Ep. 113: The Farmer & I: A Tale of Love, Flowers, and Entrepreneurship
Release Date: 11/15/2023
Ep. 134: Rooted in Heritage: How Jamaican Roots Guide Olivee Floral
Botanical Brouhaha Podcast
Building Olivee Floral In today’s BB Podcast episode (No. 134), we’re visiting with Karla Smith-Brown, founder of . Karla’s inspiring journey evolved from a career in public relations to becoming a successful floral artist. Her story isn’t just about flowers; it’s about weaving passion, sustainability, and heritage with personal connections to make a powerful impact. Starting out, Karla offered pop-up events and hand-tied bouquets, gradually building her brand (named after her great grandmother, Medorah Olivee Wright). With a design aesthetic influenced by her Jamaican heritage,...
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Ep. 133: Farewell Flowers: Sustainable Options for Funeral Flowers
Botanical Brouhaha Podcast
A Vision for Sustainable Funeral Flowers In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 133), we're visiting with Carole Patilla, co-founder of the and owner of . She joined forces with Gill Hodgson, founder of , to address a need in the floral industry that is often overlooked and avoided — sustainable funeral flowers. This conversation will be helpful for you if: 1) you're unsure how to execute your vision to create funeral flowers without traditional flower foam and single-use plastics or 2) you're struggling to educate clients (and funeral directors) about the importance of sustainable funeral...
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Ep. 132: How Layla Robinson Found Her Niche in Dried Flowers
Botanical Brouhaha Podcast
In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 132), we're visiting with , a creative force in the flower industry known for her specialization in dried flower arrangements and installations. This conversation is specifically for you if: 1) you're interested in dried flowers or 2) you're struggling to find your niche in the floral industry. Layla's journey into the flower industry began over 15 years ago with fresh flowers. Living in the UK, she was inspired by the "buy local" movement and saw an opportunity to start a business that could be managed alongside raising her children. However, the challenges...
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Ep. 131: The Importance of Self-Care in Creative Work
Botanical Brouhaha Podcast
We're visiting with Jen Lagedrost Cavender, owner of . After studying English and creative writing in college, Jen found herself teaching Literature and Creative Writing at a university. But, she felt something was missing and longed to reconnect with her creative side. Inspired by women business owners in the floral industry, she decided to explore flowers as a viable business model. Ultimately, Jen found fulfillment by aligning her work with her passions for flowers and writing. She created a business model that resonates with her values and allows her to express her creativity. She believes...
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Ep. 130: The Poppy Approach to Wedding Florals
Botanical Brouhaha Podcast
We're visiting with Cameron Hardesty, owner of , a wedding floral business based in the Washington, DC area that has seen rapid growth and success. A transformative experience volunteering at the White House ignited Cameron's passion. We walk through her transition from a career in corporate communications to becoming the founder of a company that empowers nearly 900 freelance floral designers, offering them flexibility and opportunities to showcase their creativity. If you've ever wondered what it takes to move a business idea from concept to execution and then scale it quickly, you'll find...
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Ep. 129: Behind the Blooms: Flower Farming at Winkelmann Flowers
Botanical Brouhaha Podcast
In today’s episode, we’re visiting with flower farmer Grant Winkelmann, owner of , in Lindale, Texas. Grant shares not only how he’s built a farm producing sought-after blooms, but he also shares what it took to pull off his family’s recent relocation to a new farm. Grant discusses the challenges of moving, including the logistical hurdles and the emotional impact of leaving behind a supportive community. He shares insights into his farming techniques, the importance of his partnership with his wife Carrington, who runs a floral design business called , and their...
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Ep. 128: From Flowers to Clay: The Creative Journey of Sullivan Owen
Botanical Brouhaha Podcast
Sullivan Owen's journey into the floral industry is as unique as her designs. With a background in retail merchandising, Sullivan transitioned into floristry in 2009 while planning her own wedding. Her distinct style and dedication quickly earned her recognition, leading to a successful career in luxury weddings. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes, prompting Sullivan to explore new creative outlets, including gardening and ceramics. In this episode, we catch up with Sullivan just in time for the inaugural release of her new vase collection which leads to a fascinating...
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Ep. 127: Building a Floral Brand That Sticks
Botanical Brouhaha Podcast
In this BB Podcast episode, Amy (Botanical Brouhaha) chats with Natalie & Meg (co-owners of Native Poppy) about the importance of creating a brand that sticks – meaning it continues to draw in ideal customers year after year. Drawing on Amy's recent experiences trying to find new service providers after relocating her business and life out-of-state, the conversation focuses on the lessons she's learned that can be applied to the other small businesses in the floral profession. Amy, Natalie, and Meg share what they believe has helped them build brands that have flourished at Native...
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Ep. 126 (Part 2): Growing Flowers and Fighting for Change with Grateful Gardeners
Botanical Brouhaha Podcast
In Part 2 of this two-part podcast episode, co-hosts Amy and Natalie visit with Sarah Daken and Tom Precht of and , who transitioned from careers in law and neuroscience to flower farming. Tom discusses their innovative aquaponics system and the challenges they've faced in securing funding. The couple emphasizes their commitment to sustainable practices and the systemic barriers in agriculture. They advocate for policy changes and support other farmers on topics like grant navigation. Their story highlights the difficulties and triumphs of pursuing a passion-driven, environmentally...
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Ep. 125 (Part 1): Growing Flowers and Fighting for Change with Grateful Gardeners
Botanical Brouhaha Podcast
In Part 1 of this two-part podcast episode, co-hosts Amy and Natalie visit with Sarah Daken and Tom Precht of and , who transitioned from careers in law and neuroscience to flower farming. Sarah shares her journey from legal burnout to finding joy in growing flowers with her husband, Tom. Tom discusses their innovative aquaponics system and the challenges they've faced in securing funding. The couple emphasizes their commitment to sustainable practices and the systemic barriers in agriculture. They advocate for policy changes and support other farmers on topics like grant navigation....
info_outlineFloral designer Carrington Winkelmann, owner of The Farmer & I in the Texas Hill Country, shares her journey from college days dreaming to starting her own flower business with her flower farming husband, Grant. She discusses the challenges and rewards of running a business, including managing inventory, managing client expectations, and pricing her services. Carrington shares her dream for the future, which includes housing all parts of her business with her husband on one piece of land where they could also offer agritourism experiences. She emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision and purpose for her business, and shares how the slowdown during the pandemic allowed her to rediscover her love for flowers and the purpose they serve in connecting people.
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You can find show notes and more episodes of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast at botanicalbrouhaha.com, and you can find the BB Podcast co-hosts on IG @botanicalbrouhaha and @hey.nataliegill.
This episode of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast was produced by Joel McGee. Original music by Landon McGee.