We Joined the ASCFG!

A beautiful true beige ‘Cafe Au Lait’ dahlia in bloom last summer

March 17, 2021

2021 will be my 4th season as a flower farmer (3rd season officially in business) and as of last week, I’ve finally joined the ASCFG.

The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG)…

“…was created to educate, unite, and support commercial cut flower growers. It does this by providing production and marketing information; connecting members through events and communications; supporting floriculture research; and encouraging the purchase and use of locally grown flowers by the public. Its mission is to help growers produce high-quality floral material, and to foster and promote the local availability of that product.” - ASCFG.org

I’m not sure why I put off joining this association for so long, but we all procrastinate, right?!

That being said, I am excited to connect with other flower farmers in the years to come — for now virtually, through Zoom presentations, and in person, at future conferences.

I’m a sucker for a good conference. In January 2020, I presented about flower workshops and marketing a flower business at the 4th Annual Cut Flower Growers Conference hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension, where I met a handful of really wonderful local flower growers. Prior to that, I spoke about season extension for vegetable gardens at the 2016 Good Food Expo in Chicago. Going back even farther, the first farming conference I ever attended was the 2014 MOSES Organic Farming Conference in Wisconsin, which was absolutely game changing because it was the first time I’d ever learned about cover cropping, the Soil Food Web, and how farming effects Climate Change!

Being in one place surrounded by thousands of other people who do similar work to you is such a powerful, exciting experience and I can’t wait for more of this in the future with ASCFG.

I’m also excited to receive the exclusive Cut Flower Quarterly Magazine, available only to ASCFG Members.

Self-guided continuing education is so important as a business owner, and especially as a farm business owner. I’m glad to have this opportunity to continue to learn along with others in my field!

peace, love + plant magic,

Fran Parrish