Mulch

Rebecca Aning-Brown of The Flower Farming Business School
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Mulch is a weekly podcast, hosted by Rebecca, owner of Silver Grey Foliage - a Flower and Foliage Farm in Leeds, England. Each week she share conversation and tips to feed, nurture and grow your Flower Farm, opens conversations that Flower Farmers find difficult to talk about and provides practical and pragmatic responses to the everyday Flower Farming Challenges. Sounds Good? DOn't forget to subscribe!

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    The Small Habits That Actually Run a Flower Farm

    This week on MULCH, Rebecca shares a lighter episode for growers coming through a busy Mother's Day weekend. Flower farms aren't usually held together by big moments or dramatic decisions. More often, they're sustained by small habits repeated quietly week after week across the season. In this episode, Rebecca talks through some of the simple practices that help keep a flower farm running smoothly and professionally — from preparing cutting tools and keeping buckets clean, to labelling seedlings properly, recording sowing notes, and replying to customer enquiries promptly. These small habits might not appear in the photographs we share online, but together they create the consistency that allows flower farms to deliver beautiful flowers reliably to customers. Rebecca also explains how she uses the Flower Farmer's Planner to track these habits, record propagation notes and review decisions across the season so that lessons learned aren't forgotten the following year. If you're feeling tired after a busy week of cutting and delivering flowers, this episode is a gentle reminder that professional flower farms are built on steady rhythms and small habits — not perfection. In this episode: • Why small habits matter more than big moments • Preparing tools and buckets for consistent flower quality • Avoiding the frustration of unlabelled seed trays • Recording sowing lessons so you don't relearn them next year • Managing customer enquiries without mental overload Links 🌿 Order the Flower Farmer's Planner https://www.silvergreyfoliage.com/education

    12 min

  2. 6 MAR

    Succession Sowing Without Overwhelm: Why constant sowing isn't always the answer

    Succession sowing is often presented as the key to having flowers all season long. But on many small UK flower farms, the pressure to keep sowing again and again can quietly create more work than the flowers are worth. In this episode of MULCH, Rebecca explores what succession sowing actually means and why misunderstanding it can lead to unnecessary labour, overwhelm, and resentment. Using ecological thinking and real examples from the field, she reflects on how a resilient flower farm often relies less on constant repetition and more on seasonal transition, where different plants step forward as the season moves on. You'll hear about: Why succession sowing doesn't always mean growing the same flowers repeatedly How seasonal transitions can create a steady flow of flowers The question every grower should ask before adding another sowing Why working with the season builds resilience in a flower farming business If succession plans are starting to feel overwhelming, this episode offers a calmer and more sustainable way to think about the season ahead. Mentioned in this episode Explore resources for flower farmers, including the Flower Farmer's Planner and business planning tools: https://www.silvergreyfoliage.com/education

    18 min

  3. 27 FEB

    The 5 P's of Pest Resilience for Flower Farmers

    This week on Mulch, we're celebrating two milestones, Episode 60 and 15,000 downloads. Thank you for being here and for building this thoughtful, business-minded flower farming community with me. Today's episode is about pests… but really, it's about resilience. Because pests are not a sign that you're failing. They're a sign that you're growing something worth eating. As sustainable flower farmers, the goal isn't elimination, it's building systems strong enough to absorb pressure without reaching for pesticides (or despair). In this episode, I share the 5 P's of Pest Resilience for the 2026 season: 🌿 Protection – When low tunnels help… and when they hinder. 🌿 Pungent – Using scent as a preventative layer (garlic, herbs, calendula, phlox). 🌿 Prickly – How spiky companions can deter deer and create natural boundaries. 🌿 Ponds – Inviting predators to rebalance your ecosystem. 🌿 Patience – The long game of ecological stability and small bird allies. Sustainable flower farming isn't about removing every challenge. It's about designing layered resilience into your land and your business.   ☕ Support the podcast & buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silvergreyfoliage  📓 Flower Farmers Planner & Business Planning resources: https://silvergreyfoliage.com/education/  🌿 Cut Flower Meadow Seeds (limited seasonal availability): https://silvergreyfoliage.com/shop   If this episode resonated, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps more flower farmers find Mulch and build resilient businesses of their own. As ever, I'll be back next week encouraging you to get on and grow. Rebecca 🌿

