n this episode of Dish the Dirt, I sit down with Sarah from Quail Cottage and Ash, wedding florist Film and Foliage and founder of Wildflower Academy, to talk about The Harvest—a collection point that’s transforming the way florists and growers connect in the Hunter Valley and Newcastle region.

We dive into how a simple idea—bringing growers together under one roof—has grown into a supportive community that’s making local flowers more accessible, profitable, and sustainable. From collaborative crop planning to navigating pricing, mentoring new growers, and strengthening relationships between florists and farmers, Sarah and Ash share the challenges, wins, and unexpected joys of starting The Harvest.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Sarah’s journey from a packet of zinnia seeds to a thriving micro flower farm.

• Ash’s path from weddings to coaching florists and championing local flowers.

• The origin story of The Harvest—how convenience sparked community.

• Why visual ordering platforms like Floralist are game-changing for florists.

• The importance of collaboration over competition in small-scale flower growing.

• How The Harvest is helping growers become more strategic, profitable, and connected.

• Environmental and creative impacts of choosing locally grown blooms.

• Practical advice for anyone wanting to set up a similar model in their own community.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Quail Cottage (Sarah’s flower farm) @quayle.cottage

• Film and Foliage (Ash’s Floristry Business) @filmandfoliage

• Floralist platform

✨ If you’ve ever dreamed of creating stronger connections between florists and growers—or are curious about how local flower collectives work—this episode is full of insight and inspiration.