From Wannabe Flower Farmer to Resilient Backyard Business Owner
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- čas přidán 23. 10. 2021
- My first full year of flower farming as a business is officially over, and I'm spilling all the details. Here's how I started, overcame some serious setbacks--drought, slow sales, a small city backyard--and was able to make some serious side hustle money.
For context, I'm located in Saskatoon, SK Canada, which is zone 3, and usually has a short growing season of around 100 days.
A HUGE shoutout and thank you to all the women who supported me along the way! Here's everyone's IG profiles that I mention in the video:
Stems Flower Farm (Heidi): @stemsflowerfarm
Danielle: @daniellefulawaka
Monica: @316flowerco
Laura: @tundrasflowerfarm
Melissa: @flourish.farmandgarden
Chantelle: @citygirlflowerfarm
Melrose Place: @melroseplaceyxe
Meredith: @meredith_deanne
Ashley: @theashleepiper
Style And Graze YXE (Jessica): @yxe_styleandgraze
Rachel: @rachelhkay99
The Well Collab: @thewellcollab
Not mentioned in the video, but also deserves a shoutout for being an amazing blogging business coach: @nicoleculver
And as always, the support of my Husband, Mom, and Mother-in-law, whose love and generosity made this year possible.
The Backyard Business Course is officially OPEN! Register by October 30th 2021 to take advantage of early-bird, founder pricing.
Get in here: www.shiftingroots.com/backyar...
I appreciate your gratitude and that you are honest about buying flowers from other growers. Everybody wins, but so do we as viewers, since we don't have unrealistic expectations of our selfs when we try too!
Yes!! I think a more realistic goal for the space I actually own in a good growing year would have been $1000-$2000. There's no way I could have done what I did without other growers, and you'd be surprised by how many of the big guys even buy from other growers from time to time.
Congratulations on your first years successes and short comings! Thanks for sharing your business ventures with us! Brilliant channel for cold climate Canadians like me, very informative and easy to watch.
Very nice video, Kristen. Even though I have watched all of your videos, it was nice to see a progressive recap and learn how you decided to do this. Very well done. Your calm presence and grace on camera makes me feel like I’m sitting across the table from you. Sharing what you’re learning along the way will be great help for others.
That is the sweetest compliment, I always hope that my viewers will feel that way.
I love every single second of this. Your perseverance, sense of service, and creativity are so frickin' inspiring. Thank you for sharing your journey, Kristen.
I just started mulling the idea over a few weeks ago. Thank you for this guidance. I am seeing my spring and summer coming into focus. The possibilities are exciting, and as a sahm of a toddler, focusing on something other than meals and house chores is good for my brain! Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome! I’ll be sharing an updated video on this sometime in October.
well done!! very inspiring, helpful and motivating!
my reward isn't so much in sales but in the joy my flowers bring to the residents of the nursing home I work in!
I really enjoy your videos and am happy for your success and the fact that you share the ups and downs of your journey.
Keep on growing💐
That is amazing! Your residents are so lucky to have you!
Kristen you are incredible! I so enjoyed this video and watching your growth.
Yes your arrangements are just beautiful I really love them I take I'm in Pennsylvania and I take care of 30 gardens at memorial Park so I enjoy putting the guards in I haven't really sold flowers or nothing but I keep on doing it so have a good day thank you
Another awesome video!!! Love watching your journey from medicine hat!!!
Congratulations on a successful year. Loved the review of the year. Thank you for sharing. 🥰
Thank you for watching!!
Thank you for sharing your story, it was a big inspiration! I am also in a short growing season, zone 4a, in Northern Maine. Almost Canada, it's on the border of New Brunswick. It's almost heartbreaking watching other content where they have most of the year to grow. The closest flower farmer to me is 220 mi. away, so your info is incredibly useful! 🤗
The pumpkin bouquets are so creative and wonderful!
Sooo exciting totally trying this next year
Yo yo! Electrifying! Massive views! I enjoyed. though didn't anticipated the ending
Hello from Manitoba! Thrilled for your success!!!
this was so interesting Kristen and your bouquets are just gorgeous! I'm excited to see where you take this next year!
