Dish the Dirt

Some episodes are time capsules. This is one of them.We're rewinding to late 2020, as Victoria emerged from its first long lockdown — gin raised, friends finally allowed over, the whole state breathing out. In the middle of it sits Petrina from Petrina Blooms: a lifelong flower obsessive who turned a suburban Ivanhoe block into a garden of 8,000+ bulbs and 120 roses, and who had just started selling bouquets completely by accident.Petrina has loved flowers since she grew a single perfumed carnation from seed in prep and wrote in her grade-six diary that she wanted to be a florist. She kept that love deliberately un-commercial for decades, working weekends as a florist's "bucket girl" because she never wanted to "curse a flower" by making it her job. Her path wound through years working with people experiencing homelessness, then to the skies as an Emirates flight attendant — earning the nickname "Flower Girl" for smuggling peonies, lilacs and frangipani home in the first-class fridge. After marrying a passenger and trading Dubai's seasonless heat for Melbourne's four seasons, she came home, felt utterly lost, and ordered four thousand ranunculus for a tiny terrace garden.From there it grew: a move to Ivanhoe "for the garden," a 40-year-old wisteria she refused to renovate around, a postnatal depression she gardened her way through, an open garden that welcomed kindergartens and neighbours, and — in lockdown, off a single Facebook message — her first bouquets for sale. A warm, funny, generous chat about old-fashioned flowers, healing and community.What we cover:(04:00) A carnation grown in prep and a grade-six diary entry(06:00) Becoming a florist's "bucket girl" — and keeping flowers casual(08:30) Bluffing her way into Emirates and life as the "Flower Girl"(10:00) Chasing flowers around the world — Switzerland, Munich, Dubai(13:00) Meeting Ricky on a flight to Vienna and the 4,000-ranunculus order(16:00) Henry, postnatal depression, and gardening as a way through(18:00) Buying the Ivanhoe house for its "bones" — and that wisteria(22:00) The open garden as a way to connect a quieter neighbourhood(24:00) Accidentally starting a business in lockdown(26:00) Chemical-free by choice — coffee grounds, bicarb soda, ladybeetles(28:00) Grown vs flown: why local and seasonal matters(34:00) Her best advice: plant what you love, and plant two in case one dies(39:00) The signature question: Pa's wheelbarrow, cosmos seeds, the wisteria(43:00) Rose tips, garden heroes, and a dream of a rose named after her🌿 Find Petrina: @PetrinaBlooms on InstagramWe've since caught up with Petrina five years on — what happened to those secret dahlias, whether the accidental business stuck, and whether Bec ever made it over for that gin. Keep an ear out.Loved it? Subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a fellow flower obsessive. Want to be on the show? No garden is too big or too small — email dishthedirtpodcast@gmail.com.Get out there, do your thing, and be blooming fabulous

🌸 Episode Summary:In this episode of Dish the Dirt, we're thrilled to welcome back Mardi from Quite Contrary Flower Farm in Gippsland, Victoria. From lawyer to full-time flower farmer, Mardi’s journey is anything but conventional—and that’s exactly what makes it so inspiring.We dive into what’s changed since she last joined us: refining her business model, narrowing in on specialty crops like dahlias, David Austin roses, and bearded irises, and what it really means to grow your way. Mardi speaks candidly about burnout, quality control, the pitfalls of trend-chasing, and the realities of running a flower farm that’s both sustainable and soulful.Whether you’re a seasoned grower, a budding florist, or someone who just loves local flowers, this episode is packed with wisdom, humour, and deeply honest insights from someone living and breathing the field every day.🌿 What We Cover:How Mardi went from corporate lawyer to full-time flower farmerThe evolution of her crop focus and what she’s learned along the wayWhy she doubled down on dahlias, David Austins, and bearded irisesSelling at the farm gate vs. wholesale vs. retailThe business realities of flower farming (yes, spreadsheets matter!)What makes local flowers so f*#%ing greatLessons from the Melbourne International Flower & Garden ShowAdvice for anyone thinking about diving into flower farming🌸 Guest:Mardi – @qcflowerfarmFounder of Quite Contrary Flower Farm, Gippsland VICSpecialising in specialty cut flowers grown with heart and intention.🌼 Links & Resources:Quite Contrary Flower Farm on InstagramAmerican Specialty Cut Flower Growers Association (for those nerdy vase-life studies!)