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

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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

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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!

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New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

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

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet, we are joined by Frances Palmer—renowned potter, gardener, photographer, and author—to celebrate the release of her newest book, Life With Flowers. Known for her iconic handmade vessels and stunning floral photography, Frances shares how a life rooted in creativity, cultivation, and intention can lead to unexpected beauty and joy.

In their conversation, Jennifer and Frances explore:

 * The inspiration and creative process behind Life With Flowers
 * How gardening, ceramics, and photography intersect in Frances’s daily life
 * Lessons learned from decades of self-taught artistry and flower growing
 * Why imperfection and process are central to creativity
 * The role of seasonal rhythms in her work—and her favorite flower to grow (even if it's a challenge)
 * How tending a garden supports mental health, mindfulness, and connection with the earth
 * Tips for photographing flowers using natural light and simple setups at home

Whether you’re a flower lover, artist, or someone yearning to create a slower, more beautiful life, this episode is a nourishing reminder to keep growing—one bloom, one pot, and one season at a time.

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/05/20/ep-59-frances-palmer-life-with-flowers/

Purchase Life With Flowers: https://amzn.to/44LtaLj

Connect with Frances:  

Website: francespalmerpottery.com [https://www.francespalmerpottery.com/] 

Instagram: @francespalmer [https://www.instagram.com/francespalmer]

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

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New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep. 59: Frances Palmer on ‘Life With Flowers’: Gardening, Pottery, and the Art of Everyday Beauty

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, we are joined by Debra Prinzing, founder of the Slow Flowers Movement and co-author of The Flower Farmers: Inspiration and Advice from Expert Growers. Debra shares her journey from writing The 50 Mile Bouquet to founding the Slow Flowers Movement—a movement that champions local, seasonal, and sustainable flowers.

In this inspiring conversation, Debra talks about the importance of supporting local flower farmers, how storytelling is transforming the floral industry, and the lessons she’s learned from interviewing flower farmers across North America. Whether you're a flower lover, a backyard gardener, or aspiring flower farmer, this episode is full of valuable insights on how to embrace the beauty and purpose of local blooms.

Tune in to learn:

 * What the Slow Flowers Movement is and how it’s changing the way we source flowers
 * The stories behind The Flower Farmers book and how it highlights the lives of flower growers
 * How the power of local flowers extends beyond beauty to healing and community-building
 * Practical advice for new and experienced flower farmers

Join us for an insightful discussion that will leave you inspired to support local flowers and consider the bigger picture behind every bloom.

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/05/13/ep-58-the-slow-flowers-movement/

Learn More:

 * Slow Flowers Society: https://www.slowflowerssociety.com/
 * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slowflowerssociety/
 * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debraprinzing/
 * Purchase The Flower Farmers Book: https://store.abramsbooks.com/products/the-flower-farmers

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New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep.58: The Slow Flowers Movement & The Power of Local Blooms with Debra Prinzing

This week on The Backyard Bouquet, we’re celebrating a century of spectacular blooms with Schreiner’s Iris Gardens, one of the most iconic names in American flower farming. For over 100 years, the Schreiner family has been growing and breeding world-class bearded iris—a legacy that began in Minnesota and eventually found its forever home in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

In this conversation, Ben Schreiner and Liz Schmidt offer a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a multi-generational iris farm, from hybridizing breathtaking new varieties to caring for over 150 acres of flowers. Whether you’re dreaming of adding irises to your garden or curious how these resilient blooms perform as cut flowers, you’ll walk away inspired to see bearded iris in a whole new light.

We talk about:

 * How bearded iris earned their place in the world of cut flowers
 * What makes these perennials so tough, low-maintenance, and stunning
 * Tips for planting, dividing, and growing irises in Zones 3–9
 * The decade-long process behind breeding a brand-new iris
 * Why Schreiner’s believes beauty and legacy can bloom side by side

This is a celebration of history, horticulture, and the flowers that keep on blooming—season after season, generation after generation.

Learn more about Schreiner's Gardens: https://www.schreinersgardens.com/

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/05/06/ep-57-celebrating-100-years-of-growing-bearded-iris-with-schreiners-gardens/

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New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep.57: Celebrating 100 Years of Bearded Iris: The Legacy of Schreiner’s Iris Gardens

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer invites you to step away from the rush of the season and pause at the garden gate. With raw honesty and gentle encouragement, she explores what it means to be in a season of becoming—when everything feels tender, stretched, and unfinished.

Through the metaphors of seeds cracking open, the lotus rising from the mud, and the relentless (but sacred) push of spring, this episode offers a soulful reminder: you're not behind, you're in the middle of something meaningful.

Whether you're planting your first seeds, rebuilding something from scratch, or simply navigating the unknown, let this be your permission to slow down, trust the process, and grow at your own pace.

https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/the-backyard-bouquet-podcast/

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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.56: The Push of Spring: How Seeds and Seasons Reshape Us

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, we’re joined by one of the most respected voices in the cut flower industry—Dave Dowling. With over 20 years of experience as a flower farmer and now a trusted mentor to growers across North America, Dave shares insights you won’t want to miss.

We talk about how he got started growing flowers (before Google existed!), what helped him turn a few backyard beds into a thriving year-round business, and the advice he gives most often to new flower farmers. From choosing the right flowers to grow, to selling at markets, working with florists, and applying for grants—this episode is packed with practical tips and hard-won wisdom.

Whether you're dreaming of starting a flower farm or already deep in the growing season, Dave’s insights will help you build a more sustainable and profitable business—while remembering to enjoy the flowers along the way.

