Dish the Dirt: Recent Episodes
Rebecca Noble
We go in search of Australian flower farmers, to share their knowledge, passion and insights into the flower industry. Having fun along the way! It's going to be blooming marvelous! Episodes uploaded weekly.
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Botany is a sustainable online florist based in Melbourne. We take the traditional florist business model and give it a green overhaul, by offering products that have been created from farm to door without any single-use plastics or unnecessary packaging. We create all of our beautiful arrangements using only locally grown and seasonal flowers, and arrange them into glass vases that ensure your flowers arrive fresher and ready to enjoy! If you are as serious about sustainability as we are you will love sending flowers with Botany.
Craig Scott
East Coast Wildflowers
My father and I started farming together in 1984, our family has been involved in the cut flower and
foliage industry either as growers or florist for a number of generations. I live on the NSW Central
Coast Australia. Our main farm is at Mangrove Mountain and we wholesale our flowers and foliage
at Sydney Flower Markets where we have market stands and warehouse facilities.
On our farm we specialise in growing Australian flora, in the field as well as in greenhouses. The
main species that we grow are Anigozanthos, Eucalyptus for foliage and flower, Actinotus (Flannel
Flower), Grevillea, Telopea, Rhodanthe, Bracteantha (everlasting Daisies) Ptilotus (Mulla Mulla)
and a wide range of other interesting Australian wildflowers, we aim for year round production.
East Coast Wildflowers is one of Australia’s leading wholesalers specialising in Australian
Wildflowers and South African Proteaceae, we source cultivated flowers and foliage from most
states in Australia.
From country show baking to raising orphaned lambs, bestselling author Maya Linnell writes about the life
she lives and loves. A keen bookworm, former rural journalist and radio show host, Maya is also an
ambassador for the digital library app Libby OverDrive. She lives in rural Victoria with a menagerie of animals,
sweeping gardens, three bookworms and the odd tiger snake or three.
Kookaburra Cottage is now available in all good bookstores, Big W, Kmart and also available for download.
Soho Rose farm is a cut flower farm growing field grown garden roses and seasonal flowers in the heart of our family run working cattle, potato and cropping farm within the Hepburn Springs farming district.
I have been a florist for over 25 years but have had a love for flowers all my life, my earliest memories would be picking from our large garden on the farm I grew up on. I went straight into floristry from school and was traditionally trained. I moved to Wanaka and my sole focus had been weddings for the last 16 years up until covid. About 6 years ago we purchased the land I grow on now and always had a vision to grow blooms for my floral design. Growing primarily hard to source garden blooms and in particular dahlias was the goal. Covid hit and I pivoted to selling online retail and growing a more diverse range of blooms in a small cutting garden and then selling excess flowers to other local florists. I am so lucky to have such amazing relationships with the fellow florists and other local growers in the area. I am really passionate about locally and sustainably grown blooms and supplying high quality flowers not just for couples who are my clients but other florists and their clients who get to use and see our amazing blooms.We also sell tubers from our dahlias each year and are developing our own hybridised varieties with the focus being on more wedding style blooms as the clients we supply to are mainly florists for weddings and my own clients getting married. We are also wanting to grow a range of blooms for seed and see a need for less imported seeds and more self sufficient production in New Zealand - something I hope to delve more into over the coming years.
Field of Roses is a small flower farm and floral design studio led by farmer/florist mother and daughter duo Zoe and Sue Field. Nestled in the beautiful Waingake Valley just outside of Gisborne, New Zealand. Field of Roses was established in 2012 after Zoe had an idea to plant a field of roses on her family farm, alongside with an assortment of flowering annuals and perennials that all lend themselves to their wild and romantic designs. They do a bit of everything, weddings, everyday bouquets, workshops, wholesale and most recently released their book, LOST & FOUND, filled with lots of flower inspiration for any flower lover. You can find LOST AND FOUND in Australia Dymocks -everywhereReadings (Melbourne)Boffins (Perth)Kinokuniya (Sydney)Avid Reader (Brisbane)Paperchain (Canberra)Fullers (Hobart)Dillons (Adelaide) Gubba Bags - Gubba.co.nZ Beneficial Bugs - bio force.co.nZ
Clifton Blooms is a flower farm located by the beach and among the gum trees in southern Tasmania. The farm was established in 2021 by Kate Dixon.
Kate grows a mix of Australian natives, South African natives as well as interesting perennials and annual flowers.
