Garden Business Lessons

Garden business lessons can shape your whole approach to entrepreneurship as well as your approach to life, giving you a new way to look at everything.

Now, let's delve deeper into each of these parts, providing you with actionable steps and valuable insights to help you turn your gardening dreams into a flourishing reality.

Garden Business Lessons - 3/10-3/16/2025

Monday, March 10, 2025

Snapdragons are growing in my garden again. I cannot remember what the pink flowers are but they lasted throughout the freezes.

Good morning. I have been up for a while. I truly despise the time change. It is now 7:52am and it is finally light out. It is 37° and ridiculously cold so I am glad we did not plant anything. I printed orders and decided on garden topics to write about through the end of July when we start a new year on the farm.

After today, there are no more temperatures in the 30s for the next two weeks. By then, it will be the end of March. I wonder if we are finally done for this season with the cold. Spring begins on March 20. Around these parts, today starts spring break. When we moved to Texas back in 1975, spring break was always in the winter so it was always chilly and miserable if you wanted to do something outdoors. It just makes no sense at all.

Today, we have hundreds upon hundreds of orders to fill. No joke.

Yesterday, David managed to sell or giveaway our Farm Store fridge, the display baskets, and all of our rabbits.

The rats are going into the rabbit dishes at night, eating, and leaving disgustingness in their food. Either the bait box is empty or they are no longer messing with it. There are many holes that the huge rats are coming into and we need to close them but they will just dig again so we are getting rid of them. That is too bad.

The eggs are no longer selling since I follow the county's rules and wash my eggs while others do not. Because I do follow the rules, I have lost my regular customers who are now buying from people who do not wash their eggs. How do I know this? My old pal, Facebook. I will have a few extra dozen a week but they will not be displayed.

We are no longer going to carry sodas and snacks since most of those were not purchased. Anyway, we are not a convenience store. We are a seed store. The rice is almost gone but we will not be replacing it. What coffee we have currently is all we will have as that is not selling as quickly as it should have, mostly due to the horrible economy that Biden gave us over the last four years while he collected millions of dollars under the table.

This is about half of the orders we have to fill. Some are already out in Fulfillment and there are more that I just printed from the website. These will keep us busy for days.

I got out to Fulfillment and got started. All four of us were filling and mailing orders.

Apparently, David has been giving away and selling things. The Farm Store fridge and four of our basket display stands have been sold. The funny thing is that the store that is buying the baskets only wants four instead of all six so two of those are still available.

Around 11am, a family came and took all of the rabbits home with them. They have two kids so I am sure this week the rabbits will get lots of attention.

The mailman came close to 4pm and we had four bags and a large box for him to take.

This is the most mail in one day that we have sent out in a long time-4 big bags!

There was one five page order for pickup that I filled first. Around lunchtime, the local person came to pick it up. Other than delivery people, and the family that picked up all eight rabbits, that was the only person here all day. Today is the start of spring break all over the area including San Antonio yet not one family showed up to buy seeds. I find that very interesting.

It is now 5pm and I am still closing orders with many more to pull.

I am losing my voice and I am not sure if it is due to allergies or what. Fortunately, I will be seeing my doctor early tomorrow morning so we will see what he has to say.

Today was payday so I got the checks all written. While we are in town tomorrow, we will have to go by the bank as well as take the Spanish DVDs of the Dallas reboot to the UPS store for return. I ordered them in English. Why on earth would I want them in Spanish when the only Spanish I speak has to do with food?

I will say that the day went super fast.

Our bees just got put up for sale and we've already had an interested caller...Turns out they want to pay much less than what we paid. Why does everyone think we have to practically give everything away?

Then there is the matter of the time change and our automatic gate which is still wide open at 5:43pm. Matt says he changed it, setting everything ahead an hour yet it is still wide open. Who knows when it will close? These time changes stink on so many levels.

Garden Business Lessons - Getting Rooted: Business Basics for Gardeners

First things first, you need a solid foundation. Just like preparing the soil before planting, you need to understand the basics of running a business. This means understanding how to make money from gardening. It also means realizing that you cannot give everything away because you want to help people.

If you are like that, get a partner or a spouse to run the retail store (if you have one) who won't mind taking money from customers. David loves to give and he will give you the shirt off of his back and go without.

I am happy to sell the seeds and other things for money. We certainly have poured our money into our business. We deserve to be paid for the seeds we provide.

I am most often the one you will see in our store. We have poured our money into our business. We deserve to be paid for the seeds we provide--one of many good garden business lessons.

Me? I am happy to take your money. The seeds, ink, envelopes, baggies, postage, shipping supplies all cost money and we have to make an income. We do not have a fat government retirement check coming in. Seed income is the only income we have.

Think about what you love most about gardening. Do you have a knack for growing vibrant flowers? Are you a whiz at organic vegetable gardening? Maybe you're passionate about creating beautiful garden designs.

This passion will guide you to your niche. Focusing on a specific area will help you target your ideal customers and stand out from the crowd.

Before launching any business, it's crucial to identify your core competencies. What are you exceptionally good at in the garden? Do you have a green thumb that can coax life from even the most stubborn seedlings? Are you a master of composting and organic gardening techniques?

Perhaps you possess an artistic eye for garden design, capable of transforming ordinary spaces into breathtaking landscapes. Or maybe you're a whiz at propagating rare and exotic plants.

Pinpointing your strengths will guide you towards a niche market where you can truly excel. This specialization will not only set you apart from the competition but also allow you to focus your energy and resources on what you do best.

David's Garden Seeds®? We sell garden seeds. I think we got away from that while looking for supplemental income that did not pan out. We sell seeds to plant and grow food, flowers, and herbs. Most of our 1200 varieties are heirlooms aka heritage seeds. That seems to be what people want. More have asked for them than for any other type of seed.

Also, our seeds will never be GMO. We won't try to dupe the public like some other very popular seed company did recently. Amazingly, according to social media, they are still everybody's favorite seed company. How can that be???

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Sunrise through a dirty windshield as we drove to the doctor's office down the road from our farm.

We had early morning appointments with our PCP. I had fasting labwork done one week ago today at the hospital where my doctor told me to go. The doctor got us in before the appointment time but he never received my labwork. He wrote me orders for new fasting labwork. Are you kidding me?

Once the appointment was over, we had other errands to do. We accomplished those and then went to the lab in the hospital. After signing my life away, I was given my four page lab results. I immediately took them back to my doctor. He called me back in and went over the labs with me. The lab gal would not say why they would not provide the ordering doctor with the results. The nerve...

Today, our in-person customers included one man who wanted plants and a lady who bought eggs. That was it. Again, it is spring break.

The heat got up to 84°. The low will get down to 56°. It is now 5:35pm and I have to go in and make dinner and clean up the kitchen. Gordon comes on tonight.

Matt found five places where our back pipes are broken so he has been working on that.

The gate is still not right after the time change. Fun, fun times.

Matt unjammed the pond pump. A new sideways pump will be here tomorrow.

Matt got the pond pump working again. The gate is questionable but we will see tomorrow.

This is what freeze dried raw eggs look like when they come out of the freeze dryer. I then broke them up and put them in the blender to pulverize them into powder.

The freeze dried eggs finally finished this afternoon. I crushed them into fine powder using a blender. It took quite a while.

I made a delicious breakfast casserole to go with the leftover beef we had from yesterday for dinner. We watched Gordon. He was back in New Orleans again with some spoiled girl who thought she was a celebrity chef because she has over 1,000 followers on Instagram. Lol! She couldn't cook and she oversalted everything with her own brand of seasoning. It was hilarious because she would not listen to Gordon or any of her customers.

Garden Business Lessons - Nature's Wisdom: Business Lessons from the Garden

Some of the plants in the greenhouses are part of our business. Garden business lessons can help you set up a business having something to do with gardening.

Your garden is a goldmine of business wisdom. Pay attention, and you'll discover incredible parallels between the natural world and the business world.

Think about the circle of life in your garden. Seeds sprout, plants grow, they bloom, they wither, and the cycle begins anew. This mirrors the ebb and flow of business. There will be ups and downs, seasons of growth and periods of dormancy.

Just like how to garden better by learning which plants thrive in different conditions, in business, you need to adapt to changing market trends and customer demands.

And just like how every year in the garden is different due to weather, your business will face unexpected challenges. Learning to adapt and overcome these obstacles is key to long-term success.

Observe the natural cycles in your garden. Notice how plants go through periods of growth, dormancy, and renewal. This cyclical pattern offers valuable insights into the ebb and flow of business.

Just as plants require different care in different seasons, your business will require adjustments throughout the year. Anticipate seasonal fluctuations in demand, adjust your inventory accordingly, and plan for periods of slower growth.

Embrace the garden business lessons of resilience. Just as plants adapt to changing weather conditions, your business must adapt to market fluctuations, customer preferences, and unexpected challenges. Flexibility and adaptability are key to long-term survival.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Good morning. It was another rough night. Neuropathy in my feet woke me up twice. It is now light out at 7:45am. I still need to eat breakfast.

