Flower Farming for Profit by Lennie Larkin

Reviewed by Casey Merkle

Chelsea Green Publishers, 2024, 228pp, $45.00

If there were ever a perfect time to take the leap and start your own small but successful cut flower business, it’s now. In Flower Farming for Profit, Lennie Larkin offers a clear, practical roadmap to turn your passion into a thriving enterprise. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your approach, her expert guidance equips you with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to grow both your business and your community. Covering everything from bookkeeping and operations to efficiency and experimentation, Larkin delivers a comprehensive, actionable guide for success.

At a time when political division, centralized power, and fear are prominent in our national discourse, Flower Farming for Profit emerges as a tool to build resilience and community empowerment. Larkin’s guide goes beyond cultivating beautiful blooms — it teaches us how to sow the seeds of self-reliance and economic independence, enabling small business owners to thrive even during times of chaos.

Larkin interweaves the pressing challenges of today with actionable, sensible advice. She details the essential tools and resources available to small business owners, from equipment and watering strategies to cost-effective marketing strategies. Her breakdown of soil preparation, crop management, and team building not only demystifies the process but also emphasizes the importance of leveraging local markets and community support to build a resilient business model.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its no-nonsense approach to profitability. She lays out exactly what it takes to make it work. As she writes, “An unexamined business, especially one with a broad diversity of products and services, will most certainly contain some components that are profitable, some that break even, and some that flat out lose money.” This level of clarity enables new farmers to focus on achieving efficiency, sustainability, making smart investments, and implementing strategic pricing. She also provides concrete, accessible advice on financial literacy. She recommends services that have worked for her and how to get serious about bookkeeping, profit and loss statements, and more: “The small flower farmer should be as concerned with basic financial management as they are with how their flowers grow.”

Larkin shares the real-life challenges and successes of small cut flower businesses, such as “Filling a Void in the Market,” where she examines cases and discusses the importance of conducting extensive research before committing to seemingly worthwhile opportunities.

Larkin’s book champions the notion of grassroots empowerment. By focusing on collaboration and mutual support, she illustrates how a collective approach can overcome adversity and build a more sustainable, interconnected community. Whether you’re a seasoned farmer or waiting to take the leap, this guide offers both inspiration and practical wisdom to help you find the path that’s right for you, one seed at a time.