Clifton Blooms supplies flowers directly to floral artists and clever creatives in the greater Hobart area
‘ Carlie and Matt grow seasonal, open field cut flowers on their 5 acre property located in Upper Crystal Creek on Bundjalung country. They grow their flowers based on regenerative agriculture and no till principles. They don’t use nasty chemicals and enjoy building beautiful, healthy soil with their three youngest daughters alongside them’
A COLLABORATION OF FOUR FLOWER FARMERS We are Three Valleys Flower Farms, a collaboration of flower farmers located across Cardrona, Maungawera and the Lindis valleys in the Upper Clutha Basin. With a love for all things floral we are passionate about growing stunning seasonal blooms. We are consciously growing artisan garden flowers sustainably that are full of character, for you, our local community. THE FARMERS Anna Mackay CARDRONA FRESH Jenny Clark STUDIO 24 BOTANICALS Sarah Rutherford THE JOY FARMER Vera Yakzhik ALPINE BLOOMS FARM find them - hello@threevalleysflowerfarms.com
Ball Horticultural Company Australia is part of a global family of breeders and researchers providing the Australian horticultural industry with the most commercially viable and innovative plants from around the world.
Ball Australia offers a daily national distribution of quality seed and vegetative lines for flowers, vegetables, herbs, cut flowers and tissue culture. Trails week is held from 6-9th of December. Register to be part of their wholesale distribution list BallAustralia.com
I’m Lizzy and I’m based 10km south of Cressy in the Northern Midlands of Tasmania. I’m an avid gardener and have begun supplying seasonal homegrown blooms to local florists in recent years. My area of speciality is dahlias. I grow my flowers in our large cottage garden on my parents 770 hectare farm “Little Forest”. The cottage I live in was built by my great grandparents in the early 1900s and i have completely rebuilt the flower garden, large orchard & vegetable garden since moving in back in 2007. This winter I’m increasing my dahlia growing area & moving into the paddock to meet local demand!
I’m slowly turning my hobby into a little financial business.
Atkins Farm is located in Meadows, 50 minutes from Adelaide nestled in the Adelaide Hills. Atkins Farm has been owned by the same family for three generations who have worked the property as a sheep and potato farm. The current owners Tim and Monika McArthur have reinvigorated the farm, bringing warmth and charm to this country property.
In early 2022 we opened the farm to welcome guests to pick their own sunflowers during the global pandemic. What we didn’t realise or couldn't imagine was all the wonderful people we were lucky enough to meet from our community. We can’t wait to welcome guests back to the farm next summer.
hristy owns and operates Nourish Gardens, a small scale intensive cut flower farm and education centre on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. Nourish Gardens provides sustainably grown cut flowers to florists, wholesalers and direct to the public, and has been established for seven years. We specialise in 'garden style' blooms including dahlias, roses, and other luscious and quirky seasonal flowers. We are a founding member of the Floral Collective Aotearoa, a weekly grower run wholesale market for florists in Auckland. During the flower harvesting season we have an on site farm shop where we sell fresh flowers and a range of other products direct to the public and also run a wide range of workshops and courses. We believe in building and supporting a strong resilient local flower industry.
Together with Julie Treanor, of The Pickery, Christy also runs a coaching and mentoring programme for other flower growers, called Floral Business Activator.
"I like: selling every single flower that I grow, power tools, my kick ass crew, Sunday lie-ins, and cinnamon rolls. I dislike: deadheading, temperatures above 25 degrees, caterpillars, and cooked tomatoes" website- nourish gardens.com learn.floralbusinessactivator.com
Big Sky Flower Farm is located in an up and coming area in the Adelaide Hills amongst vineyards, strawberry farms, orchards and farming land.
Owner Jane lives on the 10 acre property with her husband, 2.5 year old and 5 month old sons as well a couple of horses, goats, dogs, cats, chickens and ducks.
Jane started the farm after 2 life changing events occured... 80% of their property was burnt in the 2019 Cudlee Creek Bushfire and then shortly after her 14 year career in the travel industry came crashing down due to covid all within a few months of having their first baby.
Jane and her family were lucky that although their house was damaged in the fire it was saved by the country fire service. With most of their property blackened and with being in lockdown Jane decided to use this time to repair her garden but didn't have a lot of money to do so so she learnt about growing from seed and propagating her own plants. From here she became obsessed and shortly after this obsession sparked a new career!
Charlotte and her mother Kim established a cut flower farm in 2021 following a small trial period with peonies. Their farm is located in the granite belt roughly 40 minutes north of Tenterfield and 20 minutes outside of Stanthorpe on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. Charlotte’s love of cut flowers made them an excellent complement to the oak trees they had already planted to grow truffles during the winter months. Charlotte also has a full time corporate role which she loves and has resulted in the farm being a team effort as it grows. The farm has a focus on perennials including peonies, which can bloom as early as September and inspired the name, roses, iris and has a significant focus on dahlias and other more unique architectural varieties such as amaranth. The farms range of flowers and seasonal availability is rapidly increasing as it grows. They are very excited about new additions to the farm including snapdragons, ranunculus, campanula, hydrangea and delphiniums.
