Mulch

This week on MULCH, Rebecca shares a lighter episode for growers coming through a busy Mother's Day weekend. Flower farms aren't usually held together by big moments or dramatic decisions. More often, they're sustained by small habits repeated quietly week after week across the season. In this episode, Rebecca talks through some of the simple practices that help keep a flower farm running smoothly and professionally — from preparing cutting tools and keeping buckets clean, to labelling seedlings properly, recording sowing notes, and replying to customer enquiries promptly. These small habits might not appear in the photographs we share online, but together they create the consistency that allows flower farms to deliver beautiful flowers reliably to customers. Rebecca also explains how she uses the Flower Farmer's Planner to track these habits, record propagation notes and review decisions across the season so that lessons learned aren't forgotten the following year. If you're feeling tired after a busy week of cutting and delivering flowers, this episode is a gentle reminder that professional flower farms are built on steady rhythms and small habits — not perfection. In this episode: • Why small habits matter more than big moments • Preparing tools and buckets for consistent flower quality • Avoiding the frustration of unlabelled seed trays • Recording sowing lessons so you don't relearn them next year • Managing customer enquiries without mental overload Links 🌿 Order the Flower Farmer's Planner https://www.silvergreyfoliage.com/education

This week on Mulch, we're celebrating two milestones, Episode 60 and 15,000 downloads. Thank you for being here and for building this thoughtful, business-minded flower farming community with me. Today's episode is about pests… but really, it's about resilience. Because pests are not a sign that you're failing. They're a sign that you're growing something worth eating. As sustainable flower farmers, the goal isn't elimination, it's building systems strong enough to absorb pressure without reaching for pesticides (or despair). In this episode, I share the 5 P's of Pest Resilience for the 2026 season: 🌿 Protection – When low tunnels help… and when they hinder. 🌿 Pungent – Using scent as a preventative layer (garlic, herbs, calendula, phlox). 🌿 Prickly – How spiky companions can deter deer and create natural boundaries. 🌿 Ponds – Inviting predators to rebalance your ecosystem. 🌿 Patience – The long game of ecological stability and small bird allies. Sustainable flower farming isn't about removing every challenge. It's about designing layered resilience into your land and your business. ☕ Support the podcast & buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silvergreyfoliage 📓 Flower Farmers Planner & Business Planning resources: https://silvergreyfoliage.com/education/ 🌿 Cut Flower Meadow Seeds (limited seasonal availability): https://silvergreyfoliage.com/shop If this episode resonated, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps more flower farmers find Mulch and build resilient businesses of their own. As ever, I'll be back next week encouraging you to get on and grow. Rebecca 🌿

In this episode of Mulch, Rebecca offers a timely February pep talk for flower farmers feeling wobbly, behind, or overwhelmed. She shares three grounded reminders: create your own seed sowing plan (and stop chasing perfect ones), stop buying seeds you don't need, and focus on your own business priorities rather than comparing yourself on social media. A practical and reassuring listen for anyone navigating the uncomfortable, unpredictable season of early-year growing.

When a flower farm starts to fill every spare moment — evenings, weekends and headspace — it can quietly turn into an every time job. In this episode, I explore The Every Time Job Trap: why it happens, what it looks like, and how to create more structure and sustainability when you're growing a flower farm alongside other work or caring responsibilities. There are gentle reflection prompts throughout, designed to support curiosity rather than criticism. Links: Join the newsletter: https://silvergreyfoliage.com Business Planning Module: https://silvergreyfoliage.thrivecart.com/business-planning-for-flower-farmers/ Live Q&A (Tuesday 27th January): https://silvergreyfoliage.thrivecart.com/live-flower-farmer-qa-january/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silvergreyfoliage/ If you're finding MULCH helpful, leaving a review helps the podcast reach more growers. Thank you

In this episode of Mulch, Rebecca explores two ways flower farmer-florists can build resilience for the season ahead: baggy planning and working within real capacity. Drawing on winter realities, crop planning, and lived experience, she shares how flexibility, intention, and asking for help can reduce overwhelm and support sustainable flower farming. To support your planning, you can sign up to the Grow Club newsletter and download the Business Planning module from our education page at www.silvergreyfoliage.com

