Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Winkel.
Hi Rachel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Farming is the third reinvention of my wheel of life. I’d always been curious about growing stuff but my parents were not into gardening, so the interest remained on the back burner. It wasn’t until I was 30 years old that I had seen enough of the country – and another country- I lived in Costa Rica for 2 years!- but it wasn’t until I was 30 that I finally had a little space to experiment with growing. I will never forget the joy I felt as I taught myself how to grow. My husband and I had a little rental house in a little village in Michigan, and I remember jumping out of bed in the morning to see what seeds had sprouted!
In 2014, my husband and I decided to move to Georgia. We had lived wherever he worked, but I couldn’t stand the northern climate – I was born in Ohio and came south as soon as I could, when I was 17. But, love and all that had me back up north. But finally we were able to move to Georgia. At the time I worked from home as a research assistant for a large data collection company in North Carolina.
By 2016 we were able to purchase a home on a 3 acre lot in Barrow county. I was so excited to finally have my own space to grow! And what do you grow when you finally have space to grow? Tomatoes! Tomatoes for me, tomatoes for you, tomatoes for all the county! Haha! A friend at the time noticed I had quite an expansive vegetable garden and asked if I ‘d like to sell produce at her stand. So I did. The cultivated areas of my property kept increasing and increasing and increasing.
And then there was Covid. I lost my job, but I gained the opportunity of a lifetime- to finally go full-time farming. It was scary and exciting, but I realized at the end of 2020 that I didn’t really enjoy growing vegetables. I had always loved growing flowers, but I did not realize that “flower farming” was even a thing! I ended up in the business very randomly. A local woman saw a photo of snapdragons I posted on my Facebook, and asked if I would sell them. And so it began.
My first year full-time farming flowers was in 2021. I had the shock and opportunity of a lifetime when the Flower Guru Dr Allan Armitage came to my property for a livestreamed tour! I’ve learned a lot over the last five years. The biggest one is- what’s my market? I.e., who do I expect to buy these flowers?
I realized early on that my interest was in the dirt, not on the computer, soliciting retail customers. So I concentrated on growing larger quantities of “florist-style” flowers, and began selling direct to florists. At the same time as I started selling wholesale to florists, I became very curious about dried flowers. I could see that the economy was difficult for a lot of people. And I thought that if I could offer dried flower bouquets and gifts and wall art that I could offer people a way to buy flowers that would essentially last forever. So that’s what I did!
In order to balance these two parts of my business, I do Atlanta art shows in the spring and in the fall, and between that time I sell my fresh cut flowers directly to florists. When I do art shows, I bring both fresh and dried flowers, as well as dried flower art. I learned how to dry flowers in a way that many people have never seen. I use silica to retain the original shape and form of flowers that aren’t usually dried- dahlias are a big favorite!
The look on people’s faces when they enter my booth at art shows is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever experienced. The connection to nature inherent in my product is something very unique. Not just growing the components, but putting them together into something that touches the soul. In a time when we are so disconnected from the source of the things we use in everyday life, I think that buying one of my pieces connects people back to something they miss. The art I make is of real value- I spend many, many hours on each piece- there are no machines or quick shortcuts!
Farming is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. I literally make something out of nothing, growing these big beautiful flowers from tiny little seeds. During the warm season, I’m lucky if I get one half-day off per week. But the trade-off is worth it. The hard work I put in is directly reaped by me. That’s something few people can say, and it’s also something people miss. We all want to feel valued. We all want to feel like our ideas matter. Going into business for myself was the way I could earn my value back and truly shine.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Farming is generally done on dirt roads so nope, not a smooth road. Haha. No in seriousness, it’s been difficult, absolutely. Think about it. Usually in a business, the owner buys the product and then resells that product. Here, the owner CREATES the product- literally out of thin air- and then sells it. Anybody who has tried to grow a vegetable garden knows that growing things can be very challenging.
First off, how do you learn how to farm? Well, you read as much as you can, and then you try it. And you fail. And you try again. You fail again. And then maybe you figure it out.
Sometimes I’m more grateful for my failures than my successes. If I succeed growing a crop for the first time, how do I know what I did right? If I fail, I can learn what the crop actually needs!
My biggest struggle is patience. And I don’t mean it in the sense that people usually think- although I could use some lessons with that kind of patience as well. What I mean is, farming is not just a career but a mindset. And your mindset needs to be 6 months in the future, always. The little delphinium seedlings I planted today- they haven’t paid me yet and they won’t pay me for another 6 months. But that’s how it goes. The dried flower wreath I made yesterday- well that began one year ago, when I sowed those larkspur seeds, when I sowed those strawflower seeds.
Another struggle is labor- flower farming is an incredibly difficult job. I have a helper every year, and every year the helper is shocked into the realization that flower farming is not about wearing a pretty dress and holding a basket of flowers while one’s hair blows in the wind. No, flower farming is a lot of blood, sweat and tears. A lot of sweat in particular, this being Georgia! I currently have an absolutely amazing helper, Grace. And she IS a saving grace!
Another struggle is competition from inexpensive imported flowers. The most difficult competition comes from South America where the US government actually subsidizes flower production. The way I deal with this is by growing unique flowers, hard-t0-ship flowers, and the best, most reliable flowers. In this day and age, consumers don’t always get what they order. But if a florist orders from me, they’ll pay a little bit more, but they will get what they ordered, on time, and every stem will be usable.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I’m a cut flower farm in Barrow County that sells directly to florists, especially event florists. I’m known for high-quality flowers- my availability is quite varied, but I specialize in dahlias, particularly for weddings and events. I think that what sets me apart from other growers is that I am reliable. I will never promise a product that I am not 100% sure will be available and ready on the date requested. I am also known for having extremely high standards in terms of the flowers that leave my farm and are sold. No imperfections, no critters, cut at the perfect time.
I am also a dried flower artist. You can find me and my work at art festivals in the Atlanta area, like Inman Park Festival and Candler Park festival. I am known as the “flower lady”! People remember my booth! What I am most proud of with this aspect of my business are the repeat customers. The people who come to my booth and say, “I still have this little dried flower bouquet I bought from you last year and I just had to get another one!” It is truly an honor to provide a unique product, and one that LASTS.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I love what I do and I am grateful for the opportunity to do it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.docgreengrows.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doc_green_georgia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doc.green.7311
Image Credits
All my own photos