Serenade Farm is the realisation of a lifelong dream for Rebecca & Jon who moved to their piece of paradise 6 years ago to seed their organic farm on an old avocado orchard. They are situated on the top of the rainforested Tamborine Mountain, in the Good Coast hinterland.
Working in harmony with nature, using regenerative principles, they produce fresh flowers and organic veggies to the local community through their roadside honesty stall, local grower’s market and also directly to florists around SEQld.
Dahlias have become their primary focus, and in particular the hybridising of new specialty dahlias for the cut flower industry. The dahlia breeding program has produced some very exciting new cultivars and plans are underway to expand this side of the farm even further in the coming years.
Rebecca & Jon also run a local grower’s association called “The Green Shed” which operates a market each Sunday morning.
Arcobaleno Farms is a flower farm located about half an hour from Shepparton in the Goulburn Valley, Victoria, Situated on what was once a soldier settlement property and a dairy farm, The farm grows a wide range of seasonal field grown cut flowers which are sold via the flower market in Epping. From its small start in 2018 taking 20 bunches of poppies to market , with many trials and tribulations, we have learnt a lot over the last 5 years and now regularly send a truck load of blooms into the wholesale market weekly.
From country show baking to raising orphaned lambs, bestselling author Maya Linnell writes about the life she lives and loves. A keen bookworm, wannabe flower farmer and former rural journalist, Maya also hosts a monthly online show called Library Lovers, for the digital app Libby OverDrive. She lives in rural Victoria with a menagerie of animals, sweeping gardens, three young bookworms and the odd tiger snake or three @maya.linnell.writes or mayalinnell.com
Janelle from Bryon bay Organic Flower Farm shared her story of the flooding and offers advice on how we can help farmers to rebuild. “We have owned this farm for 96 yrs and so 4 generations of our family have farmed here. . Our farm is 120 acres of undulating land , 6 km from Byron Bay. Our ancestors came to Australia in 1890 and had other farms before this one . They were all farmers on all sides of my family . I tried to escape and be a Science teacher but the farm spell drew me back to grow flowers “
Tara from Olive Gap Farm shared her experience and the stories of those around her who have lost everything. https://www.floodhelpnr.com.au/ is the organisation that Tara has shared with me.
Rachel began teaching Languages in 1994. She was a school teacher for 20 years before changing career paths. Rachel started two business between 2013-2018 and met husband Dean. In 2018, Rachel and Dean purchased their 2000 sqm block and relocated a 1920’s federation home to commence a new venture; a micro flower farm and couples’ retreat BnB at their property in Collector NSW, just 30mins north of Canberra. With a deep and lifelong love of nature, flowers, creativity and all things beautiful, Collector Cottage is Rachel’s heart and soul, brought to life. Rachel is now a farmer and qualified florist growing seasonal chemical free flowers. Predominantly she grows Roses and Dahlias seasonally. When she isn’t in the flower field you will find her looking after her self-contained bnb cottage for guests. Rachel is a lover of old things, vintage pieces that tell a story together with a touch of magic that is reflected in her creative wreaths and bouquets. Having escaped the hustle and bustle of city life, Rachel is passionate about providing others with a sanctuary where they can decompress, slow down and simply, be.
Mount vincent flower farm is a Micro Flower Farm located in mulbring in the Hunter Valley, nsw. Following organic practices to grow chemical free, bee friendly, frog friendly flowers to sell to the local community.
Redlands Fresh Flowers is Family run and owned. Dave Nijjar and his son have been in the Redlands for the past 3 decades growing quality fresh flowers and foliage. Dave and Jas share the business operations with their sons Jatinder, Lakh, Jas and Jatinder’s wife Mandeep.
Dave and Jatinder know how to grow quality Gerbera’s, Roses, Chrysanthemums, Lissianthus, Delphinium, Stock, Snap Dragons, Sun Flowers the list is endless they also grow foliage and fillers as well. Detail in the preparation of flower growing from seedlings, managing the soil to picking and quality control in sorting is paramount they have won many product quality awards.
Redlands Fresh Flowers have been supplying flowers to florists in Brisbane, Beenleigh, Cannon Hill, Capalaba, Carindale, Cleveland, Coorparoo, Logan, Loganholme and to the General public for special occasions for generations.
Redlands Fresh Flowers stand by their product due to the fact that they grow majority of their own stock and also that they have nurtured their relationship with the countries top Flower Growers.