In this episode of Mulch, Rebecca shares the ten flowers she's most looking forward to growing in 2026, as Silver Grey Foliage closes the doors on another year and turns towards what's ahead. From fancy daffodils and sweet peas to anemones, white dahlias and a few new varieties yet to be grown, she reflects on why these plants matter — for reliability, scent, colour, texture and joy. Alongside the list, Rebecca talks about noticing patterns in our growing choices, the value of auditing what we already have before buying more seed, and the quiet excitement that comes with thoughtful planning. It's a gentle, end-of-year episode for flower farmers who are ready to rest, reflect, and begin imagining the season to come. If you'd like support with planning your 2026 season, Grow Club is still open, with the first quarterly planning session taking place in early January. https://silvergreyfoliage.com/grow-club/ Wishing you a restful Christmas and a hopeful turn towards the year ahead.

In this week's episode of Mulch, Rebecca shares five simple, practical ways to prepare your flower-farm marketing for the start of 2026 — from sorting your photos with purpose, to reconnecting with your business values, to identifying which customers you want to be speaking to as the new year begins. She explores why reusing your own best-performing content is not cheating but smart, sustainable marketing — and why worrying less and doing more will always serve your business far better than trying to be perfect. Rebecca also shares an update on Grow Club, including the newly uploaded teaching library, the upcoming reflection session on 9th December, and the limited mentoring sessions available for the next three members. If you'd like structure, support and a grounded community as you prepare for 2026, you can join Grow Club here: https://silvergreyfoliage.com/grow-club/

In this week's episode of Mulch, Rebecca shares the three shifts that can make the biggest difference to your flower farm in 2026: understanding how money moves through your business, treating your farm like the business it truly is (whatever its size), and why growing less can actually help you grow better. It's an honest, encouraging look at what really strengthens a flower-farming practice, rooted in experience rather than overwhelm. If you'd like support putting these ideas into action next year, Grow Club is open come and join us.

In this episode I talk about the reasons why pricing your flowers well is SO important to you and also to the wider Flower Growing community. I set out the 7 reasons why I think it is important to get your pricing right. I'm 100% honest and I use some difficult language as I do this. I talk about the things that are commonly missed out of pricing in addition to making sure that the first 7 reasons are addressed. Pricing is part of The Flower Farming Business School Online. This is week 8 and we have covered the first pricing module which is all about pricing corms and bulbs accurately. Registration to join the Flower Farming Business School in Q2 will open on Monday March 24th. Sign up here to be the first to know about teh curriculum and to sign up. Finally, this week we went over 10000 downloads of the MULCH podcast! celebrate with us and buy me a coffee! Thank you Rebecca

This Episode will change how you think about how you rest and how you regain your best energy and most importantly why. Sophie, Author and Positive Psychology Practitioner shares her vast knowledge generously in our conversation and explains the links between different types of rest, energy and productivity, where productivity is not just, 'getting stuff done' This episode is not just for Flower Farmers. It's for Florists, Small Business owners and ALL women. I'd love to hear your feedback. Share a review and help more people to benefit from Sophie's generosity in this Episode of MULCH. Links from the Podcast: https://sophiecliff.com/the-hustle-cure - Head to the website to find our more about The Hustle Cure and working with Sophie Cliff

This week is all about the information that people need to see and need to be able to see about your any business, but in particular your Flower Farming Business inorder to buy from you. It's about making it easy for your customers to know that you are right for them. And it's about being honest and clear with your words and your pictures. All of the information that you need to make this happen is in your Business Plan. If you don't have a Business Plan, here is a link to our Business Planning Module. It's packed with 6 videos and 6 PDFs to help you to understand where you are going in 2025 and how you are going to get there.

Let's keep things simple! The purpose of your Business Plan is to help you to take the directions that serve you and to confidently decline the directions that do not. It's hard to do, but your business plan will help you. In this episode I talk you through why and how. If you've enjoyed this episode or found it challenging but worthwhile, please leave a review and share this with your audience on social media. Thank you. Rebecca