In this episode, we talk about:

 * How Dave got started in flower farming (and the book that sparked it)
 * Tips for selling at farmers markets and to florists
 * What makes a flower profitable—and what to grow more of
 * The biggest mistakes new growers make
 * Dave’s favorite flowers for market (and why lisianthus shines)
 * How to apply for NRCS high tunnel grants
 * The growing strength of the local flower movement
 * Why collaboration beats competition in our industry
 * What Dave hopes his legacy will be

🌼 Want to connect with Dave?

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davemdowling/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaveDowlingBallHort

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/04/29/ep-55-how-to-grow-and-sell-cut-flowers-successfully-with-dave-dowling/

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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.55: Cut Flower Farming with Dave Dowling: Real-World Advice for Growing and Selling Flowers

In this special Earth Day episode of The Backyard Bouquet, flower farmer and garden educator Jennifer Gulizia shares a deeply personal reflection on growing in harmony with the earth—and what it really means to be a steward of soil, beauty, and biodiversity.

This solo episode blends story, science, and soul. Jennifer shares a poem Where Flowers Lead and shares the regenerative journey that led her family to restore 20 acres of neglected farmland—guided by flowers, rooted in soil, and inspired by hope.

Show notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/04/29/ep-54-earth-day-flower-farming-reflection/

🌿 Inside the episode, you'll hear:

 * What Earth Day means through the lens of a gardener and flower farmer
 * How Kiss the Ground and Common Ground confirmed her family's decision to become stewards of their new farmland
 * The exact moment she stopped spraying neem oil after seeing bees sleep in her dahlias
 * How a few books reshaped her thinking
 * Simple, impactful actions gardeners can take to care for the earth
 * Behind the scenes of her upcoming documentary, Where We Bloom

🎥 Watch the documentaries mentioned:
— Kiss the Ground (Amazon Prime): https://amzn.to/42qveXH
— Common Ground (Amazon Prime): https://amzn.to/449Lxtf

📚 Explore the books referenced:
— Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown
— For the Love of Soil by Nicole Masters
— The Kindest Garden by Marian Boswall
— Seeds of Hope by Jane Goodall

🌼 Learn more about our documentary film:
Visit The Flowering Farmhouse to learn more about our documentary film: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2024/10/28/regenerative-flower-farm-documentary/

🎧 Whether you’re walking your garden rows, composting your kitchen scraps, or simply reflecting on how to live with more intention this season, this episode is a heartfelt reminder that small acts matter. That flowers aren’t just beautiful—they’re powerful. And that where flowers lead, healing follows.

***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.54: Earth Day in the Garden: Where Flowers Lead Us to Soil, Stewardship & Hope

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer sits down with Jessica Hall, co-founder of Harmony Harvest Farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. What began as a simple question during a family beach vacation—“Where do florists get flowers?”—sparked the beginning of a 20-acre flower farm that now ships bouquets and heirloom chrysanthemum plants across the country.

Jessica shares how she, her sister, and their mom grew their passion into a thriving business rooted in sustainability, technology, and a whole lot of heart. From saving the last U.S.-based flower frog manufacturer to building a farm that blends heritage blooms with modern tools, this is a conversation full of wisdom and inspiration.

Whether you’re just getting started in the garden, knee-deep in flower farming, or dreaming of building something special with your family, Jessica’s story is packed with real-life lessons, encouragement, and the kind of flower talk that makes you want to dig in and grow.

🌸 Highlights from the episode:

 * How a family conversation led to launching Harmony Harvest Farm
 * The power of mentorship and why it’s worth investing in
 * What makes heirloom chrysanthemums so special—and how to grow them
 * Behind the scenes of their flower frog business, Floral Genius
 * Using tech tools to manage a high-volume flower operation

🛒 Shop flowers, chrysanthemums, and flower frogs: hhfshop.com [https://hhfshop.com/]
📸 Follow along: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyhrvst/

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/04/10/ep-53-growing-a-cut-flower-business-with-heirloom-chrysanthemums/

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

🌼 Join The Dahlia Patch Waitlist
Ready to grow your best dahlias yet? The Dahlia Patch is an online community for flower lovers who want to grow with more confidence and fewer frustrations.
💌 Get on the waitlist + be the first to access my upcoming free live training:
👉 https://thefloweringfarmhouse.myflodesk.com/thedahliapatchwaitlist

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

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New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep. 53: Growing a Cut Flower Business & Preserving Heirloom Mums with Jessica Hall of Harmony Harvest

Welcome to 'The Backyard Bouquet,' a cut flower podcast where vibrant stories bloom from the fields of local flower farmers and home gardeners alike. Join host Jennifer Gulizia of The Flowering Farmhouse as she dives into the captivating journey of local flowers, sharing inspiring tales and practical insights.

This podcast celebrates the heartfelt journeys of both seasoned flower farmers and passionate backyard growers. Each episode is a vibrant tapestry woven with personal narratives, shedding light on the joys, challenges, and invaluable lessons learned through cultivating flowers.

From nurturing backyard gardens to supporting local flower farmers, 'The Backyard Bouquet' is your go-to place for heartfelt stories and expert growing tips. Discover the art of growing flowers, embrace inspiring tales from the fields, and uncover tricks to cultivate your own beautiful blooms.

Tune in to explore the enchantment of local flowers, find encouragement to cultivate your own floral haven, or discover ways to support local flower farmers. Join us on this flourishing journey and let the blossoms inspire your story.

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 my 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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