How to keep going - with the Dirt on Flowers Gals (SFFF68)
Flower farming is beautiful, but let’s be honest… it can also be BRUTALLY hard. Long hours, crop failures, unpredictable weather, and the weight of running a profitable business can take their toll. Many growers start their farms with big dreams, only to hit roadblocks that leave them questioning if it’s all worth it. What separates the farmers who push through from the ones who walk away?
I recently sat down with Shannon and Lynds from The Dirt on Flowers podcast, and we had a real, unfiltered conversation about what it takes to stay in this industry for the long haul. Between the three of us, we’ve logged nearly thirty years of flower farming, and while our farms look very different now than when we started, one truth has remained the same: grit and resilience matter just as much as soil and seeds.
The Lifestyle Behind the Flowers
For Shannon, flower farming is about more than plants in the ground. She thrives on the ever-changing nature of farm life — the daily evolution, the creative outlet, the freedom of running her own schedule. Farming looks different for her today than it did nine years ago, and that change excites her. It’s proof that growth in this business doesn’t just come in the form of flowers; it shows up in the lifestyle you create and the resilience you build.
Lynds agrees, though she laughs at how farming can feel like an emotionally abusive relationship at times. There are incredible highs and crushing lows, and yet she keeps coming back. For her, the freedom to create and run with new ideas — whether it’s a workshop, new market strategy, or fresh planting plan — is what fuels her. Flower farming became the career that tied together her love of horticulture, her entrepreneurial spirit, and her desire for creative control.
The Role of Grit in Flower Farming
Both Shannon and Lynds emphasized a hard truth: there is no easy button in flower farming. No matter how pretty it looks on Instagram, farming is a career built on grit. Crops fail, sales fluctuate, and just when you’ve mastered one challenge, another shows up. The farmers who make it past the three-to-five-year mark aren’t the ones with perfect fields or endless resources — they’re the ones who get back up after setbacks and keep trying again.
Grit shows up in big and small ways: planting a new succession after a storm wipes out the first, figuring out how to market bouquets when a CSA falls flat, or learning to be satisfied with “good enough” instead of chasing perfection. It’s not glamorous, but it’s what keeps flower farms alive.
Shannon and Lynds are the powerhouse duo behind The Dirt on Flowers podcast, where they pull back the curtain on what it really takes to run a flower farm. With nearly two decades of experience between them, they share the honest highs and lows of farming, mixing tough love with encouragement for growers at every stage. Their conversations are equal parts practical business strategy and heartfelt truth, making them a must-listen for anyone serious about building a sustainable flower farm.
The Unexpected Joy of Community
What surprised all of us was how much the community piece matters. None of us started farming because we wanted to build a “farm family,” but now it’s hard to imagine the business without it. Having employees who believe in the work, being part of a team, or simply having flower farmer friends who understand the challenges—it’s one of the best parts of this life. Those relationships become anchors when the season feels overwhelming.
For many flower farmers, their closest friendships evolve out of this shared experience. It’s rare to find people outside the industry who truly understand the blend of artistry, business management, and sheer determination that farming requires. That circle of support is often what helps farmers keep going when things get tough.
Mindset and Money Matter
Another factor that separates long-term growers from those who burn out is the ability to focus on both mindset and money. Mindset, because it shapes how you approach challenges — do you shut down at the first problem, or do you step into problem-solving mode? Money, because without profitability, passion can only carry you so far.
In the early years, it’s tempting to focus only on growing beautiful crops, but running a farm means wearing every hat: grower, marketer, bookkeeper, and manager. Getting serious about financial tracking and profitability early on is what gave Shannon, Lynds, and myself the foundation to keep going, even when it was hard.
Staying the Course
If you’re a new or aspiring flower farmer, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the reality of this work. The truth is, farming is not an easy career, but it’s one filled with growth, beauty, and unexpected rewards. You will learn more about yourself than you ever imagined, and with grit and determination, you can create a farm business that lasts.
Want to hear more of this conversation and the specific lessons we’ve learned over the years?
Tune in to Episode 68 of the Six Figure Flower Farming Podcast: How to Keep Going – with the Dirt on Flowers Gals.
