Jesse, hang in there girl, I feel your pain on a much smaller level. I'm much older than you and my body won't hold out to all I want to do. I see flowers that other growers grow and like you, I want them all!!! But we have to realize our limits and do what works for YOU!!! Hang in there, rest when you need to, as long as you need and go at your pace! You will find your rythm and You've already come SO far and I KNOW you're going to succeed more than you ever dreamed!!!
As a small town Florist, my vote, pass on the dahlias as a main flower. They are gorgeous, BUT expensive and they shatter way too easy😐. Love what your doing and cheerleading you on, always, from Southern BC Canada 🍁
Great lessons learned! Thanks for keeping it real and not casting flower farming as an instagram picture-perfect fairytale--it's a lot of beauty mixed with seriously hard work and a lot of unpredictability!
Taking notes, i am just planning a cut flowers garden for the fun of it. This year was my first ever garden and i learned that flowers is what i want to grow. Hello from zone 5 B Canada ❤
I can relate to 100% of what you said! Especially the burnout! This past season was my first time experiencing burnout & it was rough! I wanted so bad to go out & harvest, plant seeds, etc. But I couldn't bring myself to do it a lot of the time!
It sounds like you've really grown as a flower farmer. Great lessons, very helpful! I'm trying my first actual cut flower garden this year. It's hard not to want to grow ALL the flowers.... but I hear you, start small with what you can handle. Rooting you on from the Netherlands! You are doing so great!!
Just a note on dahlias and summer heat. The hotter it is, the more water they need and if they don't get it the flowers are weak. If they are weak they will not do well as a cut flower. When our temps get above 30deg Celsius, the dahlias - which are in full sun - get watered three times a day. Also on the note of perennials are your friend. I couldn't agree more. When I did my top 10 flowers of 2022 video, half of them are perennials.
Do what’s right for you Jess. Comparing yourself to others is a set up for failure. Everyone has a different situation. I think your lessons learned are great. Also honeywort is great when directly sown. Just if you want to give it another try. 😊 Good luck next season. ❤
Amazing advice! This was the best and the most honest advice I have heard from any flower farmer. If I lived closer I would come buy some of your beautiful flowers. I live in Georgia 🥲
Regarding the deer, which are torturing here, I've had some luck making a fishing line fence. Lots of videos on TH-cam. And, the most common deer spray found locally never worked well for me. I've had better luck with bobbex and I must garden.
Idea for deer in tulip season... tulle fabric! I am planning to order tulle to help protect my dahlias from bugs. I bet it would confuse the deer, if used in combination with some of your other deterrents.
My dear, the most important thing is to learn not to stress out too much and preserve your health. Baby steps are the way to go for as long as it takes to stand firmly on your feet. Love:)))
They come back for me too. I remember them always coming back when I was younger at my dad's, but things were saying they weren't hardy to zone 6. So I was digging them but then I realized the ones I missed were coming back! So I don't dig them unless I want to move them.
100% agree with the cash method! I’m happy that your doing better even us as home gardeners we get burned out . I’m excited for spring today was minus 19 windchill so calling the sun gods to warm us up 😊 and gladiolus should be fine to plant now.
Lesson Number 11 - Don't use TH-cam channels as role models for how to farm. Their market isn't your market, their climate isn't your climate, their finances aren't your finances. For many of them actual farm income is secondary, their main farm product is content for TH-cam and sponsors. Some, I'm sure you know who, have no control over their spending but never seem to be short of money, that's not how my finances work.
Stick with it..., learn and progress and don’t fall into comparison and “ go big or go home” mentality. Grow slow and steady. My husband began a small business as a general carpenter and contractor about thirty years ago. So did three of his buddies. They all bought new equipment, new trucks , advertising etc..., each one has gone out of business and one went bankrupt.., twice! Thirty years later my husband is going to retire and we still have a small business, loyal customers and mostly well used equipment and used trucks we bought only as we could afford them. We used what he made to buy only the tools he needed and drove used trucks. I am very proud of the life we made together but no huge money was made. We own our 20 acre farm and are happy with no debt. ❤
Hang in there Jessie. Small is beautiful sometimes. I am still trying out things in my garden dreaming still of having a flower farm. It’s year two of my ‘practice run’ but I’m in Ireland and we have very different weather than yours. I can leave my dahlias in the ground all year long and I realise from looking at TH-cam this is a blessing. All my family love you and your flower journey so take care of yourself. And remember many of the ‘successes’ we are all watching on TH-cam both partners work full time on there farms. We are all different and therefore need to know ‘our enough’ my enough is just making the plants pay for themselves which by the way they haven’t but when they do that’s enough for me 💕🦋 Know your enough and please don’t burn out this year. We all want to see you on here.
