Progress report for FNE25-113
Project Information
This project seeks to evaluate the number of harvestable cut stems from 2nd-year native flowering plants against industry-standard annuals when given the same inputs. This comparison assumes a consistent stem price across all flower types.
To test this concept, I have planted out 50 each of 10 different species of flowering plants native to Essex County, New York, and will be planting out 50 each of 10 different cut flower industry standard plants. The growing spaces will be given the same plant spacing, amount of weeding, and watering. Each week, all of the harvestable stems will be cut, and stem counts per variety will be collected.
This data is important for myself and other farmers growing cut flowers on leased land because the common misconception that perennials need 3-7 years to pay off on their investment keeps beginning farmers on leased land from growing them, despite their significant ecological and cost-saving benefits.
The research will look at 10 different native plants and 10 different annual plants with attractive flowers and foliage that have already been proven to be good candidates for cut flower production (long vase life, focal interest). The research will identify how many harvestable stems are available from each of the 10 native plant varieties and 10 annual plant varieties throughout their first growing season. A financial and labor analysis will provide the other information needed to calculate the potential ROI of each plant variety.
The project will identify the number of harvestable stems from the native and annual plants selected, how many weeks they were harvestable, and what it costs in terms of cash and labor to grow and manage each plant type.
The project will investigate the following hypothesis: Some native plant species provide more harvestable stems than annual cut flower plants when given the same amounts of inputs (water, pest management, soil amendments, labor etc.)
Beginner and limited-resource farmers in the Northeast are reluctant to invest in native flowering plants despite their proven ecological and financial benefits. Native plants thrive in low-resource environments and possess deeper root systems that contribute to flood and drought resilience while mitigating soil erosion. However, there is a perception that establishing native plantings may not yield significant returns for 3-5 years.
This concern is particularly relevant for those working on leased lands, where the lack of security associated with long-term lease agreements or land ownership compels farmers to be risk-averse in their investments. It is also an issue for first-generation and limited-resource farmers in their first five years of operation, who are cash-strapped and tend to focus their efforts on sure sales.
As agricultural practices increasingly face climate-related challenges, such as unpredictable flooding and droughts, the need for sustainable growing methods becomes crucial. Native plants offer an ecological advantage, they provide nesting sites and food for birds and pollinators, they improve soil health and support greater biodiversity.
This project aims to trial and evaluate the economic benefits for cut flower farmers of ten different plant species native to the Northeastern US in the second year.
The results from this project could lead to broader acceptance and implementation of native plantings allowing flower farmers to pivot towards less resource-intensive plantings, decreasing their input and labor costs and increasing profitability.
Previous research shows that native flowering plants thrive in limited-resource growing conditions, require fewer inputs such as water and nutrient amendments and have deeper root systems that enable them to endure flood and drought conditions, while also preventing soil erosion during heavy rains.
A key barrier preventing beginner and limited-resource farmers from establishing native plantings is the perception that these investments won't yield returns for 3-5 years after planting. Without a guaranteed return on investment, farmers in the Northeast may hesitate to establish what could be permanent plantings without the security that comes from a long-term lease or ownership of the land.
According to the 2022 US Census of Agriculture, the New York State saw a 12% increase in young and beginner farmers growing on leased land since 2017.
Farmers in the Northeast are looking for ways to prevent climate-related crop loss reduce input and labor costs, and improve their quality of life, as identified in the 2022 Essex County Farmland and Food System Protection Plan which surveyed hundreds of farmers in Essex County, New York. The 2022 National Young Farmer Coalition Survey shows that access to land, access to capital and cost of production are the three leading barriers for beginning farmers.
According to the Empire State Native Pollinator Survey conducted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, “more than half of important native pollinators may be at risk of disappearing from the state – potentially threatening crops, wildflowers and insect diversity.” The study shows that 23% of New York State Native Pollinators are “at risk”, 15% of native species have not been found since 2000, and more than 50% of native species were not found in quantities that would indicate their population is secure. According to the Center for Food Safety 2014 “Native Bees and Our Food” Report, “...crops, like apples, squash, cucumbers, peppers, and cherries are directly dependent on native bee pollination.” Farmers in the Northeast depend on healthy populations of native pollinators.
To address these challenges, our project proposes a study aimed at identifying the best-growing methods for native plants suited for cut-flower production which align with the needs of beginner and limited-resource farmers.
We will utilize existing research of the applications of native plants in cut flower production, and focus on selecting specific plant varieties already known for their adaptability and lower maintenance requirements, which could yield faster returns on investment. We will take that research one step further by trialing these native plants at two distinct trial plots with different pest and weed pressures, as well as different soil types- operating under the constraints that a beginner and limited resource grower working on leased land would also face.