Mardi is the dreamer behind Quite Contrary Flower Farm, located an hour east of Melbourne on the fringe of Gippsland where the city meets the country.
Local, Abundant and Whimsical are the words Mardi uses to describe the flowers that she grows on the family farm alongside her husband, parents, very naughty dog and far too many chickens. The crops include David Austin and other garden roses, dahlias, and a curated collection of annuals that change with the seasons.
After a few years full of mistakes, drought, and floods, the flowers are thriving and the farm is growing expanding its offerings each year.
Dish the Dirt and Monvale Farm had the first ever Industry Farm Day on Sunday the 16th of January. It was a day to connect, share ideas and build community. Thank you everyone who came.
Pretty Produce is a multi-nationally award-winning edible flower farm driven by Simone Jelley. It has been in existence since 2014 and it was birthed from a new found obsession with gardening, the FIRST ever foray into gardening. During this time, Simone started researching edibility of plants, including flowers, and from there started designing products for the chefs and hospitality industry. It quickly spiralled out of control into a series of farming leases on a few residential islands located near Stradbroke Island off Redland Bay.
Simone and Dave Jelley sold up on Macleay Island in 2019 to seek a suitable patch of land in Queensland’s celebrated Scenic Rim region. Finally settling into a stunning 8-acre parcel of land snuggled in the misty valley heading up into the mighty Lamington National Park, surrounded by the ancient Gondwana forests of the Southern Queensland border lands.
Jessica Eckford-Aguilera has always had a special connection to Newcastle. A born and raised Novocastrian, Jess is shaking things up by using her decades of passion and experience to give the Hunter a market like no other. Jess jump started her career in Events Management at the age of 18 and opened her first company in 2003 in Sydney. She made a huge splash, curating celebrated events such as Australian Bridal Fashion Week and Newcastle Fashion Weekend and working alongside brands such as McDonalds and Pfizer. After completing the third ABFW in 2016, Jess found her passions pulling her back to Newcastle to create her biggest project yet: The Newcastle Food & Flower Markets. From the beginning, Jess’s passion was to support as many Australian Flower Growers as possible and to give Newcastle a must-see destination for floral designers, locals and tourists to appreciate the best our city has to offer. The response has been overwhelming, with many delighting in the added convenience of having our first- class products on offer. But going forward, Jess has her sights set on even bigger goals for the Australian Flower Industry. With COVID she saw a real gap in the market to create an online platform that connects Australian Flower Growers to the right buyers. The Flower Farm Collective was born late 2020 with the official launch hitting 2021. The Collective is about reconnecting our industry and supporting an exciting new generation of passionate flower growers. It’s a platform that showcases our incredible Floral Designers as they deserve. The industry was hit hard over COVID. We aim to bring it back bigger and better! The collective aims to be the voice for the Australian Flower Industry. There is an exciting movement of young up and coming growers who share a passion for growing Jess says, they are more tech savvy and welcome new initiatives that will enhance their businesses and brand. There is so much planned for The Flower Farm Collective and we couldn’t be happier supporting the Australian Flower Industry.
Curreys flowers is located in Karalee 40 mins west of Brisbane in QLD. It is a family owned and operated Flower farm specialising in Premium Roses and Gerberas.
Founded by Don and Lynda Currey on the family cattle farm over 45 years ago, Sonia and her husband help manage the farm and are in transition of Don and Lynda retiring.
Monvale Farm, Our fully renovated Cherry Farm is situated on a golden road of Flower Growing! Monbulk-Seville Road 😀 17acres, boasting an amazing view of the YarraValley. We went from zero to 100 km per hour in a fast time. Our claim to fame is- Farmer Joe.. His growing ‘highlights’ being- Hydrangea paniculataaaahhh! Ornamental Blossoms, AutumnalMaples, Daphne & his really yummmmy cherries. My interests are being neat😂 & then lots of foliage! Ninebark, Agonis & Geraniums list high in my list. We have failed with many of our farm choices, but we hope we are finally headed in the right direction. Weather is our biggest challenge- especially the wind! Our farm is not chemical free, but we do everything we can to limit them- we mulch a lot, for low weed activity & definately focus on the weeds, along with an addiction to grass mowing - helps keep bugs life low as they have no where to be. We do not use sleeves. But, we do use rubber bands. We have installed tanks & cleaned out our big dam. We rarely use our bore but have a big water license. I may have failed to mention in the chat- my customers are my total set my alarm & fill our truck inspo, but Eugalo Farm is my farmer inspo🌱
Monvale Flowers / wholesale. Is located in the Melbourne Flower Market in Epping. We focus on Foliage, & try to have a seasonal bloom available always. Proudly & grateful that we are chosen by some really great local farmers & a couple of NSW ones to sell their product. We are just a little part of the industry, but we love it big time. I cannot wait to meet all the people at the Industry Day! Like - so looking fwd to it! Cannot wait.
