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Welcome to theĀ Liz Fiedler MergenĀ BlogĀ šŸ’

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Here you'll find podcast episodes, hands-on tips and strategies for flower farmers and florists, upcoming events, and everything else happening in this corner of the floral and agritourism world.

Questions? Email us at [email protected]

Inside the 2026 Flower Farmer Forum: What to Expect Dec 01, 2025

The 2026 Flower Farmer Forum is officially set for January 31 at Sunny Mary Meadow in St. Joseph, Minnesota. This year’s event is shaping up to be one of the most hands-on and practical conferences we've ever hosted for flower farmers and agritourism professionals.

With ongoing shifts in the flo...

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From Bouquets to Business Hub: The Agritourism Evolution of Sunny Mary Meadow Nov 24, 2025

If you’ve been following along, you know that what started as a flower farm has grown into something much bigger than I ever imagined. In this episode of Rooted Agritourism, I’m walking you through how we turned a field of blooms into a community space, retail store, and full-blown agritourism hu...

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From Cider to Community: How Milk and Honey Built Beyond Farming Oct 27, 2025

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn a simple product into a full-blown destination, this episode of Rooted Agritourism is for you. I sat down with Peter Gillitzer, co-owner of Milk and Honey Cider in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and let me tell you, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways and...

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The Fertilizer Framework: How Growth in Business Mirrors Growth in the Garden Oct 20, 2025

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in both life and business, it’s that growth is rarely linear. Just like in the garden, where roots tangle, stems lean, and flowers bloom in their own time, the same is true for how our businesses evolve. In this week’s episode of Rooted Agritourism, I shared some...

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A Block of Butter, and a Big Voice for Dairy: My Conversation with Heidi Montag Oct 06, 2025

When I first met Heidi Montag, I was struck by her poise, passion, and deep-rooted connection to the land. In this episode of Rooted Agritourism, I had the pleasure of speaking with this remarkable young woman—Benton County Dairy Princess and finalist in Minnesota’s iconic Princess Kay of the Mil...

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From the Ground Up: What It Really Takes to Make Great Cider with Peter Gillitzer of Milk and Honey Cider Sep 29, 2025

As someone who lives and breathes the intersection of farming and hospitality, I get excited when I meet people who are just as passionate about connecting others to the land. In this episode of Rooted Agritourism, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Peter Gillitzer, one of the co-owners of M...

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