One of the biggest goals of The Flower Collective is to create community within our members. We can't wait to get to know each of you as we work together, but first let us introduce ourselves. Here's a quick bio of our three founders, as well as some fun facts about each of them!
Claire Collie
Fernwood Flower Farm
Years Farming: 2
Favorite Crops: Roses, daffodils, forget me nots, a field of cornflowers and cosmos
Why you wanted to start FCCNY:
The reasons I love farming flowers are the same reasons I knew a collective needed to be started. It's hard to work outside and be fully engrossed in growing crops when you also have to market your crops, network, drive around delivering and try to fit everything into our short growing season. I want flower growers to be able to just grow flowers and know they have an outlet to sell them.
What you're looking forward to in 2024: Two things: 1) forcing tulips (#tulipdungeon is going to keep me sane this winter). 2) Having a better heavy rain plan for fragile flowers.
Fun Fact: I am a huge kdrama fan. 안녕하세요 to any CNY locals who are too.
Victoria Jabot
Ley Creek Farm
Years Farming: 6 years total, but flowers have been the focus of our farm for only the last 3
Favorite Crops: Narcissus, lilac, cerinthe
Why you wanted to start FCCNY: Establishing a collective selling model in our area is an opportunity to capitalize on my experience as an educator to improve the viability of and accessibility to agricultural careers. By sharing resources and providing training, I get to maintain my own farm's autonomy while also supporting community members who share my values.
What you're looking forward to in 2024: I'm really, really looking forward to completing construction on our outbuilding at our second farm site so we can focus on planting even more woodies and perennials.
Fun Fact: I'm a classically trained trombonist!
Samantha Ludlow
Ludlow Farms CNY
Years Farming: 3
Favorite Crops: Snapdragons, ranunculus, sunflowers
Why you wanted to start FCCNY: One of the things I love about flower farming is how strong of a community we have in Central New York. Over the years I've gotten to know and share resources with other farmers and I love being part of a group that mutually supports each other! The Flower Collective of CNY has been a great way to build that community while helping each other in practical ways. With four small kids at home, streamlining the ordering and delivery portion of my business is essential for me. The Collective takes some of that work off my shoulders which enables me to spend more time with my family and doing field work, which is what I enjoy most
What you're looking forward to in 2024: Last summer we added a 30' x 100' high tunnel to our farm, so I'm really looking forward to growing in there! Ranunculus are one of my favorite flowers and they'll be some of the first things to bloom in the tunnel. Right now we've only got a few crops overwintering, but I can't wait to see it full of blooms come spring!
Fun Fact: I love to read and am currently a part of three book clubs!
We hope you've enjoyed learning a little bit more about us. We can't wait to get to know you more as we work together!
Comments