Monvale is way more than me- these thoughts are all from my perspective.. Farmer Joe is way more laid back, so his podcast would be way full of humour!
I do have a little motto that has served me ok through time - The only competetion you have is you! I am not competetive with other
Nash Flower Farm is a micro flower farm located in Rylstone NSW run by Farmer Florist Kate Nash with the support of her husband Will and 2 young daughters. The flower farm was started in 2016 when the need to find meaningful and financially viable home based work became important to Kate while raising a young family and the idea was born out of a love for gardening, growing fresh produce and her farming family heritage. Kate grows beautiful seasonal blooms for the local community, farmers markets and florists and is just about to launch a new exciting product to diversify into culinary market in the coming weeks.
Nood Blooms is owned and operated by Micheal Allen. Established in 2018 and situated in Monbulk Victoria. He is one of the few rose growers left in Australia. This commerical flower farm primarily grows roses with approximately 24,000 in total. These consist of David Austin’s and greenhouse grown roses.
In May 2020 Moroni and Phaedra started a flower farm in North East Victoria, on their property they share with their three children. Moroni, utilising his Agricultural Engineering degree and generational farming history from Mexico, Phaedra utilising her drive for business, marketing, visual marketing and creativity. They now run their flower farm and floral business as a full time income. Starting during a pandemic has been tricky, but has forced them to think outside the square and make things happen.
The Big Bouquet is a flower farm located in the beautiful Yarra Valley, specialising in gerberas. The farm is owned and operated by Natalie Kerst, who has a wonderful team of staff who pick and bunch gerberas all year round! During spring, the farm also grows some varieties of peony roses. The Big Bouquet operates as a tourist attraction 5 days a week, allowing visitors to enter the glasshouse where all the magic happens, have a light meal in their cafe and purchase beautiful bouquets of fresh gerberas. They pride themselves on their quality, Aussie grown flowers, and hope to inspire listeners around the country to keep it fresh and support your local growers!
Marika and John’s Farm Glenbernie Family Farms is a small flower farm set on ten acres in the Hawkesbury an hour west of Sydney. Marika and John have years of experience in the agriculture industry and have farmed on the property in Kurmond for 14 years.
When COVID hit last year Marika was home schooling her 4 school age children. Being home more she found herself gardening at every chance she had. Finding Erin of Floret online reading her books. Marika’s love of farming and growing seeds started the talk of a flower farm. It was a long slow process learning so much and still learning.
We’re a pick your own flower farm, bringing the Sydney community together. We supply florist and the general public. Just recently hosting online workshops and we will hold workshops on the farm when all the COVID restrictions are over.
It’s so important for our local community to see where there flowers come from, how there grown and how beautiful fresh Australian flowers can be and are.
Helix Australia specialises in the breeding, licensing and marketing of new and improved varieties of Waxflower & Boronia.
Established in 2008, Helix Australia is the global leader in Waxflower and Boronia breeding targeting both the cut flower and landscape sectors. Our highly sophisticated Waxflower and Boronia breeding programmes have developed vastly improved flowering characteristics including exciting new colours, unique petal shapes, extended flowering times and improved plant vigor.
Southern Highlands Flower Farm is a micro flower farm created by myself, Jen Foster, in the Winter of 2019, three years after falling in love with the Southern Highlands and making the quintessential tree-change from Sydney with my husband and two sons. My pre-children corporate life never fulfilled me the way my boys and nature do, so my flower farm was born from a passion to incorporate these two parts of my life and build a sustainable business at the same time. The trigger was when I was studying Horticulture and my eldest son wanted to grow something with me to sell at the markets, so we decided to plant some flowers. I am known for my obsession with epic projects and I luckily have a very patient and accommodating husband, as I dove in head-first! My goal is to produce seasonal sustainable garden-style blooms in my one acre growing space, that create a visual joy that I can share with our community. A smile is priceless and if I can create that with my locally grown flowers, then I am a happy grower.
When cousins Eliza and Mel shared an online horse gaming account at the age of thirteen, they had no idea that they would one day be starting up chemical-free Gather Flower Farm together. Back in 2015 when Eliza purchased the 7.5 acre farm in Yarra Valley, she had no idea that she was purchasing a north facing block of some of the best soil in the country. Making use of the long established protea and foliage on the property, the pair have also delved into garden roses, peonies, dahlias and a wide variety of annuals. With the flower farm officially launching in 2020, the pair have been on a very steep but satisfying learning curve. Mel and Eliza also run a wide variety of workshops in their refurbished barn with local artisans and creators – covering things like bouquet and vase arranging, flower growing, writing, wreath making, floral watercolour and macramé.