Thank you!! I’m looking forward to making a season 2
Excellent tips and advice. Thank you for sharing and contintued success to you.
Loved this video! Two things that I am inspired to do:
Change my Instagram photo
Do a bouquet making night!
I had never considered partnering with a local business for it! Thanks for the ideas!
Yes!!! Tag me when you change your photo, I’d love to see it!
lové lové lové i’m living in zone five wisconsin & starting next spring, in my backyard as well🍂🤎🌸fingers crossed🙏
Excited for you!! I’m sure you’ll do amazing!
I just signed up for your course. I’m excited to be part of your “beta” program! This year, it looks like we (in NH) will be a Zone 4/5. Some years, we are a Zone 3. I believe that we all live in our own “micro-climates” that can change based on elevation, the surrounding terrain/mountains, proximity to lakes/water and the weather cycle. I didn’t even get into the differences in soil!!! So, I’m grateful that you are offering this course and your experience in our crazy zones :-)
Awesome!! I’m so excited you’re joining me!!
Congratulations on your success!
Hi, just wanted to say your flower bouquets are so beautiful and I’ve learned a lot watching your you tube videos.😊
Thank you so much!
Thanks for sharing your experience, it was so nice to spend time with you, although I joined pretty late:)))
It's all good! I'll do a season 2 of this series next year, and they'll be one more Backyard Business video in the series in December when I do my Christmas wreath sale.
Hello Kristen, I’ve got the flower bug. I haven’t planted flowers in awhile and when I did I wasn’t good at it. I don’t even know how to arrange a boutique but you make it sound so easy and enjoyable. I just came across your channel and subscribing to learn more. Have a beautiful day, Lisa #moneypithomestead
Thank you for subscribing! I love the name of your channel!! Very honest, lol.
Your videos are amazing 👏
Very very nice garden and so beautiful flowers 🥀👍
Thank you for sharing your video 🥀👍🙏🏼
Hello there....Im from Europe, but i just want to thank you so so much for all the details that do matter for those ones who wish or dream of starting a small backyard business, like myself! I will try to start it next spring..soo exited and also nervous about it! I wish you and your familly all the best!🤗
Good luck in starting your business! I know you'll do amazing!!
@@ShiftingRoots Thanks for the kind words!
I just signed up for your course as soon as I saw your email. Your dream is my dream❤️ I very much enjoy your content.
Thank you so much!! I can't wait to meet you on Zoom! Also, check your course again, I just uploaded a new guide in the Welcome section this morning.
I'm so excited for flowers this coming Spring/Summer! We also plan on selling g cut flowers bundles and other flower-y stuff!
That's awesome! Hope you have a good year next year!
How did everything go?
Three cheers...for your sharing your journey, supporting your other local small businesses, and for your success exceeding expectation! One question: is the figure you quoted for gross sales or net sales (after paying expenses)?
Two thumbs up for anothersuccessful year!
It's for the gross sales. I haven't done all the numbers yet, but my best guess is the my net is likely $2500-$3500
Great video ❤️👍 thank you
I’ll be starting in my front yard in zone 6b/7a. I have 6 acres too. I’m just not ready to put the farm there yet. So ill be growing watermelon pumpkin corn wildflower and sunflowers out on the 6 acres next year but everything else will be in my front yard in town.
That’s a good idea.
Thank you for this! So very informative and well done! I had a question regarding your flower evenings and future flower events. Do you need an extra insurance policy when hosting people on your property? This is where I am with my planning! Thx
Yes, it would definitely be wise to do so. I'd give your insurance provider a quick email about it.
Brilliant videos new cut flower grower from zone5 ON
How do you decide on pricing for weddings and the pumpkin arrangements?