This was such a great video. You really know how to be introspective, and hones and we all love that about you. This so helpful for so many people. These lessons can be used in everyday life and other business as well. Especially spending at the speed of cash. Being in debt adds so much stress and is so hard to dig out of. Wishing you the very best the season and cheering you on from Canada.
Take care of yourself! You are wise to slow down and spend less, and only plant what you can handle! Same lesson here, but it's hard to have discipline when all the beautiful flowers are calling to us!
Living traditions homestead has a deer fencing system that works well for them. They have inexpensive cattle panel fencing about 4' tall around their garden and orchard area, and then another set of fencing around that 6' apart from the first set of fencing. They said it is an old time trick. The deer have terrible depth perception and can't tell if there's enough room to get in and out safely. Their last video talked about it again. I think this was their 3rd year with that system and they've never had a deer cross it, and they have lots of deer in their area. You should check it out. Also, your farm is gorgeous, and it sounds like you are going into 2023 with a lot of wisdom. God bless you and your family. ❤
Thanks Heather! That's the plan! One day I would love to have the cattle panel at the bottom and electric at the top, but it's going to be super expensive for my area I need to protect. One day though!!
In 2021, we had the hottest weather on record, here in northeastern Washington state and my dahlias were so sad!!! I even tried putting up shade cloth over them, but they suffered so much.
Haha, you sound like me. I just managed to order 1500 more lilies today. Already planted 200 this year. My excuse is that it started snowing again here this morning. I had to do something... 🙂
As a Dahlia farmer, I understand that dahlias aren't for everyone or every growing zone. Maybe you just aren't a Dahlia market but dahlias are my number one crop. High yield. High reward. It could also be that you're choosing the wrong dahlias. It could be that you're growing large dinner plate or decorative dahlias vs balls or pom pom.
I have alot of moles now and I just role with it. I can't end any life so I just don't get angry anymore. I love animals more but I do love money! I just grow extra so everyone gets what they need lol
Maybe try to spray some butter spray on some of the outside plants to teach the deer not to munch? I did this with my tulip bulbs that the voles were eating and it seemed to work. Just make sure not to get it on your hands!
I'll grow the ones currently in the ground... if I ever dig them up to move them. I doubt that I'll purchase more in the future. This was my 3rd attempt and they just didn't sell well enough for me.
Lol...don't you love the full sun lie?🤣🤣🤣 I am in zone 8b Florida and the only thing to survive full sun here are...sunflowers, roselle, and okra. Everything else seems to need some shade.
Was it an orange ladybug? That variety, which is not native to North America, is the aggressive one that will bite, although only if it thinks it is threatened.
great videos.. If you donate your flowers to a registered non-rpofit, you should be able to get a tax deductoin for the donation ... which would be a fair exchange .... Check out registered charities such as homeless centers, domestic violence centers, NPR, etc ... Keep up the good work .. and videos
![ละลาย (LALALYE) - DAOU PITTAYA ต้าห์อู๋ พิทยา [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wo6r9TgausI/mqdefault.jpg)
Jesse, hang in there girl, I feel your pain on a much smaller level. I'm much older than you and my body won't hold out to all I want to do. I see flowers that other growers grow and like you, I want them all!!! But we have to realize our limits and do what works for YOU!!! Hang in there, rest when you need to, as long as you need and go at your pace! You will find your rythm and You've already come SO far and I KNOW you're going to succeed more than you ever dreamed!!!
Thank you so much Kim!
As a small town Florist, my vote, pass on the dahlias as a main flower. They are gorgeous, BUT expensive and they shatter way too easy😐. Love what your doing and cheerleading you on, always, from Southern BC Canada 🍁
Completely agree Jennifer! I am definitely not purchasing any more of them this year.
Agree absolutely! I can't say that dahlia is better than cheap lilies! They last for 3 weeks not as dahlia!
Great lessons learned! Thanks for keeping it real and not casting flower farming as an instagram picture-perfect fairytale--it's a lot of beauty mixed with seriously hard work and a lot of unpredictability!
Taking notes, i am just planning a cut flowers garden for the fun of it. This year was my first ever garden and i learned that flowers is what i want to grow. Hello from zone 5 B Canada ❤
I love your genuine insight. A lot of flower farmers make every seem too unrealistic
Thank you! 🥰
So proud of you love, you are doing such an amazing job. You never have to feel like you are letting anyone down. We are here to support you ❤
Thank you Sarah!
I can relate to 100% of what you said! Especially the burnout! This past season was my first time experiencing burnout & it was rough! I wanted so bad to go out & harvest, plant seeds, etc. But I couldn't bring myself to do it a lot of the time!
