Exploring Life & Business with Celia Spillmann of Caswell Flower Company

Today we’d like to introduce you to Celia Spillmann.

Hi Celia, 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?
I started my flower farming journey in the spring of 2016 when I started my first tray of seeds. I had an 8 X10 growing plot that first year and maybe had 2-3 handfuls of flowers that grew, and even though I was incredibly naive about what I was getting myself into, I was hooked!

So I set myself on a path to learn as much as I could. I’m a first-generation, female farmer so I’ve had to learn everything myself. I don’t have any family that farms so I took online workshops, and in-person workshops, joined every flower farming facebook group, agriculture-oriented meet-up, and organization I could find on growing flowers.

I listened to podcasts, bought books, and made so many mistakes. Each year the fields got bigger and I figured a little more out! I moved to grow full-time in late 2019.

I now farm specialty cut flowers with my 2-year-old daughter by my side on about 1/2 an acre and we offer seasonal subscriptions, on-farm workshops, retail and wholesale flower options, and a full range of floral designs for weddings and events.

We even have plans to make some really big moves in the very near future!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Learning how to farm has definitely not been a smooth road.

My biggest challenges have been my best teachers; making all the mistakes as fast and as frequently and early as possible. In farming your mistakes sometimes take you an entire year to fix though, so it can be a hard lesson to swallow.

Learning how to arrange and design flowers has also been a bumpy road. There are many techniques to learn and develop, but they all help you learn your own unique style. Farming in a changing environmental climate has been tricky as well and is a constant reminder to stay adaptable and strive to work in more regenerative and natural ways.

Other struggles include learning work-life balance, learning to grow a business during a pandemic, and finding peace in the thing I just can’t control.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Caswell Flower Company?
At Caswell Flower Company we grow a specialty, seasonal cut flowers using regenerative practices. We also offer a la cart and full-scale floral design for weddings and events. We are known for our seasonal flower subscriptions, our floral work, and our wholesale flower offerings.

We farm in regenerative practices, meaning we apply homemade natural amendments, we work within our relationship with nature instead of against it, and we strive to leave the earth we are stewards of better than we found it.

I am a first-generation female farmer, so from learning to drive tractors and large equipment, to properly growing specialty, unique annuals and perennials, to creating our very own homemade soil and plant amendments, I’ve had to learn literally everything hands-on.

I am most proud of how far we have come – from growing a few handfuls of flowers to expanding to 1/2 an acre and beyond. We have some huge expansion plans that we will be putting into motion this fall that will include thousands of new plants, on-farm workshops and events, and exciting new agritourism opportunities for everyone to enjoy.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask a question to someone you admire!

You’d be surprised who responds, especially on social media platforms. Put yourself out there to learn, attend classes, and workshops, and work in any way you can to gain knowledge from those that are brilliant leaders in your industry.

Connecting with others even if it scares you a little will pay off huge in the long run and build relationships with those that are doing the hard work too.

Pricing:

• Seasonal flower subscriptions are $120
• Wrapped market bouquets start at $15
• Phone consultation for floral design work
• Prices for wholesale – email for more information

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @caswellflowerco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caswellflowerco

Image Credits:
Meredith Bernard and Orange Photographer