Katie and Rob ~ Building our dream boutique flower farm in the Barossa Valley.
After moving to our property Rob fell in love with growing and caring for 6 dahlia plants. Im a florist and together we run an event business so the idea of growing our own flowers and using them in our work and being able to offer our clients fresh locally grown blooms was our inspiration.
Our little farm and first season was our lockdown project which has turned into a growing business thanks to the support of our community and has given us both purpose. We have found our true passion and cant wait to learn more and now offer our industry friends beautiful blooms.
The Charmers Garden is a flower patch located in Serpentine, Victoria. The flowers are grown by Anna, a mother and photographer, who was drawn to gardening as a tool to help manage her anxiety and help her children connect with nature. Although the Charmers Garden is small, it is mighty and produces an abundance of blooms for florists, event organisers and the general public.
Tickets can be found on @_dishthedirt_ Instagram or via the link https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/163138237861
Grown Not Flown was a passion project born out of the covid-19 pandemic from the growers behind Gnarwarre Flower Farm and Duck Duck Pig.
As relatively new flower growers themselves, they were all too aware of the challenges of entering this industry and forging new relationships with other growers and flower consumers alike.
At its core, Grown Not Flown’s aim is to promote locally grown blooms, showcasing the seasonal flowers available on our doorstep and making it easier than ever to connect and support growers no matter how big or small.
The team at Grown Not Flown have created an online platform, including app, to increase the choices available to consumers whether they’re wholesalers, florists, hospitality, event stylists, DIY brides or everyday flower lovers.
Grown Not Flown is about creating a community that supports and uplifts growers by providing a forum for them to share their skills and experiences, making it easier for new growers to enter the market whilst connecting existing growers with new opportunities.
Launching soon, Grown Not Flown is an exciting app development that will help put more “blooms in rooms”, reduce our flower miles and continue to showcase the best our industry has to offer.
Tara Luca is from Olive Gap Farm, a certified organic family farm run by herself, her husband and her two sister in laws in Northern NSW. They produce native essential oils and small scale slow seasonal flowers. A former musician and birth doula, Tara has been living off grid on an intentional community with her husband Alex and their three daughters for the past ten years. The farming developed out of their love of homesteading, growing food, owner/building and building soil from scratch. Tara now writes for Earth Garden Magazine and shares stories of their bush land life on Instagram @olivegapfarm
Alchemilla is a flower farm & floristry studio in Birregurra, south west Victoria. Phoebe uses biodynamic & permaculture techniques to plant, harvest and nurture the flower farm throughout the seasons & to create a system that is layered, thriving and abundant from the soil to the sky. Biodynamics & the lunar calendar are the backbone of the farm & provide its yearly structure, which Phoebe has created a 2021 lunar planting almanac about. Flowers from the farm are harvested for the Alchemilla studio for both bespoke events and wholesale.
Bloomfield Flower Farm is situated in the beautiful rolling green hills just north of Warragul, West Gippsland.
Run by flower farmer/florist Michelle, it is a true project of love and passion that stemmed from many years of gardening and learning from nature.
Many different annuals, perennials, dahlias and bulbs are all grown on the 60 acre farm where a small, but productive 1/4 acre is dedicated to producing seasonal and chemical free flowers.
Offering bouquets to the local community through farm pick up and providing weekly to a local Food Hub, Michelle hopes to ignite a love for flowers that are fresh and local.
“Accidental flower farmers”, Jayde and Hayden, grow a broad range of Proteas and Australian Natives on their flower farm in Gnarwarre (a couple of km’s outside of Geelong, Victoria).
Ditching the city in favour of the country (and the coast) in 2019, they found the cattle and sheep farm they had bought contained over 9 acres of long established plants (including 50+ varieties of Protea, Leucadendron, Leucospermum, Banksia, Geraldton Wax, Gum, Isopogon etc). Whilst it was not love at first sight, they have spent the better part of 12 months learning the art of native flower farming, building their business and expanding their existing flower field with lots of new and exciting varieties.
Erica is a farmer florist growing cottage garden flowers on a 1/2 acre patch on their family dairy farm, run by her husband Steven in Jamberoo, NSW. The flower business she has established equally reflects her desire to stay on farm to care for their three young children, her need to contribute financially during what has been an incredibly difficult time in the dairy industry and an urge to channel her creativity and love of flowers. She sells direct to the local community and loves to arrange romantic, feminine bouquets with a nostalgic feel.
