It Started With a Farm I Didn't Plan to Have

I am a nurse practitioner by education. I am a flower farmer by accident. And I am an entrepreneur by necessity.

When my husband Josh passed away, I was left with a 40-acre sixth-generation property in central Minnesota  a dairy barn that hadn't been...

One of the questions I get asked most often, especially after speaking engagements or local events, is surprisingly simple: “How many employees do you have?”

People usually expect a number. And when I tell them the answer is technically zero, there is almost always a pause. No full-time employee...

As farmers, we often hear the phrase “value-added agriculture,” but many people still are not entirely sure what it means in practice. The reality is that value-added agriculture is one of the most important tools farmers have today if they want to move beyond simply surviving and begin building ...

In the fast-paced world of flower farming, it's easy to get caught up in the constant hustle to sell more, grow more, and achieve more. But sometimes, the most productive thing you can do for your business is take a step back. In this episode of the Flower Farmer Forum, I talk about the importance o...

 As a flower farmer, I know firsthand the unique challenges that come with growing specialty crops. The costs associated with marketing and transporting fresh-cut flowers can add up quickly, from specialized packaging to temperature-controlled transportation. Fortunately, the USDA’s Marketing Assist...

As the year comes to a close and I look ahead to the next season, I find myself reflecting on the power of intentional goal-setting. This topic is close to my heart, and I recently shared my strategies on the Flower Farmer Forum podcast. Whether you’re running a flower farm, navigating personal rela...