It is now almost 10am and our gate is still closed so I have no idea about that...

The gate opened at 10am. Around 11am, our first customers of the day arrived and shopped for seeds and eggs.

Matt worked on the gate again. He went back out past the orchard working on water lines and on the beehives. In fact, he got so busy that he forgot to leave for his dental appointment this afternoon.

David took Pamela for a shave and grooming this afternoon and came back, leaving Pamela.

Some customers came for eggs. They said they were here close to 10am from San Antonio but the gate was closed. They said they did not want to honk in case we were still in bed. Lol! We have animals. They don't let us sleep in plus we have a business to run. Sleeping in for us is occasionally making it to 6am. I told them about our gate troubles since the time change and apologized profusely. I sold my last seven dozen eggs to them. It figures. Now that we've sold the big egg refrigerator, I am selling out of eggs every day.

The new pond pump came in and Matt put that on in about five minutes!

At 5pm, the gate was still open. I closed the store and went back to filling orders. At 5:10pm, a truck drove in. They wanted seeds so I let them shop. I opened back up and they were excited to be here, coming from Devine. They had never heard of us before until someone in their garden club mentioned us.

Then Matt worked on the gate again. We shall see what it does tomorrow.

Pamela looks pretty and much cooler for summer with her new haircut.

David and I left for Lytle to pick up Pamela around 5:30pm. We stopped at HEB first as she still was not ready. David got dizzy in HEB because he had not had dinner. I got very scared as I went through this several years ago when he had diverticulitis and kept fainting on me. It was horrible. He had a Coke and a candy bar but it still took a while before he felt better.

We checked out and he sent me to the top of the hill to get the truck. The whole time I thought he would faint while I was gone. I got the truck and headed down to the store doors and all of a sudden, he was in front of me pushing the cart. Then I had to park wrong to get out of the road so I could load the groceries.

He started feeling better and we picked up dinner and then Pamela. She looks very cute and ready for summer now.

Me? I am still a wreck but David is feeling better. He came home and took a nap while I unloaded the car, put everything away, fed the dogs, did the dishes, washed and packed the eggs, and then took a shower. It is now after 9pm and I am still shaky.

There is a pretty moon out tonight. I snapped a photo before dark.

I took this photo on the way home this evening before dark.

Garden Business Lessons - Planting the Seeds: Planning and Finances

It is good to make a financial plan and stick to it.

Now, let's talk money. A solid financial plan is essential for any business, especially a garden-based one.

Start by calculating your startup costs. This includes everything from seeds and soil to tools and equipment. If you plan to sell online, factor in website development and marketing expenses.

Next, determine your pricing strategy. Research what similar businesses are charging and consider your own costs and desired profit margin.

Create a realistic budget and stick to it. This will help you track your income and expenses, ensuring you stay on track to profitability.

A well-structured business plan is the roadmap to your success. It outlines your goals, strategies, and financial projections, providing a clear direction for your garden business.

Start by defining your target market. Who are your ideal customers? What are their needs and preferences? Understanding your target market will inform your product offerings, pricing strategies, and marketing efforts.

Conduct thorough market research. Analyze your competition, identify market trends, and assess the demand for your products or services. This research will provide valuable insights into the viability of your business idea.

Develop a comprehensive financial plan. Project your startup costs, operating expenses, and revenue streams. Create a realistic budget and establish clear financial goals. Let this be one of the imporrtant garden business lessons.

Thursday, March 13, 2025

I enjoy seeing the bands of fog that sometimes form in the field like this one today.

It is already Thursday. This morning, we are expecting an important guest around 10am. I need to clean up the house some. Last night, Pamela, ripped apart a toy rabbit so there is stuffing all over the den carpet. I have to clean that up for sure.

I awoke to the smell of bacon cooking. I had the most terrible time falling asleep last night. It was almost 1am before I could. After that, I had some weird dreams and woke up three times, one due to foot neuropathy. I got some new neuropathy socks that I wore for hours yesterday but the bottom elastic really started to hurt after about five hours so I had to take them off early.

It is finally light outside. I was in the kitchen a little while ago and Matt just walked in the front door from the dark around 7am. He and David are out back cleaning up some sheds. He surprised me. I had no idea he was here but David told him to come early to help him. David is feeling much better this morning.

There is a cool band of fog across the field and Matt is carrying some stuff up to the front of the property.

Matt in front of my greenhouse with the bands of fog in the field.