It sounds like you've really grown as a flower farmer. Great lessons, very helpful! I'm trying my first actual cut flower garden this year. It's hard not to want to grow ALL the flowers.... but I hear you, start small with what you can handle. Rooting you on from the Netherlands! You are doing so great!!
Thank you so much!! Best of luck on your first year growing cut flowers! You've got this!
8' plastic deer fence. Affordable, easy to install, super strong, lasts many years and 100 percent effective against deer. Best money I ever spent.
Thanks Don!
You can do it!! My glads are starting to poke out of the ground after our artic freeze. I forgot about them until I saw them.
Oh nice!!!
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Stay well and take care of you!
Thank you Jeanne! Already having to rein myself in. 😅
Just a note on dahlias and summer heat. The hotter it is, the more water they need and if they don't get it the flowers are weak. If they are weak they will not do well as a cut flower. When our temps get above 30deg Celsius, the dahlias - which are in full sun - get watered three times a day.
Also on the note of perennials are your friend. I couldn't agree more. When I did my top 10 flowers of 2022 video, half of them are perennials.
Thanks Evelyn!
Do what’s right for you Jess. Comparing yourself to others is a set up for failure. Everyone has a different situation. I think your lessons learned are great. Also honeywort is great when directly sown. Just if you want to give it another try. 😊 Good luck next season. ❤
Thanks! Just direct sowed some honeywort this weekend to see what would happen. 🙂
Amazing advice! This was the best and the most honest advice I have heard from any flower farmer. If I lived closer I would come buy some of your beautiful flowers. I live in Georgia 🥲
Regarding the deer, which are torturing here, I've had some luck making a fishing line fence. Lots of videos on TH-cam. And, the most common deer spray found locally never worked well for me. I've had better luck with bobbex and I must garden.
Jessie this year 2023 will be the best ! . the 3rd time never fails.
Thanks Bertha! 😊
Idea for deer in tulip season... tulle fabric! I am planning to order tulle to help protect my dahlias from bugs. I bet it would confuse the deer, if used in combination with some of your other deterrents.
Thank you very much for your work ❤! Absolutely agree about dahlia!
My dear, the most important thing is to learn not to stress out too much and preserve your health. Baby steps are the way to go for as long as it takes to stand firmly on your feet. Love:)))
Life is all about living and learning. Good luck with this gardening season!
Thank you Rich!
I think your glads will survive. They are pretty hardy flowers. Here in zone 6, they come back every year.
They come back for me too. I remember them always coming back when I was younger at my dad's, but things were saying they weren't hardy to zone 6. So I was digging them but then I realized the ones I missed were coming back! So I don't dig them unless I want to move them.
For me 3. I'm in zone 7. Virginia.
100% agree with the cash method! I’m happy that your doing better even us as home gardeners we get burned out . I’m excited for spring today was minus 19 windchill so calling the sun gods to warm us up 😊 and gladiolus should be fine to plant now.
Thank you Jannette! We're currently a nice warm 60°F here today. I'll get them planted.
So happy to have you back and exited for this year!! Missed your vids!❤
Thanks Alli! Glad to be back!
Lesson Number 11 - Don't use TH-cam channels as role models for how to farm. Their market isn't your market, their climate isn't your climate, their finances aren't your finances. For many of them actual farm income is secondary, their main farm product is content for TH-cam and sponsors. Some, I'm sure you know who, have no control over their spending but never seem to be short of money, that's not how my finances work.
⬆️ YES, THIS ⬆️
Don where were you 3 years ago when I started? 😅
Very good advice!
im so glad you said this! its so true
Stick with it..., learn and progress and don’t fall into comparison and “ go big or go home” mentality. Grow slow and steady. My husband began a small business as a general carpenter and contractor about thirty years ago. So did three of his buddies. They all bought new equipment, new trucks , advertising etc..., each one has gone out of business and one went bankrupt.., twice! Thirty years later my husband is going to retire and we still have a small business, loyal customers and mostly well used equipment and used trucks we bought only as we could afford them. We used what he made to buy only the tools he needed and drove used trucks. I am very proud of the life we made together but no huge money was made. We own our 20 acre farm and are happy with no debt. ❤
Love your story and hope more will see how valid it is to start small going as you can afford it by saving up.❤
Hang in there Jessie. Small is beautiful sometimes.
I am still trying out things in my garden dreaming still of having a flower farm. It’s year two of my ‘practice run’ but I’m in Ireland and we have very different weather than yours.
I can leave my dahlias in the ground all year long and I realise from looking at TH-cam this is a blessing.
All my family love you and your flower journey so take care of yourself. And remember many of the ‘successes’ we are all watching on TH-cam both partners work full time on there farms.
