The side of flower farming nobody talks about+ an update as we head into a major flower holiday!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- These past 2 months have been brutal, but this past week one of the most brutal. This is the part of running a small business that nobody talks about and is truly unglamorous. When you're sick, there's no sick day...
I work with a lot of young parents, thankfully I'm their boss. I tell them if they even slightly feel sick or their kids are sick to stay the freak home because I will totally get sick.
Our office has terrible ventilation and we sit way too close together.
Thank you for that! My work wants us to stay even if we feel like we're on our weather bed! Doesn't matter if we have a fever, something contagious, any of that... they don't take doctors notes- you still get pointed... which yes, I understand thats why they allow is a certain number of points, but for people like me- thay strive for perfect attendance, & ONLY miss work when sick, it's aggravating that they won't take notes.
Yes! Why anyone would want to work next to a sick person is beyond me, even with great ventilation lol
Consider hiring a college student who can help with both. My husband and I now have a 30 year friendship with 2 past helpers whom we paid generously. If you live near a university with many social clubs, I could picture them buying your tulips in bulk in the tubs and selling them in their central gathering/food courts and highlighting the buy local with a quick education on what grocery store roses do to the environment as the youngest generations thankfully want to save the planet! From my experience of raising three easy girls, they become helpful closer to age 4. I would tell anyone to spend as much time with your little ones as they need you more than anyone else and you will never get this time back and you will have no regrets. Illness has been ongoing for all ages of people this year and I feel for you.
For sure, the time with children is so ephemeral. Flowers will be around but they wont! Glad to know in 3 years, she can be helpful vs destructive😅
Thanks for keeping it real Jessie! 💐 hope you all start feeling better soon🩷🌸
Thank you Claire!!
My son is a month older than your daughter so I appreciate the real talk about how hard it is to run a business with a baby ❤ I’m in my first season as a grower so I’m starting very small and trying to keep my goals manageable 😂 Your videos have been super helpful as I get started, so thank you. I know how much extra work it is to create content on top of everything else!
Hang in there! The support system is huge including the flexibility of the partner. I also think year 1 is incredibly hard as you really don’t know what you don’t know. I’m glad the videos have been helpful. More helpful is finding a local community of flower farmer moms with young babies 🙂
Take care of yourself. The problem with social media is people only show the positive and they usually exaggerate it.
For sure. We only have one body!
I know people love to say "it gets better"; but it does genuinely get better, at least as far as the sickness goes. We still got sick the second winter with kiddo, but less, and not constantly either. By the third winter we were about back to a regular person level of sick. But those first 6-9 months were absolutely brutal
Thank you for this! I know it will get better! I look around work and either others are going through the same thing or have gone through it. But good to know it takes 2 winters lol!
Once you hire help, the pressure doubles. Because then you feel obligated to provide them an income, of course I agree with someone else’s comment it would be easier to get a babysitter then farm help because that can just be easier to find on an as needed basis. Plus when you have an 18 month old next year they are so darn cute and doing such fun things you want to be able to takeoff and have family days too. Don’t stress yourself out.
It’s a really good point about pressure increasing once you hire help. More people also are trained in childcare so it makes that easier to hire out too!
As a mom of adult children, I appreciate that you are sharing your experience with younger moms. As moms, we need to balance so much in our lives. Great job, as always, for bringing important and thoughtful content!
I say to other women now- moms are superheros without capes. I think what's cool is that millions of mom's do the same thing and are resilient! It's one thing we all have in common!
I hope you feel better. Stay strong. Take time for you and your family.
Thank you for the well wishes :)
I hope your family recovers quickly! I love watching your videos, I'm learning a lot from you. This is my first year of flower farming. Your humor is great, even when you feel lousy. Way to keep your chin up 😊
Aww thank you. I appreciate that! Best of luck in your first year, you'll learn alot from doing!
Its alright to not push to do more. There is a time and season for all things. Your family comes first and should always come first. Take it from a mom of 4 and grandma of 10. Life happens and most people are very understanding of this. You are doing great, always remember you are harder in yourself than anyone else will be. You take life with the punches and keep going.
Absolutely to all of this. I'm also cognizant that tomorrow isn't a given and when it is, we can squander it by not being present enough. There will definitely be alot of reflecting after this crazy flower holiday is over!
I want to say a massive thank you for the real parenting talk. I’m a grower and a mom of two and the last winters have been brutal also. Your approach to adjusting to it and not « constantly chasing » is so spot on I think. We’ll have other seasons of our lives to do exactly that. ❤️
Aww we got this! And yes- we definitely will have other seasons in life to push the envelope more. Kiddo just got another sickness today on our end. I hope you guys are managing through February better than Jan!
