The Sunny Mary Meadow podcast is hosted by Liz Fiedler, a nurse practitioner turned flower farmer in central MN. Learn tips and tricks for growing and selling cut flowers. Located in Zone 4B, the shorter growing season offers some challenges. Her farm, Sunny Mary Meadow (www.sunnymarymeadow.com) specializes ...
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In this episode, Liz discusses the resources needed to start a flower farm, specifically focusing on time and money. She emphasizes the importance of considering the amount of time available and the flexibility of that time when starting a business. She also highlights the financial investment required to run a flower farm and the need for a safety net and an exit strategy. The host encourages listeners to have a clear end goal in mind and to be realistic about the challenges and sacrifices involved in starting a flower farm. Takeaways Consider the amount of time and flexibility you have available before starting a flower farm Be prepared for the financial investment required to run a flower farm Have a clear end goal in mind and plan for a safety net and an exit strategy Be realistic about the challenges and sacrifices involved in starting a flower farm Link to signup for the webinar: https://www.sunnymarymeadowcoaching.com/registration-page-27840ccf-7ed0-4fa7-a4bd-16e51986adfd Smart Labels: https://www.amazon.com/QR-Smart-Labels-Scannable-Organization/dp/B0BJS364C6?maas=maas_adg_31EA81720AD78B3DA43CB84763549F2B_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas Blog: https://www.sunnymarymeadowcoaching.com/blog/should-you-start-a-flower-farm-managing-time-and-expenses Podcast website: www.sunnymarymeadowcoaching.com Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnymarymeadow/ Sunny Mary Meadow flower farm (www.sunnymarymeadow.com) specializes in bouquet subscriptions, stem bars, and a you-pick flower farm experience. Podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/888196709178852
This episode is part one of a three-part mini-series titled 'Should You Start a Flower Farm?' Liz discusses important questions to ask yourself before starting a flower farm, such as how you feel about sales and how you handle rejection. The episode emphasizes the need to analyze the market for the flowers you want to grow and be comfortable with criticism and unhappy customers. It also highlights the importance of understanding that not everyone will be your customer and being okay with that. The episode concludes by encouraging listeners to sign up for a live Q&A webinar and teasing the topics of the next two parts of the mini-series. Takeaways Before starting a flower farm, analyze the market for the flowers you want to grow and be willing to adjust your plans accordingly. Be comfortable with criticism and unhappy customers, as not everyone will appreciate or understand the value of your flowers. Understand that you are not for everyone, and be okay with that. Focus on attracting and serving the customers who appreciate your products and services. Selling flowers is the key to making money in a flower farm business, not just growing them. Sign up for the live Q&A webinar and stay tuned for parts two and three of the mini-series, which will cover learning about things other than flowers and assessing your available resources. Link to signup for the webinar: https://www.sunnymarymeadowcoaching.com/registration-page-27840ccf-7ed0-4fa7-a4bd-16e51986adfd Quickbooks: https://quickbooks.partnerlinks.io/0o09r7rqoau4 Blog: https://www.sunnymarymeadowcoaching.com/blog/should-you-start-a-flower-farm-part-1-questions-to-consider Podcast website: www.sunnymarymeadowcoaching.com Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnymarymeadow/ Sunny Mary Meadow flower farm (www.sunnymarymeadow.com) specializes in bouquet subscriptions, stem bars, and a you-pick flower farm experience. Podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/888196709178852
In this episode, Liz Fiedler discusses how she uses high tunnels to grow and sell tulips. She explains how she uses high tunnels for season extension and succession planting, and shares tips on selecting tulip varieties and planting techniques. Liz also talks about her experience with growing tulips in crates and outside, and how she manages the different stages of blooming. She discusses the importance of planning and organization in selling perishable products like tulips, and highlights the benefits of using high tunnels for controlling the blooming schedule and maximizing profitability. Takeaways High tunnels are a valuable tool for season extension and succession planting of tulips. Selecting early and late blooming varieties can help spread out the blooming schedule. Planting tulips in raised beds with powdery dry soil makes for easier planting and harvesting. Managing the blooming schedule and controlling the temperature inside the high tunnels is crucial for maximizing profitability. Planning and organization are key when selling perishable products like tulips. Quickbooks: https://quickbooks.partnerlinks.io/0o09r7rqoau4 Blog: https://www.sunnymarymeadowcoaching.com/blog/how-to-use-secession-planting-to-grow-and-sell-20-000-tulips Podcast website: www.sunnymarymeadowcoaching.com Podcast instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnymarymeadow/ Sunny Mary Meadow flower farm (www.sunnymarymeadow.com) specializes in bouquet subscriptions, stem bars, and a you-pick flower farm experience. Podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/888196709178852