💬 Let’s Keep Digging:Loved this chat? Share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you never miss a story from the soil up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host: Bec Noble | Episode Recorded Live at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show 2025In this special episode, we meet Anna and Ray from 302 Flower Farm, a passionate husband-and-wife team growing seasonal blooms on their breathtaking property in Victoria’s Western District. From Proteas to Dahlias, tank water challenges to sunset views over the back paddock, Anna and Ray share their love for land, flowers, community, and the generations that have helped shape their farm.🌼 Hear how they turned a shared love of gardening into a thriving family-run business.🌿 Learn about their roadside stall, subscription model, and how teaching & mental health backgrounds influence their on-farm workshops.💐 Discover the beauty of resilience, wild wombats, flower-loving grandchildren—and why connection to country and creativity are at the heart of what they do.🌸 Plus: insights into their upcoming Mother's Day Workshop, their experience at Growers Avenue at MIFGS, and what’s next for this inspiring duo.✨ Follow 302 Flower Farm: @302flowers🎟 Book their workshops & events: https://www.302flowers.com🌻 Support local flower farmers. Share the beauty. Keep being blooming fabulous. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel began teaching Languages in 1994. She was a school teacher for 20 years before changing career paths. Rachel started two business between 2013-2018 and met husband Dean. In 2018, Rachel and Dean purchased their 2000 sqm block and relocated a 1920’s federation home to commence a new venture; a micro flower farm and couples’ retreat BnB at their property in Collector NSW, just 30mins north of Canberra.With a deep and lifelong love of nature, flowers, creativity and all things beautiful, Collector Cottage is Rachel’s heart and soul, brought to life.Rachel is now a farmer and qualified florist growing seasonal chemical free flowers. Predominantly she grows Roses and Dahlias seasonally. When she isn’t in the flower field you will find her looking after her self-contained bnb cottage for guests.Rachel is a lover of old things, vintage pieces that tell a story together with a touch of magic that is reflected in her creative wreaths and bouquets.Having escaped the hustle and bustle of city life, Rachel is passionate about providing others with a sanctuary where they can decompress, slow down and simply, be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Redlands Fresh Flowers is Family run and owned. Dave Nijjar and his son have been in the Redlands for the past 3 decades growing quality fresh flowers and foliage. Dave and Jas share the business operations with their sons Jatinder, Lakh, Jas and Jatinder’s wife Mandeep.Dave and Jatinder know how to grow quality Gerbera’s, Roses, Chrysanthemums, Lissianthus, Delphinium, Stock, Snap Dragons, Sun Flowers the list is endless they also grow foliage and fillers as well. Detail in the preparation of flower growing from seedlings, managing the soil to picking and quality control in sorting is paramount they have won many product quality awards.Redlands Fresh Flowers have been supplying flowers to florists in Brisbane, Beenleigh, Cannon Hill, Capalaba, Carindale, Cleveland, Coorparoo, Logan, Loganholme and to the General public for special occasions for generations.Redlands Fresh Flowers stand by their product due to the fact that they grow majority of their own stock and also that they have nurtured their relationship with the countries top Flower Growers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nood Blooms is owned and operated by Micheal Allen. Established in 2018 and situated in Monbulk Victoria. He is one of the few rose growers left in Australia. This commerical flower farm primarily grows roses with approximately 24,000 in total. These consist of David Austin’s and greenhouse grown roses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie and Rob ~ Building our dream boutique flower farm in the Barossa Valley. After moving to our property Rob fell in love with growing and caring for 6 dahlia plants. Im a florist and together we run an event business so the idea of growing our own flowers and using them in our work and being able to offer our clients fresh locally grown blooms was our inspiration. Our little farm and first season was our lockdown project which has turned into a growing business thanks to the support of our community and has given us both purpose. We have found our true passion and cant wait to learn more and now offer our industry friends beautiful blooms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A beautiful old fashioned garden situated in Ivanhoe Melbourne. Petrina is working hard to bring back the joy of an old fashioned garden through her open door policy and beautiful seasonal bouquets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.