An Essay on Flower Farm Envy
Do you ever have flower farm envy?
I definitely do.
I have envy of those flower farmers that get to actually grow in an agricultural setting.
You know the ones I’m talking about. Big plots in middle of nowhere, with big rolling fields and verdant green pastures surrounding them, with big rows of flowers with accompanying photos of large armloads of blooms.
Perhaps we might even slip on a linen dress to frolic through the fields, flowers tied into our hair as we laugh in gaeity.
No? That’s not a realistic image of actual flower farming you say?
You might have some flower farm envy if you have a small scale flower farm or growing space. Or if you have a flower farm located in an urban, suburban or non-rural, non-pastoral setting (written as I stare at the RV, the large warehouse shed and the neon signs of the gas station across the street) sometimes you might feel a bit silly.
After all, aren’t all flower farmers supposed to have their fields bathed in golden light with happy cows frolicking in fields nearby? And isn’t the whole intent of flower farming to be able to indulge in the glory of rural living?
It may be part of the appeal - this article from the New York Times outlines the appeal of cottagecore and the idealism of rural, pastoral living that has recently gained steam in the past decade, and for many people starting a flower farm has less to do with selling flowers as it does of growing flowers for their own experience
(Not knocking it - I grow flowers partially for my own experience and pleasure and well-being too, but it’s quite different when you’re trying to film a video of a bouquet only to hear the roar of hedge trimmers, lawn mowers, traffic and helicopters in the city).
Sometimes I feel like a fraud. An imposter flower farmer so to speak, who isn’t actually growing flowers on a large enough scale to be able to claim the title of flower farmer. Who am I even kidding with on my little plot of land?
But I know that’s just the intrusive thoughts that are starting to win, because the reality is that I have just as much right to call myself a flower farmer compared to anyone else.
Is my overall volume of flowers smaller? Yes.
Are my gross sales smaller? Yes as well.
Is my overall profit lower? Yes.
But am I still growing flowers for the local community that are being sold to customers who enjoy them immensely and farming and selling the local product?
Yes, yes I am.
And there’s also the fact that people living in more urban or suburban areas need flowers too. In fact, I might argue that people in more urban areas may need flowers more - they are more disconnected with nature and may therefore actually crave some floral or agricultural-inspired escapism in the form of fresh, locally grown flowers.
So at the end of the day, does it really matter if I don’t have large rolling fields and large flocks of sheep and chickens and live out in the country?
If you’re concerned about optics and looking good for social media, perhaps.
If you’re concerned about growing flowers and selling them and getting them out into the world, then it doesn’t matter as much.
And since you can grow flowers pretty much anywhere, even on a small scale, it matters less where you grow them and more that you do grow them.
I used to think that success would only be found in a large flower farm.
Given what I was seeing, it appeared that the only way to success was to grow lots and lots of flowers - which meant a very large flower farm. And judging by what you see on social media, that might be true.
Even among flower farming organizations and groups, it’s mostly focused on large scale rural growing, and it’s hard to really join in on some conversations when you don’t own a tractor or a high tunnel or livestock.
That was back when I was feeling sorry for myself for not living on a large farm. My work and other reasons keep me in urban areas, so I technically would never be able to move to a rural area, and I’ve since come to terms with that fact, but it didn’t mean that the feeling of being inadequate due to a lack of acreage couldn’t unfortunately take root in my head.
However over the years, I’ve learned that it matters less the size of the farm as does the efficiency and effectiveness of the farmer.
Off a small plot of land (far smaller than I would have initially thought possible) we’ve been able to create a business that has supplied locally grown seasonal flowers for the community, provided gorgeous blooms for local floral designers (including ourselves) and sent off beautiful arrangements and bouquets out into the world - all while working to improve the soil, increase biodiversity of our locale and working in harmony with nature.
Does that not sound like a flower farm by its purpose, actions and description?
I’m not sure if you have to produce a certain amount of bouquets to qualify for the title of farmer, but I’m pretty sure there isn’t any gatekeeping of farming in that sense.
Keep on flowering, my friends.
And if you’re interested in starting a small scale flower farm, here are some more articles you may be interested in: