Rooted in Collaboration: Lessons from Three Beginning Flower Farms in South Carolina

Four years ago, I attended the South Carolina Women in Agriculture Network (SCWaGN) Conference as a budding flower grower, eager to learn from the women who had come before me.

This year, I returned to that same conference in a very different role — as a presenter.

Standing at the front of the room alongside two fellow farmers and friends, sharing the lessons we’ve learned while building our farms, felt like one of those full-circle moments that farming gives you if you stick with it long enough.

Our session was called:

Rooted in Collaboration: Three Beginning Flower Farm Models

Together we shared how three coastal flower farms can look very different — and still succeed.

But the most important message we hoped attendees would leave with was simple:

There is no single “right” way to build a flower farm.

The Marigolds Who Make It Possible

Before diving into our farms, we talked about something we call “marigolds.”

The term comes from the flower farming podcast Dirt on Flowers, where they describe marigolds as the people in your life who support you, encourage you, and help you grow.

For me, two of those marigolds were standing right beside me on stage.

Alexis — Wild Goose Flower Farm

Alexis owns Wild Goose Flower Farm in Monks Corner. Her farm blends thoughtful crop production with a deep understanding of systems and efficiency. Alexis has been a generous resource from the beginning — always willing to share knowledge, contacts, and encouragement with fellow growers.

Denese — Tyler Flower Farms

Denese owns Tyler Flower Farms near Conway, South Carolina. Her farm model is rooted in community, education, and agritourism. She has a natural ability to connect people with the land and inspire others who are exploring agriculture for the first time.

Together, the three of us represent different farm models — but we share the same belief that community is essential to this work.

How We Met

Our friendship formed through a series of small but meaningful moments.

I first met Denese during a Clemson Agritourism workshop in York, South Carolina. While touring farms that day, we struck up a conversation about our shared dream of starting U-pick flower farms. That simple conversation became the beginning of a friendship.

I met Alexis through the Beginner ACRE Grant program. During one of our weekly meetings, I mentioned that I was struggling to find business insurance so I could open the farm to the public. Alexis immediately offered the contact she had used. That moment of generosity set the tone for our relationship.

The three of us finally met in person at the 2024 South Carolina Agritourism Association Conference, and we’ve been supporting each other ever since.

It’s proof that when you stay open, share freely, and engage in farmer networks, you eventually find your marigolds.

Cultivating Helena Hills Farm: Growing with Intention

When I started designing Helena Hills Farm, I didn’t begin by asking: What flowers should I grow?

Instead, I asked:What kind of farm experience do I want to create?

Helena Hills Farm sits on a five-acre property in Hardeeville, South Carolina, nestled between Hilton Head Island and Savannah. The farm includes a duck pond, fenced growing space, and a wraparound porch that naturally anchors the guest experience.

We’re currently in Phase One of our expansion, intentionally operating on a small scale — with roughly one-eighth of an acre in production. That smaller footprint allows me to refine systems and build a strong foundation before expanding into the back acre of the property.

My vision is to create a community-focused farm where people can connect with nature through hands-on experiences.

That vision shows up in everything we do:

• U-pick flower experiences

• Hands-on floral workshops

• Private events and seasonal farm gatherings

• Pressed and dried floral crafts

• On-farm goods like honey from our apiary and eggs from our flock

The farm’s wraparound porch has become the heart of many of these gatherings, creating an intimate space where people can slow down and reconnect.

Choosing My Lane

One of the most important decisions I’ve made as a beginning farmer is choosing my lane.

Because Helena Hills Farm is agritourism-forward, every decision I make supports that experience.

We grow flowers that:

• Bloom over long windows so beds stay beautiful for guests

• Branch heavily for multiple harvests

• Photograph well and create visual impact

• Can serve multiple purposes — fresh bouquets, dried arrangements, or pressed florals

This allows a single harvest to support multiple revenue streams.

For example:

• Bouquet bars both on-farm and off-site

• Workshops using pressed or dried flowers

• Farmers markets and artisan markets

• On-farm sales of floral gifts, honey, jam, and arrangements

But choosing my lane also means saying no to certain things.

I don’t do:

• Wholesale flowers

• Daily floral deliveries

• Subscriptions

• Wedding floral design

That clarity protects my time and supports the farm life I want to build.

Common Ground, Multiple Paths

While our farms look different, Alexis, Denese, and I share several similarities.

All three farms are located along the South Carolina coast, in regions heavily influenced by tourism. We deal with the same challenges — intense heat, humidity, and seasonal visitor patterns.

My farm sits in Zone 9A, near Hilton Head and Savannah, while Alexis and Denese farm further north in Zone 8B.

These small differences in climate influence:

• Planting schedules

• Crop selection

• Bloom timing

• Farm calendars

But our biggest shared reality is summer heat.

Instead of fighting July and August, I plan around them. Helena Hills Farm pauses U-picks and workshops during the hottest part of the year.

July becomes a reset month — a time for clearing beds, improving soil, and preparing for fall planting.

Fall and winter, on the other hand, have become some of our busiest months, filled with workshops, markets, and holiday events.

Testing Systems Before Scaling

Because Helena Hills Farm is still in its early phases, the existing fenced growing space acts as a kind of incubator.

I’m currently testing multiple growing methods before expanding production:

• Raised beds

• In-ground rows

• Grow bags

• Vertical gardening

This allows me to learn what works best for our soil, our labor capacity, and our agritourism model before scaling up production.

I also rely heavily on digital planning tools. Google Sheets and Google Calendar help me map out planting schedules, event dates, succession plantings, and crop rotations in one place.

For seed starting, I primarily use soil blocks and direct seeding to keep input costs manageable. For fall planting, however, I plan to bring in plugs to reduce workload during the busiest part of the season.

Collaboration Beyond the Farm

One of the most rewarding parts of building Helena Hills Farm has been discovering that collaboration doesn’t stop with other farmers.

Through my local Chamber of Commerce, I’ve connected with an incredible network of female entrepreneurs. We collaborate on events, cross-promote our businesses, and create experiences that support one another’s work.

My goal is to continue strengthening that network and create more opportunities for women-owned businesses to grow together.

Because in agriculture — and in business — community is far more powerful than competition.

Finding Your Marigolds

At the end of our presentation, we shared three hopes for the audience:

• That they would see there are many paths to building a farm

• That they would feel confident they don’t have to do it alone

• And that they would walk away with ideas for collaborating instead of comparing

Flower farming can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also feel isolating at times.

Finding your marigolds — the people who cheer you on, share knowledge, and lift you up — can make all the difference.

For me, two of those marigolds were standing beside me on stage.

And I’m grateful every day that this journey brought us together.

Watch the full presentation here on YouTube: Rooted in Collaboration: Three Beginning Flower Farm Models