    15 min

  4. 20 FEB

    Flower Farming Is Hard on Hands. Things to think about to Protect your Skin, Muscles and Bones

    In this episode of MULCH, Rebecca explores flower farmer self-care through the lens of our most important tools - our hands. From skin protection and glove choices to strengthening forearms and thinking about vitamin D and bone health, this episode offers practical, preventative advice to help you stay strong, safe and able to keep growing. A thoughtful reminder that sustainable flower farming starts with looking after yourself. You can find the Flower Farmers Planner, business planning kits and cut flower meadow seeds in our webshop:   Cut Flower Seed meadow Vitamin D Patient leaflet

    20 min

  5. 13 FEB

    February Confidence Wobbles: 3 ways to steady your flower farm head when you feel behind and it looks like everyone else has it sorted.

    In this episode of Mulch, Rebecca offers a timely February pep talk for flower farmers feeling wobbly, behind, or overwhelmed. She shares three grounded reminders: create your own seed sowing plan (and stop chasing perfect ones), stop buying seeds you don't need, and focus on your own business priorities rather than comparing yourself on social media. A practical and reassuring listen for anyone navigating the uncomfortable, unpredictable season of early-year growing.

    19 min

  6. 30 JAN

    7 top tips for seed sowing this February that will solve most of your problems with tricky germinators.

    In this episode of Mulch, Rebecca shares seven practical tips to improve seed germination and make the most of the money you spend on seeds. From compost choice and moisture levels to patience, airflow and handling tricky seeds like orlaya and annual phlox, this is a calm, experience-led guide to starting the seed-sowing season well. If you find Mulch helpful, you can support the podcast by leaving a review here: 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/mulch/id1723466433?action=write-review

    19 min

  7. 23 JAN

    How to Stop Your Flower Farm Becoming an "Every Time Job" in 2026

    When a flower farm starts to fill every spare moment — evenings, weekends and headspace — it can quietly turn into an every time job. In this episode, I explore The Every Time Job Trap: why it happens, what it looks like, and how to create more structure and sustainability when you're growing a flower farm alongside other work or caring responsibilities. There are gentle reflection prompts throughout, designed to support curiosity rather than criticism. Links: Join the newsletter: https://silvergreyfoliage.com Business Planning Module: https://silvergreyfoliage.thrivecart.com/business-planning-for-flower-farmers/ Live Q&A (Tuesday 27th January): https://silvergreyfoliage.thrivecart.com/live-flower-farmer-qa-january/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silvergreyfoliage/ If you're finding MULCH helpful, leaving a review helps the podcast reach more growers. Thank you

    21 min

  8. 16 JAN

    5 things not to do in your first year of Flower Farming

    In this episode of Mulch, Rebecca shares five common mistakes to avoid in your first year of flower farming. From keeping everything in your head and underpricing your work, to overcomplicating successions and planting perennials too soon. Drawing on real experience, she offers calm, practical guidance to help new growers build businesses that are realistic, profitable and sustainable from the start.

    20 min
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About

Mulch is a weekly podcast, hosted by Rebecca, owner of Silver Grey Foliage - a Flower and Foliage Farm in Leeds, England. Each week she share conversation and tips to feed, nurture and grow your Flower Farm, opens conversations that Flower Farmers find difficult to talk about and provides practical and pragmatic responses to the everyday Flower Farming Challenges. Sounds Good? DOn't forget to subscribe!

Information

  • Creator
    Rebecca Aning-Brown of The Flower Farming Business School
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    Mulch

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