I’m thinking about signing up for your course. I had a florist for over 10 years but my husband got sick and had to close down. I have never grown flowers before and would like to start. I always order off the flower truck. I have the land just don’t know what to grow
Oh I hope you do! I think you'd have SUCH an advantage, because you'd understand the business side of things already, and wouldn't be afraid to supplement with wholesale flowers if you needed to.
Very interesting!! So was the 4610 gross or net? I am kinda interested in the beta course but not as a flower biz looking for a way to adapt to something else ?? That would be applicable here in my area in Mexico....crafts or chocolate or artesanal coffee or a mix of products...
It was gross. I haven't done the numbers yet, but I think net will be $2500-$3500. I had a lot of extra expenses the first year, especially with those bouquet nights. I think I could be more efficient next year.
Does your total profit include expenses (I.e., seeds, buying flowers from other farmers, hiring help and renting facilities for events)?
Can I join your course if I am in the United States? I am in zone 5b. But very short growing season here in Colorado! Congratulations for all your accompllishments!
Yes! We actually have quite a few Americans registered already.
Please help me get started. I live on a southern lot of 12 acres. My husband made 4 large beds of 12 by 6. I'm starting simple, zinnias, Cosmos, dahlias 8 plants and sunflowers and sweet peas. I have few started peonies 2 years. I know I have to sow throughout season.
Was this your profit after you paid for the flowers you bought? Also what did you put into the pumpkins? Water? Flower food? Hope I didn’t miss that part. May I ask what the pumpkin arrangements sold for? Adorable!!!Thanks for sharing!!
No, the profit was around 1/2. In a better growing year, it would have been more like 1/4-1/3. I just put water in the pumpkins, and sold the arrangements for $15-$60
@@ShiftingRoots thanks for the info. So glad that you had a good year. Next year will be GREAT because the weather should be better and you will have experience under your belt! I hope I am as lucky as you. Keep sharing your videos with us please!
great video! I wish you had a payment plan for the course :)
I hear you! I saw this comment last night, and I went and edited the course to make one for $50 a month for 6 months. Hopefully that makes things a little more doable!!
Kristen. I think I want to take your course. I'm in Pennsylvania. Does the website automatically figure out how to change Canadian money into American money?
Yes. You get to benefit from the exchange, it will end up being cheaper in USD with the conversion rate. I hate that my platform doesn't let me charge in multiple currencies--I have an app on my website that does it for all my ebooks, but not this.
@@ShiftingRoots Just tried to sign up - twice. Keep getting a card error. Afraid to try it again just in case it actually did work and I get charged twice.
@@colleenbahm7712 oh that's so weird. Let me look on things at my end, and see if it went through and you're signed up or not. If it would charge you twice, I would definitely refund you the money for the second charge.
Hi Colleen! I checked it out, and your card wasn't charged and you're not signed up. There's a few things you can try--First, refresh your browser, or try a different one (Safari vs. Chrome) If you use PayPal at all, try that instead. And worst case scenario, we could do e-transfer and I can add you manually. Email me at shiftingroots@gmail.com if you have further issues. I might not answer immediately because we're doing family stuff today, but I promise to hold the price for you if for some reason we wouldn't get it sorted out until Sunday.
@@ShiftingRoots Thanks. I figured it out! It was my credit card trying to protect me from possible fraud. I'm in! Looking forward to it. Colleen
pretty
So im curious how do you actually make a living though? ... Because it always sounds and looks like a nice side hustle for wifes who have the time and real estate and dont really NEED to make a big profit?
Have you singing as a promo at the end of your videos, if you don't already...?
You know I never thought of that, but I guess that would be a good hook.
You need to save peonies in fridge for weddings.
Вы проста супер
Name of your book?
Cutflowers Made Simple (it’s only available as an ebook on my website) and the course is Backyard Business.
I watched your video. The videos are beautiful. Video quality is very nice but like view subscribe is very low, another is more, if you have you can be a professional youtuber. Do you want to be a professional?
We can talk about how this can happen////
Honestly, I'm happy with my rate of growth and I know that I'm attracting the people who need me and my content.
@@ShiftingRoots We can talk about what can be done if you want