2024 Regional Conferences
August 13
DAHLIA MAY FLOWER FARM
Farm Tour Host: Melanie Harrington
FLORAL DESIGN WORKSHOP
August 14
FARM TOUR
EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS
The ASCFG Canada Regional Conference will be held at the Dahlia May Flower Farm in Trenton, Ontario, Canada. This event will feature presentations on cut flower topics, dedicated time to network with fellow cut flower farmers in the region, and a tour of the host farm. Furthermore, attendees can refine their floral design skills by participating in a hands-on demonstration and workshop.
Space is limited. Don’t wait to register!
Maximum number of attendees: 100
DAY ONE: AUGUST 13
Dahlia May Flower Farm
1226 Stockdale Road, Trenton, Ontario
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Arrival (Please note, lunch is on your own)
Welcome and Introductions
Melanie Harrington, Dahlia May Flower Farm
Sarah Kistner, Stone Meadow Gardens
ASCFG Canada Regional Director
Steven Crone
ASCFG Executive Director
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Say “I do” to Weddings (while maintaining your boundaries)
Janis Harris, Harris Flower Farm
St. Thomas, ON
With over a decade of experience, Janis has developed a streamlined and focused approach to weddings. Learn how she beautifully executes multiple weddings per weekend while keeping the rest of her farm enterprises operating smoothly. She’ll discuss how to find your ideal bride, her process for easy A La Carte Weddings, Micro-weddings, and collaborating with venues.
About Janis Harris
For Janis Harris, farming is in her blood. Working the fields her family has had under cultivation since the 1950s, Janis carries that legacy into the future with flowers. She and her husband have grown their business from its beginnings in 2011 into a thriving farm that supports their family and the Harris Flower Farm team. Growing over 6 acres of flowers, they sell their blooms through local farmer’s markets, a large bouquet subscription and their popular on-farm flower cart. Amidst that busy schedule, a large part of their business is also growing and designing for over 60 weddings per season. Janis is also passionate about sharing her knowledge and has helped support the flower farming community by serving two terms as Canadian Regional Director for the ASCFG.
2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Bespoke Wedding Bouquet Design Workshop with Renowned Toronto Florist
Jordana Masi, White Oak Flower Co.
Toronto, ON
Having amassed more than a decade’s time practicing her art and refining her perspective, Jordana Masi of White Oak Flower Co. has spawned a bold and distinguished craft. Featured in countless wedding and style magazines, Jordana will showcase her signature design style during a live demonstration while discussing her overall process for creating and implementing a design. Shortly after, she will guide us through the fundamentals of creating a bespoke bouquet that reflects the beauty of the summer season using locally grown (of course!) flowers and foliage. You will leave feeling inspired and empowered to take new techniques and skills back to your farm and start creating! No experience is necessary.
About Jordana Masi
Creative by nature, Jordana Masi is influenced by the unpredictable romance of flora and forests. Having amassed more than a decade’s time practicing her art and refining her perspective, she has spawned a bold and distinguished craft. White Oak is her flower company. Beyond the studio, Jordana tends to her gardens and many plants, from seedling to design, which you will often see incorporated into her work.
https://www.whiteoakflower.co/
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Mingle and Mocktails
Wrap-up the day sharing your creations and getting to know fellow attendees. Mocktails and appetizers will be served.
DAY TWO: AUGUST 14
Dahlia May Flower Farm
1226 Stockdale Road, Trenton, Ontario
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Arrival
9:00 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
Melanie Harrington, Dahlia May Flower Farm
Sarah Kistner, Stone Meadow Gardens
ASCFG Canada Regional Director
Steven Crone
ASCFG Executive Director
9:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Farm Tour with Melanie Harrington and crew.
Attendees will be divided into three groups to rotate between three areas of the farm.
Dahlia May Flower Farm is a small family farm growing three acres of specialty cut flowers every year, chemical free. Nestled in the beautiful rolling Murray Hills of southeastern Ontario, Dahlia May runs an on-farm store 12 months of the year, offering up 100% Ontario grown blooms to local flower lovers. With a wide array of services, events, and workshops, the farm connects with the surrounding community in myriad ways. Melanie and her team will walk attendees through the growing and business operations of Dahlia May, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask in depth questions.
About Dahlia May Flower Farm
Dahlia May Flower Farm, founded in 2014, is a small family operation specializing in growing romantic and fragrant, often heirloom, varieties of flowers. Nestled in the beautiful rolling Murray Hills of southeastern Ontario, Dahlia May supplies fresh seasonal cut flowers and distinctive bouquets to farmers’ markets and specialty shops the greater Quinte area. Every weekend from March-December the farm hosts a flower market at their popular on-farm Farmstand, where customers can purchase the most beautiful Ontario grown blooms. Dahlia May also offers floral design services, inspired by nature and changing with the seasons.
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Lunch is included with your registration.
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Woodies for the Win!
