38 FLOWER growers see co-op potential


hydrangeas, elders and flowering shrubs since people want blossoms with less work. If the plants don’t sell to landscapers or need time to mature, they’ll sell the flowers. The short-term component includes annuals for sale as cut flowers, such as zinnias, gomphrena, bells of Ireland, celosia, amaranth, snapdragons and dianthus. Some they purchase as plugs, some they seed directly and some they start as transplants in a small greenhouse. Although raised on a


Saskatchewan farm, Diane’s farming experience came mostly as an adult. Prior to retiring, she obtained a certificate in floral design followed by a landscape horticulture certificate through Okanagan College which enabled her to work with Kelly as a landscape designer. “We’re still taking online


horticulture courses through the University of Guelph,” Fix says. “We literally have bought every book on flower farming and tree farming and nursery businesses and then there’s the internet. We’ve joined many horticulture Facebook groups and are just devouring the information.” They praise the Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle as an economical


way for novice farmers and gardeners to learn, accessing five days of expert seminars plus an auditorium full of vendors for $70. They’re also not shy about approaching speakers to chat for further advice and information. Those connections and their willingness to approach growers of all sizes


asking for farm and nursery tours have helped create business relationships with propagators in BC and Oregon. “We’ve toured large nurseries like Monrovia and Robinson Nursery, all the way to a lady in her 70s who was a specialty tree grower,” says Madden, recounting one of their trips and the good people they’ve met along the way. “People are a lot more cooperative within this industry than in any other industry I’ve seen,” Fix says. “I think it’s because we all know we’re going to work


COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • NOVEMBER 2018 nfrom page 38


as hard as we can from March until June.”


Building new relationships and


relying on those already established has helped the business move forward. With Kelly’s business degree and connections in Kelowna, they’ve gained economic advantages. For example, their plant mulch comes at no cost. Those who cut and chip trees for a living are encouraged to drop their chips at the farm to be used as mulch rather than paying to take it to the dump. Ideally, they’d like to grow their wholesale business to the point of adding paid employees. But for now, they do the work themselves with some help from family and friends. They can also see potential for


agritourism. They talk about offering garden tours, possibly with an added experience of planting plus walking away with a fresh bouquet. One challenge will be continuing to educate the public about the importance of buying local. BC


imports the majority of its cut flowers, which leaves plenty of room for local growers seeking to capture market share. “Locally grown, seasonal flowers have longer vase life, they are fragrant, and they don’t have to be shipped, which is better for the environment,” says Madden. “You have to have a long-term business plan, but it has to be flexible enough


to take on opportunities,” says Fix. “I think as soon as we put a sign out telling people we have fresh cut flowers someone will phone with an idea that we never even thought of.” One future possibility is banding together with other small flower growers, including backyard operations, to create a cooperative for added support, sharing resources and maybe even bulk purchasing of plants and seed. “Commercial customers also want a bigger and more steady supply than any


one grower can supply so what we noticed in the US is that the growers like us have started to create co-ops so they take their flowers to a co-op who becomes the wholesaler to florists or grocery stores,” Madden says.


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