I’ve always enjoyed your relatable content!! I’m a working mom of two littles, 2 and 5. Once they become mobile, you will live for nap time and bed time. It’s amazing what you can do once those naps consolidate! The wobbly new walker is tough. You need to be hovering constantly, but it gets easier! Sand boxes, and water tables set up next to where you’re working is also a huge help.
Aww thank you for this. I already live for nap time and bed time lol!! But to your point, naps are super productive for me now. I get mad if her nap time coincides with me eating!
I cannot imagine what it's like to have a 2 year old. I had a friend with her 2 year old come visit and it was... CRAZY!!!!
If you would need to hire help, I would recommend childcare at home vs flower helpers. I watched my grandson at home since birth. He may have had one minor cold in his first 2 years. Once he went to pre-school he was sick much of the time and so was I and his mother and father. The GI bug recently went thru his school. He has been sick 3 weeks in a row with vomiting. I can only begin to imagine how you are doing flowers and working as well. I hope things get better for you. We are women, we are human not superpowers. Take care and give yourself Grace!
Oh no! I am so sorry to hear that about your grandson. The GI bug has been the absolute worst of everything this winter!! I hope he gets better soon (and his parents too).
We are actually considering some at home childcare help on certain weekends once she becomes fully mobile and walking. Outside of this winter sickness, daycare has been awesome for us and the baby loves it. We also love how much she is learning there! Unfortunately, I've been told that if the kid is going to go to school it's a now or later thing and that we are "paying our dues" now versus later. I sure hope that is true! I guess we'll find out in a few long years lol!
This same sickness was happening to many people across the country and their children, around the same time.
Yes! It's still happening! It's just not usually paired with flowers since this is usually the off season for farmers lol
3 kids and we have been sick non stop since end of October. 2 kids in school and a baby at home. Exhausting 😭
I’m so sorry to hear this! Hoping you all recover soon!
@@bareflowerfarm same to y'all! Thank you!
I'm sorry you've been so ill... I hope you recover and stay healthy soon xo
Thank you :)
You’re feeling the same as my family right now!!! So freaking hard when everyone gets sick and ours has been going on and off since beginning of December also. Just yesterday I actually started feeling better but over the weekend had to start Presprouting my dahlias and ranunculus but didn’t want to do it. My daughter is 2 and I’m currently pregnant with my second. We don’t do daycare. Before having a child I was rarely ever sick. Always thought the reason my sisters kids were sick is because they aren’t as “healthy” as we are. Well having kids sure does humble you because I’ve never been this sick this often in my life. Like I said we don’t do daycare I just think it comes with the territory of having kids. So I see your struggles but to be honest I think you can push through and go bigger. You’ll figure it out. Holding back on scale because you could and probably will get sick every year is going to hold you back. The beauty is the insight you’ve gained while at this capacity will better prepare you for the future. Here’s to better health and a no more coughs, puking, diarrhea, chest colds, snotty noses for the rest of 2024!!!!!!!!
I'm so sorry you're going through the same thing and pregnant! That's what totally freaks me out. How do people deal with multiples AND not get super sick with a toddler in the winter while pregnant?
You're totally right about the scaling. I think there's a sweet spot where there's a bit of "pushing" myself but likely not doubling because I don't want to burn myself out. I hope you feel better real soon and yes! Here's to spring coming soon and a healthier everyone!
Aside from the sickness aspect, it sounds like the puzzle pieces for selling your tulips are a bit stressful this year with the number you are currently growing due to all the unknowns. That in itself means it might be better to stay the same size for next year. I personally think you should have a good understanding on your job work load / winter forcing / tulip and lilly selling balance before growing you winter flower business. Why create unnecessary stress for yourself and your family?
It's a great point! I got to greater clarity that I'm technically running 3 types of businesses and that clarity came to me in the new year. Next year, I'll need to have greater discipline around, "just because I can move the stems, even in the 11th hour, it doesn't mean I should put myself in a position to do that"
@@bareflowerfarm The push to get bigger faster is something that can cause a business to crash and burn. If you can, it is always better to work out the kinks before taking a business to the next level. Once the kinks are sorted, the next level will run much smoother and far less chaotically.
If you get a saline nasal spray and drop a couple of drops of iodine or betadine into it, spray your nose AS SOON AS you sneeze or feel a bit off. It will kill off and keep a lot of the bugs at bay. The early chidcare years are the hardest in terms of sickness and he hits again when they start a new school.
Ha! I'm being told I'm paying my dues now so that when she starts pre-k I get to skip this!! Thank you for the nasal spray tip though!
