Archive | Floristry Courses

60 More Flower Farmers & Counting….

By greenandgorgeous on October 1, 2014 in Blog, Floristry Courses

Our Flower Farming courses have proved very popular and we have been surprised by all the interest this year. There have been a wide range of people with hugely different life stories and dreams of growing flowers to make a living. We recently completed two days with great weather and lots of interest in the garden to show everyone what is possible (or maybe to show people what hard work it is!). We try and send out a short questionnaire a week or 2 before to focus everyone’s minds and to gauge where students are coming from before they arrive. The course handout now stretches to 30 pages……

LOTS OF FLORISTRY JOBS TO DO BEFORE STUDENTS ARRIVE

TOILET ADORNMENTS

VIOLET GETTING READY FOR A HARD DAY OF CONCENTRATION

After a short introductory session, Ashley took everyone outside to have a look at setting up your dream plot, covering protected cropping, layout, shelter, cultivation, machinery, fertility, weeding and irrigation. After that lot, it was certainly time for a tea break, with some tea bread to go with it…

NEW TUNNEL JUST TAKEN OUT OF THE BOX

HONDA FG205, AKA ‘THE TICKLER’

Rachel then took over to get down to the nitty gritty of discussing potential markets and the flower palette to grow for each, and the major pitfalls to avoid.

FRIENDLY CATS ALWAYS GUARANTEED

‘NINJA’ DATE SLICE FROM OUR NEW KONDITOR COOKBOOK

With all the abundance of September, Ashley used tomatoes and squash as the main ingredients of a hearty North African Stew. To avoid the post lunch lull, we were able to discuss other topics outside including adding value, branding, social media, continuity, pricing, costings and skill set required. We try and keep the groups small, so that we can ideally cover everything that people want to know and answer any burning questions.

TALKING TOOLS

DELIVERIES FOR A BOOK LAUNCH IN THE AFTERNOON

Here is some lovely feedback we recieved from Clare Spiller at Garden and Wild.

“Thanks for this! I had such a lovely day, thank you to you both so much for making it so brilliant and being so free with your advice and information. The food was gorgeous too! I always feel so inspired when I come to you!”

Ashley and Rachel

Want to be a Flower Farmer?

By greenandgorgeous on December 30, 2013 in Cut flowers, Floristry Courses, Foxgloves, Peonies, roses

It is a question I asked myself seven years ago. I was hundred percent sure that the answer was Yes, but the next question led to a lot more uncertainty – how can I actually make a living growing cut flowers?

Over the years many people have attended the growing course I run with that question in mind. So I thought it was high time I came up with a day which is geared solely towards all those people on the brink of starting a cut flower business.

The weather has finally driven me inside so writing a new course is just the thing to keep me busy and thinking of flowers.

Flower Farming for Beginners will run on Sunday 16^th March here at Green and Gorgeous, there are only six places available so contact me if you would like more information about the day.

Whilst mulling over the content, I found these pictures taken by photographer Shannon Robinson last summer, which I think illustrate the words ‘flower farm’ beautifully.

Sweet Pea ‘Winter Sunshine’ varieties jostling for space in the polytunnel, the best choice for an early crop.

Delphinium ‘Pagan Purple’ a New Zealand hybrid, much stronger than their English counterparts.

An overwhelming amount of Peonies, we grow early and late varieties but the late Spring made them all come at once this year. Breathtakingly beautiful but also slightly painful!

My favourite outdoor Alstroemeria called ‘Friendship’, think beyond ‘garage forecourt’, these are far superior and so productive.

More New Zealand Delphiniums, the smokey lilac one is called ‘Sweethearts’, great for pedestals.

You have to have roses, well I do anyway, this one is ‘Just Joey’, huge coppery apricot blooms.

And finally, the striking Digitalis ‘Pam’s Choice’ – you can’t have too many foxgloves. I love the new summer flowering varieties so we can have foxgloves from June till August.

Rachel Siegfried

New Year Plans

By greenandgorgeous on January 7, 2013 in Achillea, Asters, Cut flowers, dahlias, Floristry, Floristry Courses, Galega, Monarda, Phlox, roses, Sweet Peas, Tanacetum, Weddings

It has been a long time since I wrote
my last blog, I think it was in June when the rain and wind came,
after that I was too busy battling with the elements. It certainly
tested my resolve as a flower grower as I watched countless flowers
rot in the ground or be flattened by the wind.

As we were not able to grow some G&G
favourites new flowers were discovered and took centre stage. Many of
these were from the group that really saved the season – perennials.
These proved to be far more weather resistant than many of the
annuals and because of all the rain grew taller and more prolifically
than normal and those prone to mildew like Asters, Monarda and Phlox
were spared.

The real stars were the perennials sown
from seed in February/March which went on to produce buckets of
flowers from June onwards. They included Achillea, Galega and
Tanacetum which all proved to have good 'cut and come again' value and
a wildflower- look for our natural style bouquets.

Our new field of perennials planted
mostly as bare root in the autumn of 2011 also grew in very well
thanks to all the rain. It was a joy to wander in there one evening
when supplies and spirits were low in the cutting garden to discover
row upon row of new and exciting things to cut.

So the extreme weather meant different
flowers to work with, a new palette with unexpected combinations and
some beautiful results.

After seeing off the most challenging
year for growing cut flowers I am full of plans for 2013, which include adding to our mail order
range and developing a Pick Your Own cutting garden. More news on
that in the coming weeks.

We have also come up with some new
courses:

Jo and I have put our heads together
and developed a two day course for DIY brides on how to grow and
arrange wedding flowers.

I am offering an in depth growing guide
to three of our favourites – sweet peas, roses and dahlias as half
day workshops.

If you would like to find out more have
a look at our Courses page on the website.