What happens when flower farming and painting come together? In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, host Jennifer Gulizia sits down with artist and flower farmer Valerie Miller of Steel Cow Lavender Farm in Iowa. Valerie is a gifted painter and the founder of Art Garden Therapy, a monthly painting membership that invites people of all skill levels to discover the joy of creativity through simple, step-by-step lessons.

Valerie shares how her journey began with painting cows, evolved into creating vibrant flower and farm-inspired art, and how her lavender farm continues to inspire her work. She opens up about the story behind Art Garden Therapy, why flowers—especially lavender, peonies, and dahlias—show up so often in her art, and how farming and painting both create powerful spaces for connection and creativity.

🌿 In this episode, you’ll learn:

 * How Valerie and her family built Steel Cow Lavender Farm
 * What inspired her transition from animals to flower paintings
 * The vision behind Art Garden Therapy and how it helps beginners paint with confidence
 * Why flowers play such a central role in her art and teaching
 * How farming and painting both serve as pathways to creativity and joy

🌸 Connect with Valerie Miller:

 * Steel Cow Lavender Farm: https://www.steelcowlavenderfarm.com [https://www.steelcowlavenderfarm.com/]
 * Art Garden Therapy Membership: https://artgardentherapy.com [https://artgardentherapy.com/]
 * Steel Cow Art & Paintings: https://www.steelcow.com [https://www.steelcow.com/]

If you love flowers, painting, and stories of creativity rooted in nature, this conversation will inspire you to pick up a brush—or plant a seed.

📌 Subscribe to The Backyard Bouquet Podcast for more flower farming insights!

Sign up for The Backyard Bouquet Newsletter: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.myflodesk.com/backyardbouquetpodcast

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New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep. 69: Painting Flowers and Farming Lavender with Valerie Miller of Steel Cow Lavender Farm

What does large-scale flower farming really look like in the United States? In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer Gulizia sits down with Madison Milgard, Vice President of Brand and Market Strategy at Continental Floral Greens (CF Greens) — the largest U.S.-based flower farm.

Madison shares the inspiring story of her family-owned business, from its roots in Washington’s noble fir forests to stewarding thousands of acres across Oregon, California, Florida, and beyond. She gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how Continental Floral Greens produces millions of stems, the innovations driving sustainability, and why greenery is the unsung hero of floral design.

You’ll learn about:

 * How Continental Floral Greens grew from a small tree farm to the largest U.S.-based flower farm
 * What sustainability looks like at scale — from recyclable packaging to stewarding 10,000 acres of noble fir
 * New dahlia trials with extended vase life and what it means for florists and regional growers
 * Why collaboration across farms, wholesalers, and organizations like SustainaBloom is key to the future of floriculture
 * Advice for growers who dream of scaling their flower farm (and why resilience + the right team are essential)

Whether you’re a backyard grower, a budding flower farmer, or simply fascinated by the floral industry, this conversation will expand your perspective on what’s possible — and how sustainability and innovation are shaping the future of flowers.

📍 Connect with Continental Floral Greens:

 * Website: https://www.cfgreens.com/https://www.cfgreens.com
 * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cfgreens
 * Email Madison: madisonmilgard@cfgreens.com

Enjoying the show?
Please rate & review The Backyard Bouquet Podcast—it helps more flower lovers find us and keeps these conversations blooming!

Ep.68: Inside America’s Largest U.S.-Based Flower Farm: Sustainability, Innovation & the Future of Floriculture with Madison Milgard of Continental Floral Greens

If you’ve ever had more flowers than you know what to do with—or wished you could make a special bouquet last forever—this episode will spark your creativity.

In this conversation, I’m joined by Kate Punnett, founder of The August Press, a professional flower press studio dedicated to turning fresh blooms into timeless art. With over a decade as an organic urban flower grower and sustainable florist, Kate shares her best tips for pressing flowers successfully, from choosing the right blooms to avoiding mold, storing delicate petals, and creating pieces that last.

