Introducing Flower School

The Front Porch Farm Flower School is a hands-on course covering the fundamental principles, practices, and techniques of sustainable cut-flower production. Using the fields, high tunnels, greenhouse, and floral studio of Front Porch Farm as our classroom, this course will be a practical overview of the components of successful flower farming in Sonoma County, from seed starting to making market bouquets.

Overview

Class topics will include crop planning, propagation, bed preparation, pest and disease management, fertility, harvest and post-harvest handling, as well as styling and marketing cut flowers. Course instructors are Zoe Hitchner, Flower Program Manager at FPF for the last 12 years, with support from Clare Riesman, local farm and garden educator. The course will meet in-person one Sunday a month from January through May.

2027 Dates (Sundays 10am-3pm: January 10, February 21, March 21, April 18, May 16

Application Timeline

Priority applications will be accepted through Sunday, November 29. Applications received after that date will be considered after we have reviewed all priority applications. Priority applicants should expect to hear about acceptance status by mid-December.

Apply Here

Sample Course Outline

Below is a general idea of what will be covered in class sessions, though the actual outline and agenda will vary depending on weather and other production factors.

January: Overview and introductions | Winter pruning roses | Crop planning
February: Propagation |Dividing Dahlias
March: Hight tunnel production | Soils | Cover Crops
April: Bed preparation | Transplanting
May: Pest & Disease Management | Styling Market Bouquets

Flower School Workshops

We have two workshops available for anyone interested in specific topics including flower production and irrigation. The November workshop is a great opportunity for those interested in Flower School to get a feel for the program. Both workshops are open to the public, with no commitment to Flower School required.

Sign up for a Workshop

Learning Objectives - Students who complete the course will be able to:

Crop plan for continuous and diverse harvests
Successfully start common cut flowers from seed and divisions
Prepare beds for planting
Maintain and cultivate common cut flowers and specialty flowers such as roses, dahlias and peonies
Identify ideal harvest stages
Learn best practices and technologies for post-harvest storage

Who Should Apply - Beginner flower growers who:

Have some experience growing cut flowers, either on a farm or as a backyard grower, and would like to enhance their knowledge of techniques of successful cut-flower production
Learn best in a live, hands-on, farm-based setting with peers

Course Details

Course sessions held at Front Porch Farm (Healdsburg, CA)
Sessions will be one Sunday a month from January through May 2027
Sessions will be 10 am - 3 pm, with a half-hour lunch break

Cost - $1,500