We had an important meeting that lasted about an hour as we toured the property this morning. Towards the end of that meeting, while we were outside, David's phone rang. Unfortunately, he chose to answer his phone. The woman calling identified herself as one of our former employee's grandmother. She wanted us to sell her bulk zinnia seeds which we do not do. Then she wanted to know a specific price of one of our varieties. Keep in mind that we have over 1200 seed varieties, varying in price.

I tried to look it up on my phone but I could not get any signal. David told her she would need to look it up as we could not get it for her. She said, "okay if it is too much trouble for you to look it up." Then she added "A$$hole" and hung up. Wow! This was all done on speaker for everyone to hear. There were shocks all around. Gotta be proud! We tried to help her when we should have just let it go to voicemail. And don't expect us to give your granddaughter another job...

Last night, we had an email from someone who wants free seeds to plant a garden for the poor. Instead of him buying the seeds, he wants us to give the seeds to him. First, we have already given away thousands of dollars worth of seeds this year and we are done.

Second, David would need some photos and other information, none of which he would give us because of privacy issues. Yet we are supposed to give him seeds to do with what he wants for free. He told David to let him know when David is ready to trust people.

The very nerve. Go to Walmart and get some cheap seeds if you feel a calling to help poor people. We have found our seeds that we have given away for sale for higher prices on Etsy and EBay over the years after people lied to us about needing free seeds.

I made Ahi tuna and broccoli for lunch. It was so delicious. It is almost 2pm and 89° already.

The big refrigerator is all cleaned out to go to Farm to Familia.

They also bought 4 of my basket displays since we won't have snacks anymore.

The refrigerator was picked up this afternoon but all of the shelving was mistakenly left behind in the store.

I sold out of my eggs again today and then folks came in wanting more.

After the fridge was taken, we left to go to Pleasanton to pick up medication at the pharmacy.

We came back and started filling orders again. At 5:30pm, I was starving so I went in and made dinner--a big ribeye, potato slices, and broccoli. Then we continued with Yellowstone.

Garden Business Lessons - Cultivating Growth: Marketing and Sales

Some of the plants we had for sale last summer.

You've got amazing products or services, now you need to get the word out! This is where marketing comes in. Marketing your business is one of the necessary garden business lessons to your success.

Start by identifying your target audience. Who are your ideal customers? What are their needs and desires?

Once you know your audience, tailor your marketing messages to resonate with them. Use social media, local events, and even word-of-mouth to spread the word about your garden business.

Build relationships with potential customers. Offer excellent customer service and create a loyal following.

Your brand is more than just a logo or a name. It represents your values, your unique selling proposition, and the experience you offer your customers.

Craft a compelling brand story that resonates with your target audience. Communicate your passion for gardening, your commitment to quality, and the benefits of your products or services.

Establish a consistent brand presence across all platforms, from your website and social media channels to your packaging and marketing materials. This consistency will build brand recognition and reinforce your message.

Friday, March 14, 2025

For the first time ever, my Thanksgiving cactus has flowered! I have had this plant for a year and a half. Isn't it pretty?

Good morning. David has fasting bloodwork today but the earliest appointment I could get was at 12:30pm. That is just crazy. David got up at 4am and made himself breakfast so he could fast for eight hours.

It is overcast and 64° this morning. I need to get a move on. There is always so much to do. I need to start with fixing myself some breakfast.

David got his fasting bloodwork done. I did not go with him as there just wasn't time.

Throughout the day, we had occasional visitors until around 3pm. Then five different sets of customers showed up at about the same time so I was quite busy there for a while, helping customers, looking at their photos, videos, listening to their stories, running to get additional seeds as one man bought 30 of one kind and a lot of others. Matt was way out back and everyone else was busy so I had no one to help but I got it done.

After that, no one else showed up. I still have a ridiculous amount of orders to get out. Usually I am all caught up on Friday but not this week.

Then, we ordered Filipino food for dinner and when the dinner was delivered, that man picked up the refrigerator shelves but since I was not out there and did not know this until after the fact, some parts are still here. The guy also decided to buy some of our rice after the store was closed at 6:30pm. I was already in the house cleaning up the kitchen. Matt took care of all of that food and shelves, etc.

We finally finished Yellowstone. It was sad at the end but a very good show except for the "F" word in just about every single sentence in every episode.

Garden Business Lessons - Tending the Garden: Operations and Management

Our business receives a lot of deliveries.

Running a garden business is more than just planting and harvesting. It requires efficient operations and careful management.

Develop systems for everything from ordering supplies to fulfilling customer orders. This will help you streamline your processes and maximize efficiency.

