françoise is a master of the Woodland Design and Botanical Couture. Her passion for nature, materials, and mechanics will ignite your own curiosity to create with an inspired botanical vision.

In this episode, Françoise shares how she started her business and the advice she was given, how curiosity and perseverance have been so important to her journey, and how this natural design style continues to inspire her and others.

Learn more about Francoise Weeks and all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

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Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

I am pleased to welcome back Jennie Love of Love’n Fresh Flowers to The Flower Podcast. Jennie continues to inspire us with her commitment to flower farming and her obvious love of flowers. Her work is a testament to her dedication to no-till farming, supporting local growers, and her approach, not only nurtures the soil and local ecosystems with nature but also brings the unique beauty of each season through her flowers.

Today we had a lot of fun discussing the importance of No-Till practices, not spraying anything but various inputs, creating habitats for wildlife to help with pests, and so much more. Join me as we catch up with Jennie and learn how her passion for natural practices and community support is shaping a greener future for the floral industry right in the heart of Philadelphia. 

Learn more about Jennie Love and Love’n Fresh Flowers with all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com 

Jennie Love's past episode on The Flower Podcast.

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Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

My guest this week is Kim Delgado, the Owner and Creative Director behind Mary Stuart Flowers, a bridal floral design enterprise that prides itself on capturing the unique narrative with her couples through the charm of local, seasonal blooms.

In this episode, we’re discussing a lot about sourcing local flowers and how she has this conversation especially when booking weddings. Kim shares her partnership with the Connecticut Flower Collective to ensure her designs reflect the beauty and energy of the local blooms. We also discuss using Rooted Farmers software as a sourcing tool for sourcing many of the flowers she uses.

Today’s about creating a community where local growers and floral designers can thrive together, embracing the rhythm of the seasons for your clients. Let’s embark on this floral adventure together where every bloom has a story waiting to be told. It’s all happening this week with Kim Delgado on The Flower Podcast.

Learn more about Kim Delgado and Mary Stuart Flowers with all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

Listen to our episode about collectives, specifically the Connecticut Flower Collective and River City Flower Exchange.  

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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, Live’s, and video extras.

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

This week we’re exploring another specialty crop that has its unusual roots here in North America where it’s a botanical native. But first, our guests are Steve and Margo Galic from Stanwood, Washington. Their business is Fox Leaf Farm and they specialize in growing and breeding Sarracenia also known as pitcher plants. After seeing these cut stems in person last summer, I knew then I wanted to ask them to guests someday.

We’re always looking for new flowers to use in our floral designs and especially those that can be grown here in the United States. It’s great to learn about how these plants are grown and all of the breeding efforts that Steve has been working on. I look forward to seeing all of the amazing varieties he has to release in the future.

On this episode we discuss the differences in the main varieties, care and culture of taking care of sarracenias, starting them from seed, and what we can expect from them as cut flowers. This is a major step in sustainability and responsibly growing this plant for cut production.

Learn more about Fox Leaf Farm and all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, Live’s, and video extras.

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

In this week’s episode we are diving into the world of retail floristry with Abby Chick. Although mainly speaking about the florists side of flowers, I encourage you to listen because so many of the points we cover apply to all businesses.

Starting from her early days at a traditional flower shop to becoming the successful owner of Blakemore’s Flowers in 2012, Abby Chick is more than a florist. She is passionate about continued education and was honored to be named a 2023 Mayesh Design Star and a proud collaborator with Holly Chapple Flowers and Flower Clique to bring educational resources to the floral market.

So, whether you're here looking for tips on connecting with clients, curious about the latest trends in floral design, or seeking motivation to take your business to the next level, you're in the right place. Let's get started and learn together from Abby's experiences, drawing valuable lessons that apply across the board in the world of flower business today on The Flower Podcast.

Learn more about Abby Chick and all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. We are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Gaana, and many more!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, Live’s, and video extras.

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor