Growing a Balanced Foundation
Sunday, February 21 to February 28, 2021
Registration is closed.
The ever–popular ASCFG Growers’ School will be presented virtually for the first time! The program has been developed with the beginning grower in mind and offers the opportunity to ask questions throughout the week. Once the course is completed, a community forum will allow continued interaction exclusive to attendees for one month.
The course will begin on Sunday, February 21 with a live kick-off webinar from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. eastern time and end on Sunday, February 28 with a live webinar from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. This weeklong format combines real time virtual interaction with educational video sessions to offer a comprehensive course providing participants the flexibility to create their own schedules for engagement. Attendees will be provided instructions for viewing videos and submitting questions throughout the week. A panel of participating speakers will answer questions during the live webinar on February 28.
The first 200 registrants will receive a complimentary copy of the ASCFG’s book, Postharvest Handling of Cut Flowers and Greens (Sorry, no substitutions). Maximum number of attendees is 300.
This program will not be posted in Members Only. It is a deeply comprehensive beginner course, and will include question and answer opportunities, and post-meeting networking options to paid participants.
Sunday, February 21
Live Webinar
3:00 p.m. EST Introduction
Bailey Hale, Farmer Bailey
Irasburg, Vermont
3:15 p.m. Business Models – What’s Best for You?
Sponsored by SunflowerSelections.com
Selling Direct to Consumer – When Everybody Could Be Your Customer, Who Should Be?
Amanda and Matthew Cook, Cook’s Market
Baldwin City, Kansas
Selling to Florists and Designers
Anna Jane Kocon, Little State Flower Co.
Tiverton, Rhode Island
Selling to Wholesalers
Michael Genovese, Summer Dreams Farm
Oxford, Michigan
Farmer-florist – A Unique Arrangement
Isabella Thorndike, Jacklily Floral
Rogue Valley, Oregon
Sponsored by A-ROO Company
4:20 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Q & A
4:45 – 6:00 p.m. Crop Selection – Informed Choices vs. Taking Chances
Bailey Hale
Farmer Bailey, Irasburg, Vermont
Anna Jane Kocon, Little State Flower Co., Tiverton, Rhode Island
Sponsored by Banner Greenhouses and Syngenta Flowers
Video Sessions
Videos may be viewed throughout the week. Participants will be provided online forms for submitting questions after viewing each video.
Seed Starting with the Professionals
Scott Rusch
BloomStudios, West Chicago, Illinois
Sponsored by BloomStudios
Getting Your Ground Ready for Growing
Ellen Polishuk
Plant to Profit
Crop Planning: Scheduling Your Success
Drew Groezinger, Clara Joyce Flowers
Stockton, Illinois
Sponsored by Ball Seed
Managing the Risks of Flower Farming – Business Planning & Diligence
Gretchen Langston, Blooms, LLC
Laporte, Colorado
Sponsored by SunflowerSelections.com
Postharvest by the Book
John Dole, North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
The first 200 registrants will receive a complimentary copy of the ASCFG’s
book Postharvest Handling of Cut Flowers and Greens.(Sorry, no substitutions)
Sponsored by Chrysal
From Gardening to Farming: Scaling Up You and Your Farm
Drew Groezinger, Clara Joyce Flowers
Stockton, Illinois
Sunday February 28
Live Webinar
3:00 pm EST
Build a Strong Foundation with Community and Collaboration
Val Schirmer, Three Toads Farm
Winchester, Kentucky
4:00 p.m.
Q & A – Engage with panel of presenters from video sessions.
Bailey Hale
Drew Groezinger
John Dole
Gretchen Langston
Ellen Polishuk
Scott Rusch
Where to go from here?
Video presentations and live webinar recordings will be available to participants through March 31.
BONUS! You’re invited to join a community forum to share and discuss what you learned. Attendees will receive an application on February 28 to register to participate in this optional forum through March 31.
