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On The Farm

N.C. Farm School is Helping a Flower Business Bloom

A woman kneeling and picking yellow flowers in a garden. Play Video

As more and more people take an interest in their food supply and agricultural ventures, questions are bound to arise. Where do I start? How do I determine if it’s a realistic idea? What does it take to grow an agricultural business? All excellent questions, but who you gonna call for guidance?

Hannah Ross Clarke examines a floral arrangement of fresh cut flowers at the Wylde Flowers studio in Raleigh, N.C.
Hannah Ross Clarke, co-owner of Wylde Flowers in Raleigh, N.C., is growing flowers (and her business) after completing N.C. Farm School. Photo by Trek and Bloom

It turns out you may want to ping Gary Bullen, who coordinates the N.C. Farm School at NC State Extension. N.C. Farm School began as a local effort in 2012 to help aspiring and current farmers with starting or expanding an agricultural business.

Since its inception, the program has grown statewide and helped launch nearly 50 new farms in North Carolina.

Take Hannah Ross Clarke, for example. Hannah is co-owner of Wylde Flowers, a floral design studio and flower shop in Raleigh, N.C., and an N.C. Farm School grad.

We visited Hannah and Wylde Flowers to see how the program has helped to cultivate her dream. Stop and smell the roses with us and our latest On the Farm segment!

How Can I Get Involved?

Contact Gary Bullen to learn more about the program, and visit the website to find out how you can participate in N.C. Farm School.

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