We talk about:

 * The easiest (and trickiest) flowers to press
 * How to capture every stage of a bloom’s life cycle in art
 * Common mistakes that lead to mold — and how to avoid them
 * Sustainable ways to preserve bridal bouquets
 * Why pressing flowers is the perfect slow art for our fast-paced world

Whether you’re a flower farmer, gardener, or someone who treasures the beauty of a single bloom, this episode will inspire you to see your flowers in a whole new way.

🌸 Learn more about Kate & The August Press
Website: https://www.theaugustpress.com [https://www.theaugustpress.com/]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaugustpress

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/08/15/ep-67-how-to-press-flowers-like-a-pro/

🎧 Listen & Subscribe to The Backyard Bouquet Podcast
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📬 Let’s Stay Connected
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebackyardbouquetpodcast/
Website: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/the-backyard-bouquet-podcast/

💬 Enjoying the show?
Please rate & review The Backyard Bouquet Podcast—it helps more flower lovers find us and keeps these conversations blooming!

Ep. 67: How to Press Flowers Like a Pro: Featuring Kate Punnett of The August Press

If you’ve ever struggled with burnout, self-doubt, or pricing your flowers with confidence, this episode is for you. In Episode 66 of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer sits down with Charlotte Smith — a farmer, coach, and host of The Profitable Mindset Podcast — to talk about the mindset shifts that can make or break your flower farming business.

Charlotte shares how her own farming journey led her to coaching, why your thoughts shape your results, and how to overcome limiting beliefs like “people won’t pay that price” or “my field’s not good enough.” You’ll learn why perfectionism holds so many farmers back, how to stop looping in overwhelm, and simple questions that can help you get unstuck and grow with purpose.

You’ll also hear about Charlotte’s free upcoming Master Class — 5 Mistakes Farmers Make That Keep Them Broke — happening August 18–19. Don’t miss your chance to learn from one of the most respected voices in the industry.

🌸 In this episode, you’ll learn:

 * How mindset directly affects your profitability
 * Common limiting beliefs that hold flower farmers back
 * Why building a local customer base starts offline
 * Charlotte’s “belief triad” and how it can change your business
 * What to do when perfectionism and self-doubt show up

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been farming for years, this is a conversation that will leave you feeling grounded, inspired, and ready to take the next step.

🎧 Listen now and grab the link to Charlotte’s free Master Class in the show notes!

Show Note: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/08/06/ep-66-charlotte-smith-mindset-for-flower-farmers/

Follow Charlotte Smith On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlotte.m.smith/

Listen To The Profitable Mindset Podcast: https://charlottemsmith.com/podcast/

Join Charlotte August 18th & 19th: FREE Master Class: 5 costly mistakes that are keeping your farm broke [http://charottemsmith.com/masterclass]

Sign Up HERE: https://courses.3cowmarketing.com/five-mistakes

Join Farm Marketing Mastery - break out of marketing misery [https://charlottemsmith.com/mastery]: https://charlottemsmith.com/mastery  [https://charlottemsmith.com/mastery]

Sign up for The Backyard Bouquet Newsletter: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.myflodesk.com/backyardbouquetpodcast



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New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep. 66: How to Shift Your Mindset and Build a Profitable Flower Farm with Charlotte Smith

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, host Jennifer Gulizia sits down with Jenny Jonak of Dragon Song Farm in Oregon’s Willamette Valley to explore how one flower farmer is blending sustainable flower farming, community-supported agriculture (CSA), and policy advocacy to create real impact.

Jenny shares how she grew her CSA flower farm from a few bouquets for friends into a thriving market business—and why she now champions water rights reform and land access for small farmers. We also dive into her innovative pressed flower jewelry, neurodivergent-friendly farm systems, and real-world tips for succeeding at farmers markets.

Whether you're a flower farmer, backyard grower, or passionate advocate for local agriculture, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and heartfelt perspective.

