WELCOME TO FLOWER SCHOOL

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WELCOME TO FLOWER SCHOOL 〰️

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 through sales.

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 11 years, with support from Clare Riesman, local farm and garden educator. The course will meet the second Sunday of each month* from January through June 2026 at Front Porch Farm.

*skipping May, the busiest flower month!

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 11: Overview and introductions | Winter pruning roses | Crop planning

  • February 8: Propagation |Harvesting mums | Hoophouse production and overwintering

  • March 8: Harvesting bulbs | Harvest/post-harvest handling | Bed preparation | Hand scale and tractor scale | Overview of plasticulture | Dividing dahlias

  • April 12: Transplanting starts | Starting main season flowers from seed | Floral design | Making market bouquets, displaying flowers

  • June 14: Seasonal fertility planning | Pest and disease management

Materials - Suggested tools for students to purchase:

  • Felco pruners

  • Smaller snips

  • Gloves

  • Hori hori

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, peonies, and mums

  • Identify ideal harvest stages

  • Learn best practices and technologies for post-harvest storage

Intended Audience - 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 June (skipping May) 2026

  • Sessions will be 10 am - 3 pm, with a half-hour lunch break

Cost - $1,500

 

MEET THE INSTRUCTORS:

Zoe Hitchner

Zoe has been the Flower Program Manager at Front Porch Farm for the last 11 years and has been growing flowers successfully and sustainably for the last decade and a half. A true farmer florist, Zoe manages the cultivation of the farm’s 6 acres of cut flowers. With years of experience in leading floral design, Zoe utilizes her knowledge and experience to grow beautiful blooms for Bay Area florists as well as for Front Porch Farm.

 
 

Clare Riesman

Clare Riesman is a farm and garden educator based in Sonoma County who has been working and teaching in the field of sustainable agriculture for the last 15 years. She has taught at UC Santa Cruz, the Chicago Botanic Garden, and Santa Rosa Junior College Shone Farm and has led workshops for CAFF, UC Cooperative Extension, EcoFarm, and more. She is a graduate of UCSC’s Environmental Studies program and their Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture. She is passionate about helping people connect with land and plants through educational experiences that feed their curiosity and empower them to be responsible and successful stewards of the earth.

APPLY HERE!