Designing Life Outdoors: Gardens with Purpose and Passion
Text Agony Aunt Roz with your Cutflower Questions.In this episode, Roz sits down with award-winning garden designer and author Polly Wilkinson to explore the art and heart behind meaningful garden design. With years of experience and a beautifully honest approach, Polly shares how she transitioned into the world of garden design, how her background in marketing shaped her business, and why flexibility has been key to her career success.The conversation weaves through Polly’s thoughts on designing gardens that blend beauty with practicality—spaces that work for families, evolve with lifestyles, and invite people to connect with nature. Polly also talks about the relationship between interior and exterior design, her experiences showcasing at the Chelsea Flower Show, and the joy of creating gardens with real purpose—including her upcoming project designing a therapeutic space for spinal injury patients.If you’re curious about garden design, career pivots, sustainable living, or designing a life that works for you, this episode will leave you feeling inspired and grounded.What You'll Learn in This Episode:🌿 How Polly transitioned into garden design and built an award-winning career 🌼 The role of marketing in growing a creative business 🌳 Balancing beauty and functionality in family-friendly gardens 🌾 The parallels between interior and garden design 🪴 Insights from exhibiting at the Chelsea Flower Show 🌻 Why sustainability and eco-conscious design matter now more than ever 🧑🦽 Designing with empathy: Polly’s project for spinal injury patients 🏡 Childhood dreams, career changes, and lessons in adaptability 📚 Behind the scenes of her book, How to Design Your Garden 🌸 Why women’s voices are vital in the future of horticultureMake the most of your garden by visiting bramblecrest.com and use the code FIELDGATE at checkout. See website for full details.Find out more about Polly and her work here: https://studiopollyanna.co.uk/ First Tunnels, leaders in domestic and commercial product tunnels. https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/newsletters A Cut Above Waitlist: https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/ACutAboveWaitlist The Growth Club: https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/thegrowthclub Lots of free resources on our website: https://thecutflowercollective.co.uk/cut-flower-resources/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fieldgateflowers Facebook Group 'Cut Flower Farming - Growth and Profit in your business' https://www.facebook.com/groups/449543639411874 Facebook Group 'The Cut Flower Collection' https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutflowercollection
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59:20
100% British Blooms: A Conversation with Florist Lucy Maw
Text Agony Aunt Roz with your Cutflower Questions.Episode Summary:In this inspiring episode, Roz chats with London-based florist Lucy Maw, whose designs are grounded in her commitment to using 100% British-grown flowers. Lucy shares her transition from the world of fashion to floristry, and how her passion for gardening evolved into a thriving floral business.The conversation explores the realities of sourcing British flowers, the importance of relationships with local growers, and the growing demand for sustainable blooms. Lucy reflects on the challenges of marketing, the nuances of working seasonally, and how collaboration and community are vital to the future of British floristry.If you’re a florist or creative who cares about sustainability, seasonality, and style—this episode is packed with wisdom and warmth.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:🌿 Why Lucy transitioned from fashion to floristry 🌸 The realities of sourcing 100% British-grown flowers 🌻 How seasonality shapes her design process and client work 🌾 The power of building long-term relationships with flower farmers 🤝 Why collaboration across the industry is essential 📣 The ongoing challenge of marketing and visibility 🪴 How Lucy educates clients on sustainability and flower sourcing 💬 The importance of community support in creative businesses 🎨 How her unique style blends natural beauty and bold choices 🧭 What flexibility looks like when designing with local bloomsYou can find further information about Lucy here: www.willowandmaw.co.ukMake the most of your garden by visiting bramblecrest.com and use the code FIELDGATE at checkout. See website for full details.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with fellow florists and flower lovers! https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/newsletters A Cut Above Waitlist: https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/ACutAboveWaitlist The Growth Club: https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/thegrowthclub Lots of free resources on our website: https://thecutflowercollective.co.uk/cut-flower-resources/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fieldgateflowers Facebook Group 'Cut Flower Farming - Growth and Profit in your business' https://www.facebook.com/groups/449543639411874 Facebook Group 'The Cut Flower Collection' https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutflowercollection
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49:29
Building a Sustainable Floral Business with Ellen Frost
Text Agony Aunt Roz with your Cutflower Questions.In this episode, Roz sits down with Ellen Frost, owner of Local Color Flowers, to explore the world of locally sourced, sustainable floristry. With 17 years of experience, Ellen shares her journey from gardening enthusiast to floral business owner and the challenges of maintaining a 100% local sourcing model.They dive into the environmental impact of imported flowers, the logistics of working with local flower farmers, and why education is key to changing industry practices. Ellen also discusses the growing demand for sustainable flowers, her ideas for improving flower sourcing efficiency, and how community engagement is shaping the future of floristry.Whether you're a florist, flower farmer, or flower lover, this episode is packed with insights on how to build a sustainable floristry business while staying true to your values.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:🌸 How Ellen’s journey into floristry began with a love for gardening 🌿 Why sustainability has been a core principle of her business from day one 📚 The importance of educating customers about local flowers ✈️ The carbon footprint of imported flowers and the waste in the floral industry 💐 How building relationships with flower farmers improves quality and supply 🚛 The logistics of sourcing locally and the challenges florists face 📈 The financial realities of running a local flower business 🤝 How community engagement and education are shaping the future of floristry 💡 Why florists should share knowledge and resources to strengthen the industryConnect with Ellen Frost & Local Color Flowers:📍 http://locoflo.com/Make the most of your garden by visiting bramblecrest.com and use the code FIELDGATE at checkout. See website for full details.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with fellow florists and flower lovers! https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/newsletters A Cut Above Waitlist: https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/ACutAboveWaitlist The Growth Club: https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/thegrowthclub Lots of free resources on our website: https://thecutflowercollective.co.uk/cut-flower-resources/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fieldgateflowers Facebook Group 'Cut Flower Farming - Growth and Profit in your business' https://www.facebook.com/groups/449543639411874 Facebook Group 'The Cut Flower Collection' https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutflowercollection
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41:02
Learn about Sustainable Floristry with The Great British Flower School
Text Agony Aunt Roz with your Cutflower Questions.In this episode, Roz sits down with Ali to talk about the importance of sustainable floristry and how they built the Great British Flower School. They share their journey, the challenges they faced, and the eco-friendly practices that every florist can adopt to reduce their environmental impact.From using moss instead of floral foam to growing your own flowers, they provide practical tips that make sustainability achievable and creative. They also discuss alternative vessels, local sourcing, and how to educate clients on the importance of eco-conscious floral design.If you’re a florist looking to ditch floral foam, reduce waste, and embrace sustainable techniques, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:🌿 Why sustainable floristry is essential for reducing environmental impact 🍃 How moss and chicken wire can replace floral foam 💧 Why water is the best medium for flower hydration 💐 The benefits of growing your own flowers for sustainability 🌻 How alternative vessels can enhance creativity in floral design 🏡 Why sourcing from local flower farmers results in fresher, seasonal blooms ♻️ The importance of using recyclable and biodegradable materials 🎓 How to educate clients about sustainable flower choicesConnect with The Great British Flower School:Free Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/sustainablefloristryforeveryoneJoin our Spring Open Evening - flowers.thegreatbritishflowerschool.co.uk/spring-open-eveningMake the most of your garden by visiting bramblecrest.com and use the code FIELDGATE at checkout. See website for full details.If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with fellow florists! https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/newsletters A Cut Above Waitlist: https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/ACutAboveWaitlist The Growth Club: https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/thegrowthclub Lots of free resources on our website: https://thecutflowercollective.co.uk/cut-flower-resources/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fieldgateflowers Facebook Group 'Cut Flower Farming - Growth and Profit in your business' https://www.facebook.com/groups/449543639411874 Facebook Group 'The Cut Flower Collection' https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutflowercollection
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31:37
Life on the Lot: How Jen Started Her Flower Business
Text Agony Aunt Roz with your Cutflower Questions.In this episode, Roz sits down with Jen from Life on the Lot, a passionate flower farmer who turned her pandemic vegetable-growing hobby into a thriving flower farm. Jen shares her inspiring journey, the challenges she faced in her early days, and how growing her own food completely transformed her perspective on sustainability and seasonality.Now, with her latest project at Claremont Farm, Jen is creating a pick-your-own flower experience and workshops to bring more people into the world of seasonal flowers. She opens up about the realities of running a flower farm, from financial management to the importance of community engagement, while also sharing her motivation to inspire her daughter to pursue a non-traditional career path.Whether you're a seasoned flower farmer, an aspiring grower, or just someone who loves the beauty of flowers, this episode is filled with real talk, inspiration, and practical insights.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:🌱 How Jen’s journey into flower farming started during the COVID-19 pandemic 🌿 The challenges she faced, from tough growing conditions to perennial weeds 🌎 How growing food changed her perspective on sustainability and seasonality 💐 Why she transitioned from vegetables to growing flowers 🏡 Her latest project: a pick-your-own flower farm at Claremont Farm 📊 The financial realities of running a flower farm (it’s not all pretty petals!) 🌻 The importance of community engagement and workshops in her business 🎓 Why mistakes in gardening are valuable learning experiences 👩👧 Jen’s motivation to inspire her daughter to think beyond traditional career pathsConnect with Jen & Life on the Lot:📍 https://www.lifeonthelot.co.uk/wirralflowerfarm📍 https://www.instagram.com/life_on_the_lotMake the most of your garden by visiting bramblecrest.com and use the code FIELDGATE at checkout. See website for full details.If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with fellow flower lovers! https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/newsletters A Cut Above Waitlist: https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/ACutAboveWaitlist The Growth Club: https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/thegrowthclub Lots of free resources on our website: https://thecutflowercollective.co.uk/cut-flower-resources/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fieldgateflowers Facebook Group 'Cut Flower Farming - Growth and Profit in your business' https://www.facebook.com/groups/449543639411874 Facebook Group 'The Cut Flower Collection' https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutflowercollection
If you love cut flowers you are in the right place. The host Roz Chandler has been a cut flower farmer for nearly ten years and is passionate about helping others to have their own cutting patches. This podcast is for you if:-. You currently grow or want to grow cut flowers for pleasure or profit and be part of a growing community. Your host is passionate about reducing the number of cut flowers travelling many thousands of miles from across the globe and therefore helping to reduce the carbon footprint on our planet for our children and their children. Cut flower guests will join us on this journey. We look forward to welcoming you to our community. We would love you to subscribe to this podcast and join our communities online. We do have two Facebook groups:-For Beginners and those looking to grow for pleasure - https://www.facebook.com/groups/learnwiththecutflowercollectiveFor those wanting to start flower farming or indeed are flower farmers:-https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutflowerfarming
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