6 Tips for Juggling a Job + Flower Farming (SFFF62)
If you’re working an off-farm job while trying to grow a flower farm business, just know—you are not alone. I started my flower farm while working full-time for the government. I’d clock 40+ hours at my job, then come home and jump straight into farm work. Early mornings, late nights, weekends filled with harvesting and bouquet making. It was a lot. But it was also the season that laid the foundation for the six-figure business I have today.
That season of hustle taught me more than any business course ever could. It taught me how to protect my energy, how to build systems, and how to strategically move forward without sacrificing my health or burning out. And if you're in that messy, overwhelming middle right now, know this: it is possible to grow your flower business while working another job. You just need to approach it with intention.
Schedule Time Off First
The biggest mistake I made early on? Trying to work every single second of my free time. Burnout crept in slowly—first as resentment, then as full-on exhaustion. Eventually, I realized the most strategic thing I could do was schedule time off first. Literally block it on your calendar before anything else. Even if it’s just one night a week where you don’t touch anything farm-related. That break resets your brain and protects your passion.
Without rest, your flower farm can start to feel like another job you resent instead of a dream you're building. Time off helps you show up better—for your business, your family, and yourself. So pick one evening or one day a week and fiercely protect it. You’ll be surprised how much better you operate when you give yourself permission to rest.
Choose Sales Outlets That Fit Your Life
Not every sales outlet fits every season of life. If your job has you working weekends, wedding work and Saturday markets might be off the table for now. That’s okay. There are other ways to sell flowers that flex with your schedule. I started with bouquet subscriptions, midweek florist deliveries, and a Sunday farmers market. It worked with my job hours, and more importantly—it allowed me to build momentum without sacrificing my sanity.
Ask yourself what you can realistically commit to right now. It doesn’t have to be forever. You can always pivot later once you generate revenue and gain experience. The key is to start with what works and build from there.
Simplify Your Crop Plan and Batch Like a Boss
You don’t have to grow every flower in the seed catalog. I promise. When you’re juggling limited time and energy, growing 75 crops with 5 varieties each will bury you. Instead, focus on easy, reliable, and profitable flowers. Grow what thrives in your zone, is easy to harvest and process, and plays well in bouquets. That simplicity will buy you time back for marketing, sales, and rest.
Batching tasks is another sanity-saver. Time block your weeks and group similar work together: all your harvesting in one window, office work in another. Planning out your week on Sunday or Monday gives your brain a break from decision fatigue and keeps things predictable—even when life is chaotic.
Use Your Commute and Downtime Strategically
Commuting? Use that time. Podcasts, online flower farming courses, voice memos with business ideas—turn your car into your mobile classroom. I used to record ideas for my website and brainstorm blog posts while driving to livestock inspections. It added up fast. Those little chunks of time matter when you’re building something on the side.
If your job has downtime (and you're not stealing time from your employer—let's be clear!), use it to review notes, sketch out plans, or even create content. Anything you can do to keep your mind engaged in your business will pay off in the long run.
Don’t Wait to Outsource
You don’t have to do it all yourself. I paid someone $75 on Etsy to design my first logo, and it was worth every penny. If design isn’t your thing or mowing eats up your weekend, outsource it. Sometimes the return on time saved is more valuable than money in the moment. Whether it’s child care, social media scheduling, bouquet deliveries, or even bookkeeping—think about what you can hand off to protect your energy and focus on what moves the needle.
Outsourcing is about buying back time. And when you're building a business while holding down a job, time is one of your most precious resources.
Celebrate Every Win—Big or Small
You’re working hard. Like, really hard. And it can be so easy to skip over the progress you’re making when you’re laser-focused on the next task or the next season. But stopping to celebrate your first bouquet sale, a successful CSA delivery, or just getting your crop plan done? That matters. That momentum keeps you going.
Don’t let comparison steal your joy. Your journey is valid, even if it’s slower than you hoped. You're building something that matters—and that’s worth celebrating. Look back every once in a while and see just how far you’ve come.
If this season feels like a lot, just remember—it’s not forever. You’re laying the groundwork for a business that can support you for years to come.