Ally and her family grow as many flowers as possible on their acre of land south of Hobart, Tasmania. Originally from NSW, Ally never believed flowers were an important part of daily life until living in Europe and Tasmania changed her mind. With techniques learned from regenerative market gardeners, cool and warm season annuals are grown alongside hardy perennials that can withstand Tasmania’s famously fickle weather and the sandy soil.
Ally and the family also grow dahlias, roses and lots of edible plants. The flowers are harvested and arranged in mixed bouquets for their stall at Hobart’s iconic Sunday farmers’ market, The Farm Gate Market. Ally loves talking to customers about flower miles, sustainable flower farming and the local flower movement.
Little Triffids Flowers is a floral design studio and flourishing micro flower farm, based in Wagga Wagga. From our idyllic little quarter acre block, we get our hands dirty pouring love and attention into the hundreds of varieties we cultivate from September to May each year. This means our flowers are field grown and seasonal, bringing a natural garden aesthetic to our arrangements and they are as fresh as can be. On the rich clay soil of North Wagga, with the Riverina’s four distinct seasons, we can grow a huge variety of stunning flowers. We love ranunculus, dahlias, roses and delphiniums as well as more unusual and delicate blooms such as chocolate cosmos, foxglove, nigella and lupin. And we love each and every one.
A beautiful old fashioned garden situated in Ivanhoe Melbourne. Petrina is working hard to bring back the joy of an old fashioned garden through her open door policy and beautiful seasonal bouquets.
Broula Farm is located on the lands of the Worimi people, now known as Gloucester on the mid coast of NSW. Sheena and Sue are committed to stewarding the land and creating a sustainable, regenerative farm experience so that they can leave the land better than they found it.
Country Style & Life is a boutique flower farm set amonsgt the rolling green hills of Ellinbank, 10 minutes outside of Warragul in West Gippsland. Growing dahlias, lavender, peonies and roses - and other seasonal flowers such as tulips, hyacinths and hydrangeas - the property is a visual feast of stylish, elegant 'flower rooms' making this lovely farm a pretty jewel in the local landscape.
Created by former Melbourne stylist and media personality, Sarah Foster - known around Australia for her fashion workshop segments on Good Morning Australia - Country Style & Life hosts invitation-only gatherings and events that appeal to those needing to slow down and take a moment out from everyday life to smell the roses!
Designed to uplift, soothe and inspire people, a day out at Country Style & Life is the essence of an 'escape to the country' experience, all within an easy 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne's CBD. Flower sale inquiries are welcome.
Situated just outside of Canberra, Amy farms on part of their 50 Acre block. Growing Dahlia, zinnias and chrysanthemums- having trialled other things and working out it was more economical to focus on a few and grow them well in more volume and colours. Going into their 4th season.
10KM out of Bathurst you will find Dunkeld Flower Farm growing and arranging wild, untamed seasonal blooms.
A Melbourne based floral art studio that celebrates the delicate, the unexpected and the brave. Lead by Founder and Creative Director Vivien Hollingsworth they are an experienced team of passionate floral artists that focus on locally grown, artisanal blooms and honouring the abundance of seasons.
My name is Lisel Vonhoff from Belle Bouquets and I am a small farmer florist in the Darling Downs or to be more specific, Pechey, Queensland. Together with my husband and 4 children I live on 160 acres where along with a number of cows, a little flock of sheep and some chickens, I have a small plot where I grow a mixture of roses, dahlias and cottage annuals and during my season (September to May) I make up weekly bunches, create and work on a small amount of wedding flowers as well as floral workshops held here at my converted dairy studio. I have been growing flowers for the last 5 years or so and every year gets better and better.
Cloud Land Flower Farm is locates in Lade Vale, NSW just outside of Gunning. The brought the property in April 2018 and have now got over 100 peonies in the ground, selling dahlias, and other annuals. Jane has a background in floristry and Jay is new to the flower world. They also have an off the grid cottage called “storm cottage” and hope to provide farm emersion weekends in the near future.
The Little Urban Flower Farm on Wonnarua country in the heart of central Maitland, NSW. After a lengthy career as a lawyer and CEO for an international association, Simone sought a career that would reduce her carbon footprint, allow her to work from home, as well as align her work with her beliefs around sustainability and community connection. More bohemian potager than strict flower farm, their goals are to grow beautiful seasonal flowers for the immediate flower loving community.
The Hut Flower Farm is a family run farm in Southern Tasmania. They grow a variety of seasonal blooms, including roses, dahlias, ranunculus, annuals such as cosmos, chocolate lace and amaranth. Perennials such as ninebark, eucalyptus, hydrangeas nad viburnums. They aim to provide a local and sustainable alternative to flowers flown to their beautiful island state.