The first year and a half is really rough on both kids and parents! Especially for noro viruses (stomach flu). Bonus though- I haven't gotten really sick since my first child 25 years ago, not additional case of stomach flu beyond the 5 cases my husband and I got during the first 18mos. I'm so sorry you are going through this but stay true to course! You will be past this next year :)
Yes! The norovirus landed eric in the hospital and then I got it after! Not fun. I'm hoping that builds our immunity against the stomach flu. I would honestly have the usual annoying symptoms of a sore throat, cough, runny nose than the stomach flu! Thank you for the encouraging words :)
I guess what doesn't kill you here will make you stronger but that's not much consolation. I agree that having kids is like a constant game of changing expectations 😅. I'm sure you'll find your sweet spot but thanks for sharing and hope it's helpful to someone else currently feeling overwhelmed that it's okay to talk about it❤
Haha, that is SOME consolation! I do see light at the end of the tunnel. It's going to be spring soon and hopefully the sickness will die down! But to your point, I will have a whole different headache. She will likely be walking!!
Sorry to hear you all have been so sick!!! You've got a full plate as it is- be sure to have a little time built in after the tulip madness to relax and recharge! Can't wait to hear about the stem bar, and great that you have a plan for any remaining tulips...how long do you think it's ok to store them in water, cut and cool, after the event before moving them in another sales outlet?
Thanks Sally! I am definitely looking forward to the post vday break, which starts for me after this upcoming weekend as I'm on a plane to TX for a work trip, and more importantly, sleeping in my own bed uninterrupted for hopefully 8+ hours. When all the colleagues to to the bar at night, I'll be snoozing away!
The event is only 2 hours but I'm assuming it will be in a fairly warm location. I'm going to have a few extra buckets in my car where it will be alot cooler - I'll bring them in if needed but if not, then I can keep those the week after. Those would be the most closed/tight buds. For any stems that already have blooms open, I likely will just give them to friends and neighbors after the bar!
What kind of disinfectant spray do you use on your trays? Thanks for your channel. I'm loving it
I use floralife’s DCD. Once that runs out, I’d buy xerotol
First & foremost, I just want to say- I know it's difficult when you're in the throws of it, because it can feel like you have so much to do, & everything is so much more difficult/time consuming with a baby,but make sure you are taking time to slow down, & just be in the moment & enjoy these precious times. I struggled with infertility & it took ke 10 years to finally conceive & hes already almost 5 & it feeld like yesterday I was pushing him around my cutflower farm in a stroller, trying to multitask... & although at the time I knew hed probably be my only child, so I was intentional about taking time to enjoy all those little moments, i still feel like I should have slowed down even more...
But Yes, the first year in daycare was the worst! (with our nephew, that we took custody of at 4 years old) he would get sick, then pass it to me, then my husband would get it. (& my husband never gets sick!) & by the time we were better, he'd be getting sick again! 🤒
Thank you for this, Candice! I'm sorry about the infertility! We went through iVF for medical reasons on my husbands side so I've heard all the heartbreaking stories about infertility at my clinic. And yes- it's like a game of ping pong, passing the sicknesses back and forth!
I was never so sick in my life as when my kids were in day care. It sucks because a lot of us have no choice but to rely on daycare so we can work, but it’s hard to work when you’re sick. Mine are teenagers now. That’s a completely different headache but it’s better. And my immune system is amazing now 😂
Haha I love this. And you totally get it. I am thankful that daycare does exist. When we aren't all sick, it really is an amazing support system. I know it'll get better in a few years :)
@@bareflowerfarmabsolutely! So grateful for it when I needed it. And you are doing amazing! You have helped me out so much with all you’re advise and inspired me to start selling flowers this summer, so thank you for all you do! Hope you’re starting to feel better!
Welcome to the farming mommy club! xD
Wouldn't be a warm welcome without germs ;-)
The moment you announced your pregnancy and birth date I laughed so hard. I felt with you. I gave birth to my #3 last April. Right during tulip season. 5000 tulips looked great blooming ... well, I ordered them before getting pregnant. So I didn't sell them, but multipled them instead. xD ... And yes! As soon as they start to move and become a danger to themselves, it's hard! @@bareflowerfarm
Nothing wrong with saying….for now I’m good and not grow to just grow.
Absolutely to this! I am already rethinking if anything changes for my 2024 field plan to give myself some space :)
What are you talking about, everyone talks about being sick or injured in flower farming and homesteading...
If you have recommendations on episodes of fellow flower farmers talking about this, I'd love to watch and commiserate with them!
@bareflowerfarm Bloom and Grey, Pepper Harrow (he had skin cancer and a tornado wiped out their entire farm), Living Traditions, Flower Hill Farm, literally any of the homesteaders and flower farmers on youtube.
You can’t eat the grass also we’re really sick last year with the flu and it was so hard to watch them try and harvest for their weekly farmers market