People often ask me, “Isn’t flower farming hard work?”
To which I say, “Yes. Especially when your knees creak louder than the garden gate!”

Starting a flower farm in my 60s may not have been the most obvious life choice, but here we are—surrounded by blooms, bees, and the kind of to-do list that seems to regenerate overnight. While I wouldn’t trade this life for anything, I would like to have the energy I had at 35. Alas, flower farming at this age requires a bit of strategy, a dash of stubbornness, and a willingness to work with—not against—my body.

So let’s talk about the challenges, and more importantly, how I manage them with a toolkit of thoughtful (and aging-body-friendly) approaches.

The Challenges No One Talks About

1. Limited energy and a longer recovery time
I don’t bounce back the way I used to. What used to be a one-day recovery from an all-day weeding session now feels more like a three-day couch tour with a heating pad. Lesson learned: just because I can push through doesn’t mean I should.

2. Repetitive motions that strain fingers and backs
Bending, snipping, weeding—all innocent enough until you’ve done it a hundred times. My back and tendons like to remind me who’s boss if I don’t rotate tasks or take breaks. I listen now. Mostly.

3. Sensitivity to heat and sun
Let’s just say that full sun in July is no longer my happy place. I used to love working in the midday sun. Now I prefer admiring it through the window while I hydrate and plot my return to the field at a cooler hour.

The Workarounds (aka The Flower Farmer’s Survival Guide)

1. Work smarter, not harder
Yes, it’s a cliché. But clichés are usually true. My days are now about strategic effort. I’ve embraced the power of tools with long handles, wagons that reduce trips, and tasks broken into smaller bites.

2. The magic of incrementalism
Instead of trying to weed the whole field in one sweaty, back-breaking day, I schedule 60 to 90 minutes of weeding each day. That’s it. It’s manageable, sustainable, and over the course of a week—voilà!—weed-free rows. Plus, this leaves time and energy for other chores so they don’t stack up like an overgrown dahlia patch.

3. Honor the cool parts of the day
We harvest flowers in the late afternoon when the sun is less aggressive, then let them condition overnight in water. The next morning, in the peaceful coolness of early hours, we make bouquets. It’s gentler on the flowers—and on me.

4. Rotate tasks and stretch
I’ve become mindful of switching tasks to avoid repetitive motion strain. A little weeding, then some harvesting, then maybe computer work with a cup of tea. I also stretch daily.

5. Build rest into the rhythm
The hardest thing to learn: doing less is sometimes doing better. Pacing myself doesn’t mean I’m slacking—it means I get to keep doing this work I love, without burning out or breaking down.

6. Delegate where it makes sense
I still like to be hands-on, but I’ve learned to ask for help when I need it. Even if it’s just having someone carry heavy buckets or prep buckets for special orders and the flower stand. Small assists can make a big difference.

Final Thoughts from the (Still Blooming) Field

I may not move as fast as I used to. I may take a bit longer to bounce back from a long day. But I’ve got experience, creativity, and a deep love for what I do—and that goes a long way.

To anyone out there thinking they’re “too old” to start something new, especially something as physical as flower farming—I see you. You’ll need good shoes, some gentle discipline, and maybe a little ibuprofen now and then. But the joy? The satisfaction of seeing your flowers bring someone else delight?

Totally worth it.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got one hour of weeding on the schedule. And then a well-deserved iced tea break.