Our Workshops + Guest Teaching Events in 2019
/We get asked so often whether the farm is open to visitors and sadly the answer is usually no. Because we are such a small team (as in, just 2 of us most days), there is just isn’t time in the average day to properly entertain visitors. That is why I get so excited about our workshops because these are times when we love having visitors at the farm!
The Scoop on our 2019 ‘On the Flower Farm’ Workshop Series
We will be hosting 6 workshops throughout the summer and early fall on the farm. Half of the dates take place during the early evening and half are in the morning so that we can take advantage of the most comfortable weather (summer late afternoons are hot!). In case of inclement weather, we will move indoors into our beautiful floral studio. Each workshop follows a similar schedule: We'll begin our time together with an in-depth tour of the flower fields. As you stroll amongst the beauty, you'll learn about our growing techniques and hopefully become inspired to grow your own patch of blooms. After the tour of the fields, I will demonstrate how to arrange a centerpiece while talking you through my basic design philosophy and principles. Then, its your turn to create your own! You will receive one-on-one support and guidance throughout the entire process and have a huge assortment of flowers to choose from!
We intentionally limit attendance to just 15 participants so that the entire experience is personal and intimate. We’ll snack on delicious hors d’oeuvres from Verbena Catering + tasty desserts from Butter & Blooms made with seasonal, locally grown ingredients. Our beautiful, organic farm-grown flowers (so many flowers!) plus all tools, supplies and a keepsake vase are provided. About half of the participants come with a friend and half come solo, so either way you will be sure to make new flower friends. Many of the dates are close to filling and we do not maintain a waitlist. We can’t wait for you to join us!
Guest Teaching in 2019
I am so honored to be sharing, teaching and collaborating with these great organizations in 2019! If you’ve ever wanted to take your farm business to the next level, I highly recommend Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s (ASAP) Business of Farming Conference. I have attended the past several years and always soak up so much useful information that is usually hard to come by without paying for private appointments - everything from insurance and tax info for small farms, business planning and sharing your farm story. This year, I will be co-presenting about Social Media Marketing. You can learn more information about the Business of Farming Conference, which takes place in Asheville, NC on February 23, and register here: https://asapconnections.org/events/business-of-farming-conference/
When my friend Joe Evans of Olivette Farm asked me to teach a beginning farming class at the Organic Growers School’s Spring Conference all about flower farming, I was excited and nervous. The Organic Growers School Spring Conference taking place March 8-10 in Mars Hill, NC, is THE place to learn all about organic growing and sustainable living. I will be teaching 2 workshops for beginning flower farmers covering everything from crop planning and variety selection to post harvest production and succession planting. More information and registration details here: https://organicgrowersschool.org/conferences/spring/
Last year I had the honor of teaching a floral design class at the North Carolina Arboretum, and this year I am so excited to be teaching 2 classes. I will teach how to design a hand-tied bouquet on May 14 and how to create a centerpiece on July 23. Registration will be available in March, so keep an eye on the Adult Education Programs website for more details: https://www.ncarboretum.org/education-programs/adult-education-classes/
I hope to meet you either on the farm at one of our workshops or at one of the events where I’ll be guest teaching! Investing in yourself and your education, whether its to further your floral design aspirations or to help grow your farm business, is something that I value very highly. I often learn just as much at a workshop or conference by chatting with other attendees at lunch as I learn during a session. I can’t wait to connect with you this coming year!
xo, Niki