What You’ll Learn:

 * How Jenny scaled Dragon Song Farm from a backyard garden to a full-time CSA and market farm
 * Her journey as a neurodivergent farmer and systems that support her success
 * Tips for creating high-impact farmers market bouquets (and maximizing cooler space!)
 * The surprising legal hurdles small farms face around water rights in Oregon
 * How pressed flower jewelry became a profitable and creative side of her farm business

Resources & Links Mentioned:

 * Visit Jenny’s website: dragonsongfarm.com [https://www.dragonsongfarm.com/]
 * Follow Jenny on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dragonsongfarm]
 * Learn more about the August Press for pressed flowers: https://www.theaugustpress.com/
 * Explore Friends of Family Farmers – Oregon-based advocacy and resources: https://friendsoffamilyfarmers.org/
 * Connect with NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service): https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/
 * Learn about ASCFG – Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers: https://www.ascfg.org/

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/08/01/ep-65-how-jenny-jonak-of-dragon-song-farm-is-growing-more-than-just-flowers/

🎙️ Tune in and discover how one woman is growing more than just flowers—she’s cultivating change.

Sign up for our newsletter: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.myflodesk.com/backyardbouquetpodcast

***Rate, Review, & Follow The Backyard Bouquet***

If you enjoyed this episode, will you please consider leaving the podcast a review? Your review helps make the podcast more discoverable to others and allows me to continue creating more episodes. I'd love to know what you enjoyed most about the episode.

New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep. 65: From CSA to Advocacy: How Jenny Jonak of Dragon Song Farm Is Growing More Than Just Cut Flowers

In Episode 64 of The Backyard Bouquet, flower farmer and educator Brooke Palmer of Jenny Creek Flowers returns to the podcast—one year after making the leap from part-time growing to full-time cut flower farming.

After balancing a teaching career and a growing flower farm for several years, Brooke decided in 2024 to hang up her classroom keys and pour her energy into her blooms. Now, she’s reflecting on what it’s really been like to turn her side hustle into a full-time flower farming business.

We talk about everything from launching successful workshops and peony you-picks to navigating unexpected crop failures and mindset struggles. Brooke shares the strategies she’s leaned on, the rhythms she’s found, and how she’s redefining success on her own terms.

If you're dreaming of going full-time with your farm or simply want an honest look at life beyond the leap, this episode is for you.

Key topics:

 * The emotional and practical realities of going full-time
 * Building a flower business around workshops and U-picks
 * Managing time with intention (and being done by noon!)
 * The power of mindset coaching and weekly reflection
 * Letting go of comparison and choosing sustainability over scale

🌸 Connect with Brooke:
Website: jennycreekflowers.com
[https://www.jennycreekflowers.com/] Instagram: @jennycreekflowers [https://www.instagram.com/jennycreekflowers/]

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/07/24/ep-64-brooke-palmerfrom-side-hustle-to-full-time-flower-farmer/

Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/thefloweringfarmhousenewsletter

***Rate, Review, & Follow The Backyard Bouquet***

If you enjoyed this episode, will you please consider leaving the podcast a review? Your review helps make the podcast more discoverable to others and allows me to continue creating more episodes. I'd love to know what you enjoyed most about the episode.

New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep. 64: From Side Hustle to Full-Time Flower Farmer: Brooke Palmer Reflects One Year Later

In Episode 63 of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer sits down with Diane Szukovathy of Jello Mold Farm to explore the critical role of floral standards in flower farming. Diane shares how she went from planting zinnia seeds as a child to co-founding the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market and co-authoring Floral Standards — a groundbreaking guide for harvesting and handling over 230 floral crops.

We dig  into:

 * Growing pristine, sustainable flowers and achieving Salmon-Safe certification
 * The inspiring creation of the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market, a farmer-owned co-op
 * Why harvest timing and quality control are key to professional flower sales
 * How Floral Standards is becoming the go-to guide for farmers, florists, and collectives

Whether you’re growing in your backyard or managing a flower farm, this episode will help you cut better stems, build stronger systems, and elevate your craft.

