Janis Harris

Harris Flower Farm

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From a young age I was always drawn to pretty flowers, I think flowers may be in my blood. After going away to post-secondary education and having a successful optical career I have returned to my roots and I am re-kindling my love for flowers. Harris Flower Farm is a 4 acre seasonal cut flower farm that provides beautiful flowers for local farmers markets, weddings and events. This is our 13th growing season.  Harris Flower Farm is located just north of St. Thomas in SW Ontario Canada. Flowers are produced from April to October, in November and December wintergreens are used in arrangements. We grow a large variety of annual, perennial, bulb and woody stem flowers.

Our guest's farm this week is located in the fertile soil of southwestern Ontario, and she has a multigenerational family operation specializing in fresh seasonal cut flowers for farmer's markets, weddings, and events. I am chatting with Janis Harris of Harris Flower Farm about flower production, working with other farmers in the community, and a few farming tips along the way.

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 Harris Flower Farm is a multi generational family operation. The operation originated with Janis & Mark Harris. Their young children (Cameron, Nathan & Megan) have been born into the business of flowers. The children can be found in the flower fields along side Mom & Dad. They are known at the markets because they never miss a Saturday morning.

Janis’s parents Cathy & Gary are ‘slowing down’ their very successful organic vegetable, egg, chicken and beef operation and are eager to help and learn the flower business with Janis & Mark. Many of the previous vegetable greenhouses and fields now are the home to many varieties of flowers.

The #harrisflowerfarmteam is a group of dedicated helpers that work along side Janis to help with planting, weeding, harvesting, arranging and delivering the flowers that are grown on the farm.

Janis is the Canadian Regional Director for the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers.  Education and Workshops attended: Floret Flower Farm Workshop Alumini 2017, Aunt Willie’s Wildflowers Happily Ever After Wedding Workshop, Hosted Jennie Love Flower Farmer Florist Workshop 2018, The Gardener’s Workshop Farm Online: The Wedding Process and Growing in Greenhouses and Hoophouses, and many conferences and sessions through the ASCFG. 

 

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