Time to turn your dream into a reality?
By Alicia Parsons, Founder of Flourish School of Flowers
Have you ever thought about doing a job that is your passion? Do you dream of working with colour and immersing yourself into nature? Following the seasons and bringing the outdoors inside? That is what many people think of when they consider entering the floristry industry.
Floristry is no longer just about wrapping a bunch of tulips in paper, it is story telling, celebrating the most meaningful moments from weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and marking the time to say good-bye. For many working with flowers isn’t just a job, it is deeply rooted in creativity, connection and a love of seasonal beauty. Having a job which you can make a living off, but which is also your passion is surely what life is all about. But how to get started you ask? Let us help you.
The first step is to understand why you want to be a florist. Maybe you are tired of being stuck behind a desk and yearn to do something creative with your hands. Maybe you want to follow the seasons and work with natural objects. You might be at a time of life when you have given so much to everyone that maybe it is time you embraced something for you. Whatever the reason is there are few things that everyone needs to know.
Yes flowers are beautiful and what floral designers can create with seasonal ingredients can be out of this world. With the likes of Instagram and Pinterest giving us glimpses into this creative world it can feel romantic, creative and meaningful. Which is all true, however floristry is not glamorous! It is physically very demanding. On big jobs such as weddings you can be required to lift lots of heavy buckets, be up ladders, work in all weathers and be on your feet for most of the day. Some days can feel like a big work out. There are many early starts , so if you are not early bird it might be something to consider. Businesses also take time to build up, so income isn’t always predictable.
However there are many benefits. Many find working with flowers to be fulfilling, therapeutic and building your own business, whatever the size, can be one of the greatest achievements a person can do. It can also be adapted around your lifestyle, whether that is another part time job or family life. I also find that it is supportive industry. There are lots people both established growers and florists who are eager to help others.
So if considering all of the above you are still convinced that this is a area that you want to explore, what is the next step? My advice would be to find an educational setting that suits you. As an industry we are split in two halves. There is a very traditional side, where the emphasis on seasons and sustainable methods is not essential and then there is another side where flower schools step in. Most flower schools in UK tend to be more sympathetic to the seasons, teaching & creating with produce that is in season and promoting using sustainable methods.
Before signing up to any course and investing your money I believe it is vital that you visit the place where you are thinking of learning or arrange a Zoom call with the teacher. Speaking to the person who is going to teach you will allow you to see if you feel comfortable with them, inspired and you have a connection.
This is why at Flourish School of Flowers we run open mornings throughout the year. The open mornings provide an excellent opportunity for potential students to come and visit us at the flower farm and see the setting where we run our classes and courses from. During the morning you will listen to a talk by myself discussing my background in floristry and how the school was created. The style of floristry I teach and how our community of florists and growers can help new students.
Emma head gardener at Pitfield Barn also gives a talk about British flowers and what it takes to run a flower farm. You will get a tour of the gardens and whatever the season you will see every aspect of what it takes to run a British flower farm.
We always finish off the morning with a seasonal demonstration which might be a table centre piece, a bouquet or urn display. There is always lots of opportunities to ask questions. The best part-this morning is free!
We understand at Flourish that embarking on a new career or even a hobby can feel overwhelming so that is why we run these mornings so that we can give everyone an insight into how we work.
Our next open morning will be coming on Monday 7th September. To book your FREE space click on the link. Can’t wait that long? Book in a chat or a meeting at Pitfield Barn by filling out our contact form here.
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