This approach is designed to directly contribute to Northeast SARE’s outcome statement by promoting the reduction of environmental risks in agriculture. By providing evidence-based information on native flowering plants, we will equip farmers with knowledge that can enhance productivity and reduce costs associated with water usage and soil management. This initiative not only has the potential to increase net farm income but also fosters a greater connection between local agriculture and environmental stewardship.
The anticipated outcomes extend beyond mere financial implications. By empowering farmers with sustainable practices that can contribute to restoring populations of native pollinators and increasing climate resiliency, we contribute positively to the ecosystem, thereby protecting natural resources critical to the community. This initiative could also enhance the quality of life for farmers and their families by identifying crops that have reduced rates of loss from flooding and drought, pests and disease and could provide more stable and predictable incomes. This project strives to provide beginner and limited-resource cut flower growers with new information that could help ensure their long-term sustainability of farming in the Northeast.
Creative Kitchen Garden is located at DaCy Meadow Farm, where we offer a small 30-member you-pick veggie, flower and herb CSA, grow and sell bulk cut flowers, and make value-added herbal products. Creative Kitchen Garden was established in 2022 and has been growing its production and sales since. I as the owner/operator, am employed part-time with the goal of full-time employment by 2026. We hire out part-time seasonal help in the summer.
Cooperators
- - Technical Advisor
- - Producer (Educator and Researcher)
- - Producer
- - Producer
Research
This year we planted out 10 different types of native plants that are promising specimens for low-effort cut flower production for begining farmers on leased land in it's first and second year of production.
We established a trail growing site by tilling a roughly 7,200 square foot space of former pasture in May, hand broadcasting oats, peas and vetch, and then terminating the cover crop in August. Then tilling again, and creating 6 inch raised rows to plant in. Small plugs of the native plants were grown by Juniper Hill Farm, and Ausable Conservation Nursery grew 2 year large shrubs. Each herbaceous native plant was planted single file in rows with 1 foot spacing, the shrubs received 6 foot spacing between plants and rows. We planted 50+ of 8 different types of herbaceous native plants (mountain mint, columbine, sunflower, boneset, culvers root, joe pye weed, rose milkweed, and cardinal flower, and 20 each of 2 types of shrubs (dogwood, willow). Then we hand-watered them and applied straw mulch around the plants. Their soil moisture was monitored daily, and the clay soil and mulch retained moist soil for a long time, so they only needed an additional 2 waters before the first frost where they were left to go into dormancy.
The space where the 10 common cut flower annual plants will be planted was prepped by hand broadcasting another round of peas/oats/vetch, and straw mulch was placed over that to retain moisture on the cover crop and to get everything into place. The idea is that the cover crop will die over the winter and be a nice mulch to plant in to in the spring.
In the spring, we will plant out the 10 types of annuals. Once stems start to become harvestable, we will start to harvest all "ripe" stems and count them. We will keep detailed records of the number of stems harvested from each type of plant, and by the end of the season, we will have data to compare the return on investment of the native plants after just 1 year.
There were a few tweaks that we had to make from the original plan when creating the trial plot because the original site was no longer available. This new location on the property has many benefits, but it did require some additional steps to take from a pasture to a growing space. The new space has higher deer pressure, so we had to rethink the electric poultry netting as fencing. After some research and talking with other farmers, we landed on a 3-d electric fence, which required more tractor rental and labor to implement thus was more costly. We did uncover in this process that the 3-d fence is not effective for the deer pressure in this area, and the cover crops of peas/oats attracted the deer. An awesome finding was that they left the native plants alone and only browsed on the cover crops. The fencing will need to be troubleshooted for next season when annuals are planted, but it's definitely an advantage for native plants that the deer left the natives alone, but would have decimated tender annuals.
The soil in this space is also much harder clay, so the original plan to just silage tarp to terminate pasture grasses and cover crop wouldn't work. Instead we used some strategic tilling to get the cover crop established, and to terminate it and create 6-inch raised rows to help with water drainage on this heavy clay soil which I anticipate will be an issue.
The new space also uses a shared well rather than being irrigated from a creek, so water conservation is important. So instead of watering by sprinkler, we needed to water with hoses by hand to conserve water.
In 2026, we will be planting out the 10 types of annuals, and begin collecting data on stem counts. Stay tuned for more recommendations based on that data.
Learning Outcomes
None to note in 2025, data will begin collection in 2026.
Project Outcomes
Because of this project, the farm that grew the native plant plugs had the experience of growing these sometimes hard-to-grow plants that they might not have otherwise had.