Hayden and Tash seed and grow their flowers with a strong intent for building climate resilience through combined regenerative agricultural practices. Their focus is healthy soil biology & building humus. Humus sequesters (stores) carbon, helping the natural cooling effect of the planet. How amazing!!!
Harvest Cottage sits in the Dja Dja Wurrung land of Victoria. Here we work with the environment to create our products, using what comes naturally and caring for the future.
All Catherines life she has been creating; painting, floristry, gardening, yarn making and sculpture. The connecting element in her process is nature. As a florist she helped make the most incredible floral dreams come true. Horticultural planting and propagating have taught the wonders of the seasons and patience.
Plants are important. They exercise our senses. They calm and enliven; have fragrance, meaning and taste. Plants let us know when the daylight is increasing, when to expect different animals into the garden, when to plant the next crop and when there’s an anniversary.
Sam Webb is well known for her beautiful home garden where she produces all of her families fruit and vegetables. However the love of flowers got her and she was offered a piece of land at Wandin North where she started her Wild Violet flower farm journey. Listen to Sam share her journey and the realities of growing such beautiful blooms.
As a young girl, Sandy would visit her grandmother in the garden city of Christchurch, New Zealand, on holidays. It was during those special visits that she developed her deep love of flowers. With the middle name Rose, Sandy has always been drawn toward these special flowers that bloom so abundantly. In 2009, Sandy left her corporate career in marketing to pursue her passion for flowers. After being mentored by a retired florist, she opened her own floral studio specializing in events and weddings. A few years into owning her floral design business, Sandy had the opportunity to purchase rose bushes from a nursery that decided to focus exclusively on trees. She bought all 1,000 plants. “I knew we had good conditions to grow them, and given that we are over an hour away from the local wholesale flower market, I thought it was a good way to end the 2 a.m. jaunts to buy roses,” Sandy says. “At that point I had just finished reading Amy Stewart’s book, Flower Confidential, and was mortified about the global flower industry and its environmental and human health impacts.” As other florists in the area eagerly snapped up her fragrant organically grown roses, they started asking, “What else can you source and provide?” This simple question started her quest to find other local flower growers who could provide seasonal blooms beyond those she could grow. Meeting and connecting with other growers who were equally as passionate about seasonal blooms led to the creation of Consortium Botanicus. Recently she was appointed to the board of newly created Flowers Industry Australia which will provide advocacy for issues affecting flower growers and florists across Australia
A wonderful chat about how Josie, Chris and their three daughters came to be on this beautiful farm in Newlyn Victoria. Specialising in David Austin Roses, Josie hopes to one day be able to offer a wide variety of cut flowers to her wholesale and bridal clients.
Episode 8!! Please review at Apple Podcasts, so this can reach more people. At Sunrise Organic Flowers beauty and sustainability go hand in hand. Our summer flowering beauties and indigenous treasures are field grown on our certified domestic organic farm. Sunrise Organic Flowers is three acres, tucked in to 297 acres of Trust for Nature conservation-covenant protected forest. It's very special to caretake land like this and we take it seriously; another reason we're organic. No toxic sprays or excess nutrient runoff to disturb the delicate ecological balance of this magical wonderland we're so fortunate to call home.
This week I get Tash and Hayden from Bloom into You located in Flowerdale Victoria to Dish the Dirt on their regenerative practices and how they found their farm.
Episode 6!! Who would have thought?! Today I speak to Lucy from Pennyweight Farm all about her journey to get to where she is now. She also shares valuable insights for new growers. Based in Franklinford in Central Victoria they grow everything from delicate sweet peas to giant sunflowers. Preferring beauty over utility every time. Find Lucy at pennyweightfarm.com.au
What a pleasure and inspiration this man is! Botany Green is a flower studio and micro flower farm in Gippsland 2.5 hours east of Melbourne. They have been cultivating their plot to make the most of a small space and test the limits as to how much space you really need to produce stunning flowers.
Today’s bonus episode is to bring a bit of hope and inspiration to your week. It’s been very tough for the community and this story is one that will lift your spirits. Kirsten is a qualified florist and along with her family they grow and arrange a wide variety of seasonal blooms from their 1/2 acre property in Eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
Episode three - Today I chat to Janae and Chris from Fleur de Lyonville where they farm with nature in mind, completely avoiding chemical sprays. Recycling and rejuvenation are always forefront in the operation of their farm.
Episode Two! Today I get to interview a wonderful friend of mine, Hayley from the Rook Blooms. Hayley grows dahlias and ranunculus amongst other things on her property in Bullengarook, Victoria.
Today we speak to the inspirational Lorelie Merton of Florelie Seasonal Flowers. This is our first ever episode! Enjoy