We are all different and therefore need to know ‘our enough’ my enough is just making the plants pay for themselves which by the way they haven’t but when they do that’s enough for me 💕🦋
Know your enough and please don’t burn out this year. We all want to see you on here.
Thank you so much Veronica and Family! I'm so glad to gave all you with me on this flower journey. 🥰
This was such a great video. You really know how to be introspective, and hones and we all love that about you. This so helpful for so many people. These lessons can be used in everyday life and other business as well. Especially spending at the speed of cash. Being in debt adds so much stress and is so hard to dig out of.
Wishing you the very best the season and cheering you on from Canada.
Thank you so much Brampton Gardener!!! 😭
Take care of yourself! You are wise to slow down and spend less, and only plant what you can handle! Same lesson here, but it's hard to have discipline when all the beautiful flowers are calling to us!
So true!
Learning something the hard way - such a good way to put it! :0)
Absolutely!
Living traditions homestead has a deer fencing system that works well for them. They have inexpensive cattle panel fencing about 4' tall around their garden and orchard area, and then another set of fencing around that 6' apart from the first set of fencing. They said it is an old time trick. The deer have terrible depth perception and can't tell if there's enough room to get in and out safely.
Their last video talked about it again. I think this was their 3rd year with that system and they've never had a deer cross it, and they have lots of deer in their area. You should check it out.
Also, your farm is gorgeous, and it sounds like you are going into 2023 with a lot of wisdom. God bless you and your family. ❤
Thanks Heather!
That's the plan! One day I would love to have the cattle panel at the bottom and electric at the top, but it's going to be super expensive for my area I need to protect. One day though!!
Girl,I have been on burn out on everything for 10 years
Lol that's a long time Linda!
I am learning so much from you.THANK YOU
I'm so glad!
In 2021, we had the hottest weather on record, here in northeastern Washington state and my dahlias were so sad!!! I even tried putting up shade cloth over them, but they suffered so much.
Oh no!! I hope 2022 was kinder and that 2023 will do better
Thank you
Haha, you sound like me. I just managed to order 1500 more lilies today. Already planted 200 this year. My excuse is that it started snowing again here this morning. I had to do something... 🙂
Sounds like a really good excuse to me. 😂
Hi Gus- Dexter the pug.
As a Dahlia farmer, I understand that dahlias aren't for everyone or every growing zone. Maybe you just aren't a Dahlia market but dahlias are my number one crop. High yield. High reward. It could also be that you're choosing the wrong dahlias. It could be that you're growing large dinner plate or decorative dahlias vs balls or pom pom.
Very true! I did try pompoms and it wasn't good. But it was a me error for sure.
I have alot of moles now and I just role with it. I can't end any life so I just don't get angry anymore. I love animals more but I do love money! I just grow extra so everyone gets what they need lol
Maybe try to spray some butter spray on some of the outside plants to teach the deer not to munch? I did this with my tulip bulbs that the voles were eating and it seemed to work. Just make sure not to get it on your hands!
*bitter spray - like you use for puppy training
Oh never thought of that!
I love your channel. What type of camera did you get for TH-cam?
www.amazon.com/dp/B08KSKV35C?psc=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=livingonapray-20&linkId=8445b27637f80e6697c04d00f10ec3ba&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
Do you plan to try dahlia's again? I'm in zone 8a and I ordered a few bulbs to try. Hoping for better luck.
I'll grow the ones currently in the ground... if I ever dig them up to move them. I doubt that I'll purchase more in the future. This was my 3rd attempt and they just didn't sell well enough for me.
Lol...don't you love the full sun lie?🤣🤣🤣
I am in zone 8b Florida and the only thing to survive full sun here are...sunflowers, roselle, and okra. Everything else seems to need some shade.
Muy buen dia
Have you ever had a Lady Bug bite you????
I did a few weeks ago!!
Read that they can confuse us for food!
It hurt like a tiny wasp sting!!!
Was it an orange ladybug? That variety, which is not native to North America, is the aggressive one that will bite, although only if it thinks it is threatened.
Oh wow! Never knew that!
dont common marigolds repel deer?
Yes they do, but if never a guarantee. I've had deer eat mu daffodils before.
Ya simplify so you can make more hilarious vlogs!!!
Lol I'll do my best Christie!! 😂
Totally did plug deal! Lost lots of money!
Hi verry good who are You
great videos.. If you donate your flowers to a registered non-rpofit, you should be able to get a tax deductoin for the donation ... which would be a fair exchange .... Check out registered charities such as homeless centers, domestic violence centers, NPR, etc ...
Keep up the good work .. and videos