The Flower Farmer's Year

January 5, 2015
Artisan flower farmer Newbery brings horticultural and agricultural logic to the process of farming flowers—planning, planting, growing, harvesting, and then arranging them—in a way that surprises and enlightens. The book is designed for the flower lover who wants to create floral arrangements for home, friends, or special occasions, but it also expertly shows how to develop a love of flowers into a money-making career. Her instruction, both horticultural and entrepreneurial, imparts attainable expertise. Topics include designing a plot and managing practical details, cutting and conditioning, working with vases and containers, and marketing and using social media. Ultimately, the book demonstrates how to move from picking flowers to creating a masterpiece. The biggest challenge for some may be getting a clear sense about what it means to be a flower farmer. Yet Newbery demonstrates that the complexity of this job—strategic planting, placing, nurturing growth, harvesting, and arranging for display—is on a par with the demands placed on any other farmer.