Cut Flower Grower Intensive

Flower farmers are pioneers in sustainability and implementing organic practices and are actively changing the landscape of profitable farming.

Pasa’s first-ever Cut Flower Grower Intensive is a two-day intensive designed to help intermediate and advanced flower growers improve and expand their marketing and production practices. Learn from experienced growers Michelle Elston of Roots Cut Flower Farm, Margie and Kate Dagnal of Goose Creek Gardens, and Jennie Love of Love ‘n Fresh Flowers about topics including season extension, growing in high tunnels, successful cold hardy varieties, finding your niche, profitability and scaling-up, and the role of flower growers in incorporating conservation practices, including native and perennial plantings and soil health.

Highlights and topics include:

• On-farm tour at Roots Cut Flower Farm (including learning about their process for installing a solar system to power 99% of their farm and home)
• High tunnel growing & season extension
• Conservation and soil health practices
• Wholesale and retail marketing
• Sustainable and organic practices
• Break-out sessions for discussion, collaboration, and networking

This intensive event is designed for advanced growers. If you have less than three years of managing a flower farm, we encourage you to learn more about relevant programming available at our 2024 Sustainable Agriculture Conference.

Speakers:

Michelle Elston, Roots Cut Flower Farm

Michelle Elston is the founder and owner of Roots Cut Flower Farm in Carlisle, PA. She has over 16 years of experience growing cut flowers and a degree in plant sciences from Cornell University. Her 10-acre farm produces thousands of stems of beautiful cut flowers annually for supermarket bouquets, wholesale buckets, and corporate events. In addition to her profitable cut flower farm, Michelle has a passion for helping other flower farmers succeed by offering consulting services and farm tours. She also currently serves as Treasurer of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG).

Margie and Kate Dagnal, Goose Creek Gardens

Goose Creek Gardens, Ltd. is a 12-acre, multi-generation flower farm in Cowansville, PA. Margie Dagnal, the founder of Goose Creek, started farming and growing alongside her husband, Mark, over 20 years ago. Kate, Margie’s daughter and the flower grower of Goose Creek, shares her passion of cut flowers every day by growing the highest quality flowers for their customers. Margie and Kate will be sharing how Goose Creek Gardens profits through scaling up, season extension, and finding your niche.

Jennie Love, Love ‘n Fresh Flowers

Jennie Love is the founder and owner of Love ‘n Fresh Flowers, a sustainably managed urban flower farm in Philadelphia, PA. She had her first flower patch at age four in her mother’s huge kitchen garden on their 5th-generation family farm in central Pennsylvania. Prior to starting Love ‘n Fresh, Jennie was a marketing and business development manager for a handful of corporations in Philadelphia. She also received rigorous horticulture training while completing a two-year intensive program at Longwood Gardens, which included floral design training. She has served as the President of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG). Since 2014, Jennie has been teaching intensive farmer-florist master classes that have helped launch and bolster several hundred notably successful floral enterprises across the U.S. and Canada. You can also find her on the podcast No-Till Flowers: A Podcast for Flower Farmers.

Nearby lodging

• Check out this map of more hotels in the area.
• There are other Airbnb options in the area.

Notes

• We are offering two sections. The first section will run 3/14 – 3/15. The second section will run 3/15 – 3/16. Both sections will convene at Shippensburg University on 3/15 and visit Root Cuts Flower farm on their corresponding 2nd day.
• There will be a 1-hour lunch break each day. The price of lunch is included in registration.
• Accommodations: Light snacks and hot beverages will be provided each day.  Dinner and overnight accommodations are not provided.
• Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the farm tour at Root Cuts Flower Farm. Extra layers are recommended.
• COVID-19: The day at Shippensburg University will be fully indoors. Please review our safety protocols for in-person events.
• Questions? Check out our in-person event FAQs. If you still have a question, contact events@pasafarming.org.