In this episode, Liz and Robert discuss the importance of email marketing for businesses. They highlight the limitations of relying solely on social media platforms and emphasize the need for a direct line of communication with customers. They also explore different email marketing tools and recommend options like MailerLite and BraveO. The conversation covers laws and regulations related to email marketing, including the importance of obtaining permission from subscribers. Liz shares her strategies for building an email list and engaging customers, while Robert suggests offering lead magnets as incentives for subscribers. They conclude by discussing the integration of social media and email marketing to maximize customer engagement and sales. In this conversation, Liz and Robert discuss various aspects of email marketing and its impact on business growth. They cover topics such as promoting newsletters, using newsletters for business growth, balancing organic and corporate approaches, frequency and value in email marketing, monitoring engagement and adjusting frequency, the power of email marketing metrics, segmenting and following up with interested subscribers, overcoming self-limiting beliefs in sales, providing value and avoiding spam, and the benefits of owning a business. They also mention a free Email Marketing Crash Course and a Web Tool Tester for website building. FREE guide: https://www.emailtooltester.com/en/free-email-marketing-ebook/?utm_campaign=SunnyMaryMeadow&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_source=SMM-podcast Takeaways Email marketing is crucial for businesses as it provides a direct line of communication with customers and generates sales more effectively than social media. Choosing the right email marketing service is important, with options like MailerLite and BraveO offering affordable and user-friendly features. Complying with laws and regulations, such as obtaining permission from subscribers, is essential for successful email marketing. Building an email list requires making it easy for customers to sign up and offering incentives like lead magnets. Integrating social media and email marketing allows businesses to maximize customer engagement and maintain a consistent presence in customers' inboxes. Promote your newsletter by highlighting its advantages and sharing it on social media. Use newsletters to promote events and encourage subscribers to forward them to potential customers. Find a balance between organic and corporate approaches in your email marketing. Send emails at least once a month to avoid being forgotten, but be mindful of not sending too many. Monitor email marketing metrics to track engagement and adjust your strategy accordingly. Segment your subscribers and send follow-up emails to those who show interest. Overcome self-limiting beliefs in sales and confidently promote your products or services. Provide value in every email to avoid being perceived as spam. Take advantage of free resources like the Email Marketing Crash Course and the Web Tool Tester for website building. www.instagram.com/sunnymarymeadow My favorite things: https://www.sunnymarymeadowcoaching.com/sunny-mary-meadow-favorite-things
In this episode, Liz interviews Lena from Urban Bounty Farms, an urban hydroponic farm in Kansas City. Lena shares her journey of starting the farm and her vision of transforming blighted buildings into small hydroponic farms. She discusses the challenges and benefits of hydroponic farming, the popular edible flowers for chefs, and the target customers for her farm. Lena also provides insights into licensing and regulations for selling edible plants and her plans for scaling up the business. Takeaways: Hydroponic farming in blighted buildings can solve multiple problems, including food swamps, blight, and creating sustainable businesses. Popular edible flowers for chefs include marigolds, borage, pansies, and nasturtiums. Selling to restaurants and grocery stores can provide a consistent revenue stream for urban farms. Licensing and regulations for selling edible plants vary by location and may require inspections and certifications. Scaling up a farm may require hiring employees and partnering with other farmers. Urban Bounty Farm: https://urbanbountyfarm.squarespace.com/ Template club: https://www.sunnymarymeadowcoaching.com/offers/hnARxLRo/checkout Sunny Mary Meadow (www.sunnymarymeadow.com) specializes in bouquet subscriptions, stem bars, and a you pick flower farm experience. https://www.instagram.com/sunnymarymeadow/