Keep meticulous records of your income, expenses, and inventory. This will give you valuable insights into your business performance and help you make informed decisions.

Here is another of the top garden business lessons. Building strong customer relationships is essential for long-term success. Provide exceptional customer service, go the extra mile to exceed expectations, and create a community around your brand. Loyal customers are your best advocates, spreading the word about your business and driving repeat sales. Remember, in the garden of business, nurturing relationships is just as important as nurturing your plants.

Saturday, March 15, 2025

Good morning. At 7am, it was 65°. The high should only be 81° today with high winds. Last night, David started a brisket on the Traeger. I warned him about the winds that were coming. Around 1am, he said the wind was making the Traeger cook hotter so he took it off the Traeger and put it in the oven.

When I got up for some coffee, the house smelled wonderful but I did not know why at first.

I went out and got all of the animals taken care of. The twins would not let me catch them. The wind has started with blowing sand. As I was going back to the house for breakfast, Matt appeared. I went in to water all of my greenhouse plants and trees before breakfast. Good thing I did.

I had breakfast and got ready. Matt opened the store for me. I came out and we were both pulling orders. Matt took the first and second customers. I was grateful.

It is now noon and 75° with winds at 21 miles per hour right now according to Alexa.

I have dishes washing and laundry in the washer and dryer. I just finished my Filipino food from last night, which, by the way, was very good. I don't even know what it was.

Matt tells me that I am sold out of eggs again today. That is so awesome! We only had three customers today in total. We got a lot of orders pulled and mailed but so many more to pull.

Gracie out in front, George, and their grandmother, Alice.

The wind has picked up and there is blowing sand everywhere. I got plenty of it in my teeth, just like all of the Marches when I lived in El Paso. There, the wind blows hard all month long.

I finally closed up at 4:15pm and took care of all of the animals and collected some eggs.

I picked up Gracie and she screamed her head off like I was trying to kill her. I could not get George. They are so adorable but they just make horrible noises, thinking that I would hurt them. They were busy running all over their play yard today. In fact, when I got over there, their mother was up on top of the wooden platform in the yard, probably taking a break from her twin babies for a little while. Having raised three of my own, I understand completely.

It is now 6pm. David's brisket is done and I guess I had better make some sides. My back is killing me so I am trying to rest that for a bit. It is currently 77° Fahrenheit and still very windy. I wonder--is there any place in Texas that does not get wind like this?

We enjoyed a good meal as we watched David's pick of the evening, the movie Taxi. Then we started the old TV show Dynasty. I used to love that show. David has not seen it. It is as good as Dallas only it takes place in Denver.

Garden Business Lessons - Reaping the Rewards: Scaling and Expansion

Inside our farm store.

Once your garden business is thriving, you might consider expanding your offerings or reaching new markets.

Think about adding new products or services, partnering with other businesses, or even opening a physical storefront.

Scaling your business requires careful planning and execution. Don't rush the process. Take your time and make strategic decisions that align with your long-term goals. Review garden business lessons over and over.

Sunday, March 16, 2025

George, Gracie, Alice, and part of mom, Trixie. In the upper left, you can see Norton (dad).

The wind is over for now. It was 45° when I got up this morning. I went out and took care of all of the animals. George and Gracie were jumping and dancing around and trying to jump up on the platform.

We went to church this morning and there are white bluebonnets growing there! I had never seen them before.

We came home without going anywhere after church. Ate leftover brisket. I went out to check on the goats who are doing fine. However, one of the adults made a whole lot of number two in their water so I dumped that and got them fresh water.

Alice is getting bigger. Maybe sometime soon. It actually takes five months, not four for a goat to have a baby.

These are some of the bluebonnets in our backyard this year.

Garden Business Lessons - The Sustainable Garden: Long-Term Success

This is one of our rainbow carrot harvests.

Building a sustainable garden business means thinking beyond short-term profits. It's about creating a business that can thrive for years to come.

Embrace sustainable gardening practices. This not only benefits the environment but also resonates with environmentally conscious customers. Garden business lessons will help you to become successful.

Continuously learn and adapt. The gardening and business worlds are constantly evolving. Stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices. Add new information to your garden business lessons as you come across it.

Building a successful garden business is a journey, not a destination. Embrace the challenges, celebrate the successes, and never stop learning.

Remember those "Garden Business Lessons"? They're not just about making money; they're about cultivating a fulfilling and sustainable livelihood that aligns with your passion for gardening.

Return from Garden Business Lessons to Our Sixth Year

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