Karl Vahrmeyer, Green Park Nurseries
Ridgeville, ON
Join the one and only Karl “The Stick Man” Vahrmeyer for this talk all about woody shrubs. Karl will take you on a tour through the seasons on their family farm, where they grow over 80 acres of woody shrubs. He’ll share his favourite varieties for foliage, sticks, flowers, and berries. He’ll also cover planting, spacing, pruning and seasonal maintenance as well as post-harvest care, cooler storage and shipping.
About Karl Vahrmeyer
Karl Vahrmeyer Jr. Green Park Nurseries is a family-run farm specializing in outdoor-grown woodie ornamental branches, flowers, and foliage for the floral industry. Originally started as a nursery in 1980 by Karl Sr, Green Park Nurseries transitioned to exclusively growing woodie ornamental branches and flowers in the 2000s and discontinued the Nursery aspect of the company. Today, Green Park Nurseries is owned and operated by Karl Sr, Karl Jr, Mike, and Kristina. With multiple farms in different growing regions, they serve the floral industry up and down the entire Eastern seaboard in Canada and the United States. They work closely with their Wholesale accounts, Flower Auction Co-op, and large wholesale farmers market to serve those looking for woody ornamental branches and flowers for their design needs.
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Extend your Season with Winter Blooms
Brenda Visser, Flowers of the Field
Prescott, ON
Join Brenda Visser of Flower of the Field for this session on winter blooms. While the focus will be on tulips, she’ll also discuss other bulbs she uses in her popular winter potted gardens. Brenda will demystify the process of forcing bulbs, and you’ll learn the basics of cooling, rooting and forcing to bring flowers to your customers (and money into your pocket!) all winter long. She’ll cover timing, scheduling, and suppliers to help you get started on the right foot.
About Brenda Visser
Brenda Visser owns and operates Flowers of the Field, a cut flower farm in Eastern Ontario, Canada, that grows year-round and with a specialty in winter harvested tulips, usually January through April. She offers a wide range of event floral designs, from weddings to corporate to funerals, and grows a large variety of cut flowers for the indoor Farmstand.
Brenda loves to share her knowledge of flowers and farming with others! She has taught horticulture at St Lawrence College and educated fellow gardeners through the Master Gardener program. She’s won numerous awards for her business and community involvement and serves as a board member of the ASCFG Research Foundation.
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
The Power of the Plan
Melanie Harrington, Dahlia May Flower Farm
Trenton, ON
Learn how Melanie and the Dahlia May team plan ahead to create their road map for a successful season. From holiday sales and seasonal photo shoots to email campaigns and social media, there’s a lot more to prepare than soil and plants on a successful flower farm! Learn how thoughtful planning can help minimize decision fatigue, optimize your time, and alleviate stress for a more productive and profitable growing season.
About Melanie Harrington
Melanie Harrington owns and operates Dahlia May Flower Farm. A life long resident of the Quinte area and a lover of nature, Melanie brings to her work a background in art and horticulture as well as a passion for growing beautiful flowers. Melanie completed studies in horticulture and floral design at Loyalist College, and has furthered her experience and educational by attending programs and workshops throughout the US and Europe.
4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Pricing for Profit
Jenny Marks, Trademarks Flower Farm
Clifton Springs, NY
Have you ever wondered if you’re charging the right amount for your flowers? In pricing for profit you’ll learn three pricing methods needed in order to ensure you are pricing appropriately, in addition to advanced pricing strategies that can result in more revenue. You’ll also learn key growing techniques in order to cut your costs and help you earn more money. By the end of this talk you will walk away with key pricing methods and strategies to ensure you are earning a healthy profit from your flowers, no matter how or who you sell to.
About Jenny Marks
Jenny Marks owns Trademarks Flower Farm in upstate NY where she specializes in growing ranunculus and dahlias for retail markets. Jenny has been involved in all aspects of agriculture since her childhood, and enjoys sharing profitable business resources for small-scale flower farmers through Trademark Farmer and the ASCFG, where she currently serves as the Northeast Regional Director.
Websites: www.trademarksflowers.com & www.trademarkfarmer.com
Social Media: @Trademarksflowerfarm and @Trademarkfarmer
Nearby Hotels
Comfort Inn
51 Monogram Pl, Trenton, ON
(613) 965-6660
Ramada by Wyndham
99 Glen Miller Rd, Trenton, ON
(888) 784-0547
Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Belleville
784 Bell Blvd., Belleville, ON
(613) 779-2000
Member Priority Registration – April 16 through April 30.
Please note, Regional Conferences will not be recorded and space is limited. Don’t wait to register!
Registration Information
August 13 – $135 USD
Maximum number of attendees = 80
August 14 – $225 USD
Maximum number of attendees = 100
August 13 and 14 – $360 USD
Cancellation Policy
Due to the limited space at regional conferences, we do not offer refunds.
Contact us in case of emergency to inquire about a waiting list and your spot may be transferable. No guarantees.
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