Winter Reading for a Healthy Flower Farm
Winter time is my time to work on growing myself as an individual and farmer. I don’t have any work outside to do as the ground is frozen and covered in snow, and so I turn inward.
I study during the winter. I read, research , attend conferences, make plans and change plans, and sometimes I buy too many seeds. But I want to be as prepared for the next growing season as I can be and find ways to overcome the problems I had the season before. And I love it.
It keeps me enthused and optimistic for the coming season.
There are so many amazing resources out there on flower farming that are full of amazing tips, guides, photos, and inspiration. But it can be a little hard to know where to start.
So I wanted to share with you some of my favorite books that have helped me as a flower farmer. Not every book is specifically about flower farming, but they are books that have helped me develop a more sustainable farm. So let’s get right to it.
In no particular order
The Lean Farm by Ben Hartman
The Flower Farmer by Lynn Bycznski and Robin Wimbiscus
The Living Soil Handbook by Jesse Frost
Cultivated by Christin Geall
Specialty Cut Flowers by Allan M. Armitage and Judy M. Laushman (this is a pricy one, but absolutely worth it)
And pretty much everything that comes from USU Cut Flower production guides.
Of course there are many more but I wanted to keep this list to just my favorites.
And other than books, one of the most valuable things that have helped me as a farmer is meeting and connecting with other farmers at conferences.
Meeting other farmers, seeing their practices and learning what works for them, has helped me grow and improve as a farmer so much faster than what I would have otherwise.
I wanted to let you know that the Utah Cut Flower Farm Association is hosting their second annual Utah Flower Conference this year on January 27th, 2023.
The theme for the conference is Farming for the Long Haul.
There is going to be an awesome lineup of speakers with a range of topics from soil health, to pricing, dahlias, and getting your farm off on the right foot. There will also be the opportunity to meet with flower farmers from all over the state.
The education, friendships, and resources that can be found at this conference is going to be amazing and impactful for all who attend.
If you’re a flower farmer, or thinking of becoming one, I can not stress enough just how much you’ll gain from attending this conference.
Winter is the perfect time to build upon your knowledge of flowers and connect with those who are just as passionate about it as you are.
I’ll see you at the conference!