Byczynski, who quit her city job to become a flower farmer, has interviewed hundreds of farmers who grow flowers as all or part of their income; she offers profiles of 12 of them. Byczynski emphasizes organic flowers because organic-farming practices protect both people and the environment. She gives advice on selecting seeds (recommending foolproof flowers for the novice grower), site and soil requirements, buying and starting plants, growing and caring for them, and creating a dried-flower garden. The author discusses growing woody ornamentals (certain species of trees and shrubs) that can be used in floral designs as well as harvest and postharvest procedures. She gives advice on arranging fresh flowers and on going commercial (marketing and pricing). There's a list of 100 recommended cut flowers, full-color photographs, and black-and-white line drawings. George Cohen

Product Description

Acre-for-acre, flowers are the most profitable-as well as the most beautiful--crop on the farm. In The Flower Farmer expert flower grower Lynn Byczynski provides a complete introduction to raising a cornucopia of cut flowers for home use and for sale to retail customers, florists, and other markets. The book offers detailed, manageable plans for flower growing on a scale ranging from a backyard border to a half-acre commercial garden. It will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers, including: * Home gardeners who want growing tips from professionals, so that they can enjoy an abundance of flowers year-round in fresh and dried bouquets; * Passionate gardeners and small-scale growers who want to raise and sell cut flowers in season for additional income; * Small commercial farmers who want to increase farm revenue or even make a living from selling field-grown, specialty cut flowers. The Flower Farmer provides a clear, realistic look at both the benefits and the challenges of growing flowers organically for local markets. Chapters include information on: * The best varieties of cut flowers--an A-Z list of more than one hundred recommended annuals and perennials, spotlighting the cultivars that are grown by professional flower farmers; * How to cut, store, and preserve flowers for long-lasting beauty; * How to dry flowers for crafting or for a dried-flower business; * Flower-arranging basics from a designer's perspective; * Extending the season with woody shrubs and trees; * Marketing options for commercial growers, including sales at farmer's markets, supermarkets, florists, and wholesalers. Sprinkled throughout are profiles of successful flower farmers--from Vermont to California, Texas to Wisconsin--each of them providing a unique perspective proving that growing flowers can be as profitable as it is satisfying.

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6 Reviews

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5.0 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars excellent, Feb 10 2004

Kathy Palermo (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower's Guide To Raising And Selling Cut Flowers: An Organic Grower's Guide to Raising &Selling Cut Flowers (Paperback)

I am in the flower buisness and this book is an excellent resource of quality information. I've read many other books of this type, but this one is by far the best.

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5.0 out of 5 stars The Best, April 17 2002

Gina Marie "Re Searcher" (The Natural State of America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower's Guide To Raising And Selling Cut Flowers: An Organic Grower's Guide to Raising &Selling Cut Flowers (Paperback)

This is the best book We've found on the subject. We're starting a "cut flower" business in ME. It's an invaluable resource, and it includes lists of flowers, care, feeding, when to plant etc. etc.

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5.0 out of 5 stars The Flower Farmer An Organic Grower's Guide to Raising and S, Aug 29 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower's Guide To Raising And Selling Cut Flowers: An Organic Grower's Guide to Raising &Selling Cut Flowers (Paperback)

This book was very informative. The author goes over every aspect of becoming a flower farmer from what flowers to grow, how to figure out what to charge, where to sell, how to preserve, etc. I can't wait to start my flower farm!

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Flower Grower's Reference
I have been growing flowers for personal use for some time, and have recently decided to begin selling at Farmer's Markets, but where to begin? Read more

Published on Jan 27 2000 by Debra A. Herrli

5.0 out of 5 stars Flowers
I find myself reading the book constantly. I have yet to read it cover to cover, but instead I will think of a topic and I will read about it in the book. Read more

Published on Jan 26 2000