As farmers, we often hear the phrase “value-added agriculture,” but many people still are not entirely sure what it means in practice. The reality is that value-added agriculture is one of the most important tools farmers have today if they want to move beyond simply surviving and begin building ...

As a farmer and agritourism business owner, I have spent years navigating one of the biggest questions in modern agriculture: Do you farm for commodities, or do you farm for your community?

This is not just a philosophical question. It is a financial, operational, and deeply personal one that de...

Earlier this year, I was invited to speak on the “Future Proof Author” panel at Podfest 2026. It was a full-circle moment. Just one year ago, I came to Podfest with one goal in mind: find sponsors for my podcast. I left with a book deal.

This year, I had the opportunity to sit alongside experienced...

When people hear “crop planning,” they often think it’s about controlling every outcome on the farm. But it’s not. Crop planning is about aligning what you grow with when and how you plan to sell it. It’s a decision-making process that respects your time, your labor, and your flowers.

At Sunny M...

This month’s Flowers Bloom Anyway episode is a little different, and exactly what I think many of us need right now. I sat down with Dr. Mark Hicks at Podfest Expo to talk about his book Learning Love: Building a Life That Matters and Healthy Relationships That Last. While we often focus on the b...

In this week’s episode of the Rooted Agritourism Podcast, I had the pleasure of talking with Ali from Anderbery Acres in Nebraska. We met last year at the Flower Farmer Forum, and it was a full-circle moment to hear how that event impacted her journey as a flower farmer.

When we first launched t...

Running an agritourism business isn’t just about flowers, events, or perfectly timed marketing. It’s about endurance. This past year at Sunny Mary Meadow tested nearly every part of my personal and professional life. On the Rooted Agritourism podcast, I reflected on what 2025 taught me—not just a...

In the world of specialty agriculture and floristry, creativity often takes center stage. But behind the beauty of floral arrangements and seasonal blooms lies a complex operational reality that flower farmers and florists navigate every day. Planning, inventory management, and communication betw...

When I first started writing Flowers Bloom Anyway, I wasn’t writing a book. I was journaling. I was angry, heartbroken, and trying to survive one of the hardest moments of my life. My husband had just died suddenly, and the pages were a place to pour everything out—grief, confusion, frustration, ...

The 2026 Flower Farmer Forum is officially set for January 31 at Sunny Mary Meadow in St. Joseph, Minnesota. This year’s event is shaping up to be one of the most hands-on and practical conferences we've ever hosted for flower farmers and agritourism professionals.

With ongoing shifts in the flo...

If you’ve been following along, you know that what started as a flower farm has grown into something much bigger than I ever imagined. In this episode of Rooted Agritourism, I’m walking you through how we turned a field of blooms into a community space, retail store, and full-blown agritourism hu...

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn a simple product into a full-blown destination, this episode of Rooted Agritourism is for you. I sat down with Peter Gillitzer, co-owner of Milk and Honey Cider in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and let me tell you, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways and...