Anyone dry flowers or herbs for selling?

[Beekissed]

I've been doing some reading on this and would like to get into this in a small way. If anyone sells cut flowers to florists, or makes dried flower arrangements for selling or grows herbs for drying or selling, please tell me more about it.

What do you charge per stem, per bunch, per arrangement(wreath, basket, swag, posey)? Do you use silica in your drying or do you use Borax? Do you cultivate certain flowers just for everlastings or do you just make use of what you have? If you do grow certain types, which ones do you use most prevalently?

If you do market these, do you live in a small town or near a large one and market them there? Do you market mainly herbs or do you also sell cut flowers to florists, and, if so, how much per stem?

 

[milkmansdaughter]

After my Dad's funeral, we saved and dried all the roses, and larger petaled cut flowers. We separated the different colors, and laid them out on a plastic table covered with paper towels.
As they dried, we just peeled off each layer. After everything was dried we brought them to a local lady who crushed them and made beads out of them. My mom, two sisters and I, my 5 sisters in law, and all of the grand daughter's got bracelets made from these beads. My mom's is unique. The three sisters match each other's. The 5 sister in laws bracelets match. And all of the granddaughters got matching bracelets. It's a really wonderful keepsake.

There are many videos and instructions online on how to make jewelry from flower petals. We had ours made by a lady who does it as a business with her handicapped daughter.

 

[sumi]

Many years ago my MIL's best friend dried and sold flowers. She sold them at markets and probably elsewhere, I don't know the details, but I heard she was very successful with the business.

 

[ticks]

Oh, my aunt makes wreaths out of dried red chili peppers (she only likes them green) They are really cool. She made them when she lived in New Mexico.

 

[Beekissed]

Well, collected more flowers for drying this week and they are hanging in my attic as we speak. Such contentment to see and smell them there.

Says in the books that a hot, dry attic is the best place for them and I just happen to have one! Not only that, but it already had wires strung across it, as I think the old folks that lived here used to dry laundry up there in the winter. Just as if it were made for my flower drying venture! By next fall, I hope to see that whole attic hanging full of all the flowers and grasses I have collected. I think its so pretty and smells so wonderful.

I also placed several flowers in a Borax/Cornmeal mix and can't wait to see how successful that turns out. I love flowers, and the thought of retaining those pretty colors into the winter months has me excited. I even pressed some for making pictures, cards and bookmarks.

I have an idea about making a Christmas wreath using sumac...I just love that deep red color they turn in the fall! Studied up on making swags and I think my live bough swags for my porch will look more lush and beautiful this year than last.

Don't you just love books?

 

[Beekissed]

@Beekissed do you recall the results of your flower drying? I have considered getting into dried flowers. (First I need the flowers to grow... )

The ones in the Borax turned out very well and the ones in the attic did fairly well also, but life got away from me and I never did pursue the dried flowers further for one reason or another. Loved doing it, though.

 

[miss_thenorth]

I am not much of a dried flower person, but I have though about herbs. Of course that would be in a few years when all the newness of this place gets worked out and I actually have some free time to do stuff like that. I think you would have to find out if there is a market for stuff like that, find out where you could sell it etc. I like the herb idea. My sons friends dad is a chef, so there might be a connection there.

You might try asking around certain places to see if there is a market in you area for stuff like that. If so, go for it.

 

[enjoy the ride]

I have never raised dried flowers or herbs for sale but have made dried flower arrangements and packaged dried herbs for gifts.
I love hydrangea and baby's breath because they dry so easily and are pretty and pest resistant. There are also lots of wild things that dry well- pearly everlasting is one common around here along with yarrow.
Most people loved the herbs because they were organic and very fresh dried. I put them in little mason jars with a cloth cover over the lid and under the rims. Rosemary and flat leaf parsley where two good ones. Again herbs don't need any real care for the most part. I even grew saffron for a couple of years but it was too much work and not appreciated by most.
I always though herbs were a real money maker as they are mostly pest resistant, and don't need soil amendments. You can sell bundles fresh (I've seen that in local farmer's markets) and dry.

 

[Nuggetsowner:)]

I have a friend who sells fresh herbs and some flowers at two different farmers markets. She seems to do quite well with them but I don't know any fine details. I will ask her and try to get back to you. I am a little busy as this is county fair week and we are very active in 4-H. It will probably be early next week before I talk to her, unless I see her at the fair!

 

[ticks]

I keep telling my grandma to clip some of her hydrangea (sp) bush's flowers ad dry hem. maybe sell them.