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/07/01/ep-63-floral-standards-for-farmers/

🌿 Order the Floral Standards book: Seattle Wholesale Growers Market [https://www.seattlewholesalegrowersmarket.com/]
📬 Connect with Diane: Visit jellomoldfarm.com [http://jellomoldfarm.com/] and click “Contact Us”

Follow Seattle Wholesale Growers Market on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seattlewholesalegrowersmarket/

Seattle Wholesale Grower's Case Study: https://jellomoldfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2021_Seattle-Wholesale-Growers-Coop-Case-Study_final-low-res.pdf

📌 Please Subscribe to The Backyard Bouquet Podcast for more flower farming insights!

Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/thefloweringfarmhousenewsletter

***Rate, Review, & Follow The Backyard Bouquet***

If you enjoyed this episode, will you please consider leaving the podcast a review? Your review helps make the podcast more discoverable to others and allows me to continue creating more episodes. I'd love to know what you enjoyed most about the episode.

New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep.63: Floral Standards Every Flower Farmer Should Know with Diane Szukovathy of Jello Mold Farm

What does it take to grow cut flowers for over 40 weddings a season—while running a farm as a family of four?

In Part 2 of our conversation, Jennifer Joray of Eastern River Farm [https://www.instagram.com/easternriverfarm/] returns to share the details of how her family built a thriving, regenerative flower business in Maine. From crop planning to bouquet-making, and from packing systems to building in family rest, Jennifer walks us through what it really takes to succeed in growing cut flowers for weddings.

You’ll hear:
🌸 How they scaled from 8 to 65 weddings—and why they chose to scale back
💐 The top crops they rely on to meet wedding demand (think delphinium, mountain mint, lisianthus & more)
🪴 How they grow nearly everything from seed—including delphinium!
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Their entire family’s role in floral design, prep, and packing
🌱 What regenerative flower farming means to them—and why protecting family rhythms is part of it

Whether you’re dreaming of your own flower farm or looking to refine your wedding offerings, this episode is packed with inspiration, practical systems, and heartfelt wisdom.

🎧 Missed Part 1? Listen to Ep. 61: Jennifer Joray of Eastern River Farm on Flower Farming, Lyme Disease, & Finding Healing Through Nature

Connect with Jennifer Joray:

 * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/easternriverfarm/  [https://www.instagram.com/easternriverfarm/]
 * Website: https://easternriverfarm.com [https://easternriverfarm.com/]

Sign up for our newsletter: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.myflodesk.com/nlw4wua8s3https://bit.ly/thefloweringfarmhousenewsletter

***Rate, Review, & Follow The Backyard Bouquet***

If you enjoyed this episode, will you please consider leaving the podcast a review? Your review helps make the podcast more discoverable to others and allows me to continue creating more episodes. I'd love to know what you enjoyed most about the episode.

New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep. 62: Inside a Family-Run Wedding Flower Farm: How Jennifer Joray Grows Cut Flowers for 40+ Weddings a Season

What happens when a simple question—“What about farming?”—leads to a total life transformation?

In this powerful episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer Joray of Eastern River Farm [https://www.instagram.com/easternriverfarm/] shares her family’s courageous journey from city living to flower farming on a 20-acre homestead in Maine. But their story goes far beyond soil and seeds.

Jennifer Joray opens up about the challenges of navigating Lyme disease, the unexpected health impacts of ticks on the farm, and how her family found healing through nature, herbal remedies, and a more intentional way of living.

You’ll learn:
🌼 Why they had left behind urban life for a flower farm
🦠 How they manage Lyme disease with herbs instead of chemicals
🐦 The beauty of rebuilding an ecosystem and welcoming back wildlife
🌱 What it means to farm in harmony with the land
🌸 How healing the land helped heal their family 

