GENIUS HOUR

              FLOWER FARMER                                                                         2   BEE !

Project Overview:

    Well my title reflects my ambition to one day be an owner of my own flower farm.  Flower Farmer 2 Bee, just seems to make sense since my own backyard is buzzing with bees, butterflies, moths and many birds of various species. Actually, I also have cool bugs like walking sticks, praying mantis and very cool spiders.  These tend to cross my path at the most unexpected times.  So when I say that I get lost in my garden, that is literally true.  I could spend 10 hours a day in my garden from May to November.  I find great comfort with sitting in the grass and playing in the dirt.  So, although this is my ultimate genius project funds and my health will determine its outcome.  Reality right.

So my two main goals are to locate a plot of land around two areas for sale in about five years that has a water source on the property to purchase.

Start a flower farm business. This is my second goal.

Reflection: 

My emotions are both excited and fearful in all honesty.  In five years I will be older of course, but do I start a new adventure when I am close to 60 years.  I do not feel that my age will be a factor as long as my health stays as good as I have been fortunate with.  I have more time when I will not be working and just sitting does not work well for me, so I am outside a lot!.  My excitement has been researching the ideas that come along with flower farming.  What type of flowers and what seasons would I grow to sell?  Then I need to research about the different levels of selling my flowers.  I would also need to research how I would advertise my business online.  Would I just do local sales and events on my property, or would I grow flowers for events like weddings.  These questions I cannot answer at this time but I will surely be in the near future.  Right now I am researching the foundational materials- dirt, organic or fertilizers, how to design the layout of the land.  This is new because I would be starting with a new slate of land.  I have designed several gardens within my own property.  Most of my yard is a garden and some grass.

Growth and Learning:

I have been spending my two and more hours a week listening to Podcast of flower farmers and visiting blogs of starting a flower farm.  I have ordered books to view the concepts of slow flowers- flower farmers, flower designers,flower-florists who support local agriculture.  Keeping this concept of agriculture and biology I requested at my campus that I teach the agriculture biology course in our new agriculture center on campus.  I hope my request is granted.  And if not I am going to continue to develop gardens for staff and parents by sharing seeds and plants from my current garden.  I also am learning about our vertical gardens for vegetables for our cafeteria (like lettuce for salads and sandwiches).  This is a more immediate way that I can expand my knowledge of agriculture and farming with new techniques that do not require water. 

Changes/ Adaptations:

No real changes except that I won't purchase land without a water source.  This is because we can't count on the rain for the success of the flowers in the Midwest climate that we have.  I have been discussing with my husband to up my savings through my check that could help fund the expenses.  So I have made an appointment with my financial advisor in March.  Another change might be starting out how many seasons I will harvest flowers to sell.

Results:

I have learned so much new information about how to establish a flower farm.  It is fun and overwhelming, but I plan on continuing with my research.  My understanding will continue to bloom just like my flowers breaking through the frost and snow.  I plan on researching around 2 hours a week as I have been.  When the weather outside is nice, I am going to visit several flower farms and take notes and get advice from the owners. 

                                                            Hydroponic towers with the lettuce at school

Products: I shared a photo of the lettuce towers at my school.  The flower images are some of the thirteen plants that we collected seeds from to share with staff and families. The bulbs are like what is in my basement drying, I have tubers of dahlias in peat moss, canna lily and gladiolus tubers./ bulbs.