Heather Cain
Petal Pink Flower Farm
Never in a thousand years did I imagine I’d be farming flowers. I grew up in the SanFrancisco Bay Area with plans to become a therapist and the degree to match. My husband and I were on the “corporate track,” though we dabbled in growing vegetables and raising chickens with some help and know-how from my dad. My husband would sometimes tell me he wanted to “become a farmer,” and I would laugh at him! But, as often happens, life took a series of unpredicted turns for us (and each of those turns is a story in itself). But we lost my mom unexpectedly, had a baby, and accidentally bought a dilapidated farm in Oregon while we were on vacation in Hawaii, all of which guided us here: I am a flower farmer in Eugene, Oregon. I started my business with three rows of flowers planted in the front lawn after Brett hacked out strips of sod with a pickaxe. Seven years later we grow just over 1 acre of flowers that we sell to local florists and retail customers. My husband and two teenage sons help, along with a couple amazing part-time employees, and all together we are Petal Pink Flower Farm.
Show Notes
New varieties of ranunculus may take up to 6 years before they are available to the markets, and Heather explains the difference between Butterfly and Moderna ranunculus
Heather discusses the benefits of collaborating with florists who provide mood boards and budgets, allowing for more creative freedom.
She shares her rule of thumb for cutting Baptisia greenery by cutting about one-third of the foliage to ensure she doesn’t over harvest.
Living and working on the farm requires clear boundaries to balance work and personal life effectively. Create the boundary and then follow it.
Heather found that selling to florists aligned best with her family's schedule, despite potentially lower profits compared to subscriptions and weddings. It's about finding what works best for your circumstances.
Heather advises aspiring farmers to educate themselves on business practices for success.