Whether you’re a flower farmer, backyard gardener, or someone looking to live a more natural, grounded life—this episode is full of wisdom, resilience, and inspiration.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
📖 Healing Lyme [https://amzn.to/3HxEcuh] by Stephen Buhner
🌿 Pacific Botanicals [https://www.pacificbotanicals.com/] – Trusted source for clean, dried herbs
🌿 Strictly Medicinal Seeds [https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/] – Medicinal seeds from herbalist Rico Cech
🌿 Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine [https://chestnutherbs.com/] – Online courses by Juliet Blankespoor
🌿 Zack Woods Herb Farm [https://zackwoodsherbs.com/] – Vermont-based medicinal herb farm
🌿 The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer by Jeff & Melanie Carpenter

Connect with Jennifer Joray:
📸 Instagram: @easternriverfarm [https://www.instagram.com/easternriverfarm/]
🌐 Website: easternriverfarm.com [https://easternriverfarm.com/]

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/06/12/ep-61-jennifer-joray-farming-with-lyme-disease/

Sign up for our newsletter: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.myflodesk.com/nlw4wua8s3https://bit.ly/thefloweringfarmhousenewsletter

*** Rate, Review, & Follow The Backyard Bouquet ***

If you enjoyed this episode, will you please consider leaving the podcast a review? Your review helps make the podcast more discoverable to others and allows me to continue creating more episodes. I'd love to know what you enjoyed most about the episode.

New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep. 61: Jennifer Joray of Eastern River Farm on Flower Farming, Lyme Disease, and Finding Healing Through Nature

In this powerful episode of The Backyard Bouquet, host Jennifer Gulizia sits down with Nicole Sardo of Midnight Magic Garden—a former stop-motion artist who left her dream job at Laika Studios after a life-altering autoimmune diagnosis.

Nicole shares her remarkable journey of healing through gardening, how she's building a flourishing micro flower farm in her front yard, and how she’s now uplifting other growers through her initiatives: Small Farms Big Orders and a fascinating Heirloom Dahlia Study.

If you've ever faced a turning point, wondered how to pivot with purpose, or needed a reminder that beauty can take root even in your hardest seasons—this one’s for you.

🔗 Mentioned in this episode:

 * Midnight Magic Garden Website: https://www.midnightmagicgarden.com/
 * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightmagicgarden/
 * Small Farms Big Orders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/984326049857334
 * Heirloom Dahlia Study Interest Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6PR6PHGbMDihX3vgkR6gpoCF-9ZH3LgU5TBf6KyjLbU4-Yw/viewform
 * Dahlia World Database: http://www.dahliaworld.co.uk/dahliadirectory.htm

📌 Subscribe to The Backyard Bouquet Podcast for more flower farming insights!

***Rate, Review, & Follow The Backyard Bouquet***

If you enjoyed this episode, will you please consider leaving the podcast a review? Your review helps make the podcast more discoverable to others and allows me to continue creating more episodes. I'd love to know what you enjoyed most about the episode.

New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep. 60: How Flowers Helped Nicole Sardo Heal, Grow, and Begin Again

A podcast for flower farmers, gardeners, and cut flower growers who are growing more than just flowers.

Hosted by Jennifer Gulizia of The Flowering Farmhouse, The Backyard Bouquet shares inspiring conversations and expert tips from the fields and gardens of cut flower farmers and home growers.

Whether you're planting your first backyard bed or running a thriving flower farm, each episode offers practical growing advice, heartfelt stories, and the encouragement to cultivate beauty, joy, and connection—both in your garden and in your life.

From backyard plots to blooming fields, this podcast celebrates the people behind the petals and the lessons we learn when we grow with intention. Discover how locally grown flowers can enrich your days, root you in the present, and remind you that every flower—and every season—has a purpose.

Join us on this flourishing journey—where growing flowers is just the beginning.

For Show Notes And More Podcast Details: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/the-backyard-bouquet-podcast/

Join The Backyard Bouquet FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutflowergardening/

Sign up for our newsletter: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.myflodesk.com/backyardbouquetpodcast

The Flowering Farmhouse: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thefloweringfarmhouse/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/thefloweringfarmhouse]   [https://www.pinterest.com/thefloweringfarmhouse/]| Website [https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/]

Jennifer Gulizia

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