Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Seligson
Hi Hannah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Grace Rose Flower officially began in 2023 in my backyard in Lakewood, Ohio. However, my passion for flowers started way before then. Over the years, I’ve always had a veggie or flower garden, whether on a balcony of mine or consuming any inch of light I could find indoors.
Growing plants has always given me a sense of calm and purpose, which I enjoy. It all started with long weekends and visits at my grandparent’s home in Medina, where I would help my grandma tend to her flowers (fun fact — Grace is my grandmother!) or my grandpa tends to his tomatoes. I was most happy being outside and being in the dirt.
However, over the years, I found myself straying away from the outdoors more and more and quite miserable and lost. I jumped from city to city and worked as a software engineer in the corporate world. I still work in tech, but it wasn’t till I started hiking and backpacking out west in the Sierras that my passion for the outdoors and wildflowers sprung. It was then that I realized I found my true happiness when the sun hit my skin and I got to breathe fresh air daily.
Nowadays, I stay active in backpacking and finding any excuse to get on a trail, whether it’s a walk or a bike ride. But, for years, I struggled to find a way to escape my desk and the 9-5 lifestyle that impacted both my physical and mental health so much.
I hate to be a cliche — but it wasn’t till I discovered Floret Farm, located in Skagit Valley in Washington, that I realized flower farming was a thing! Suddenly, I thought, “Maybe I could start a flower farm…” I knew I was good at growing flowers and vegetables and that if I wanted to change my lifestyle and finally pursue a life outdoors, this might be my ticket!
So, once my partner and I moved into a house with a backyard, I took full advantage of the extra space and hit the books!
I started by reading Erin Benzakein’s book about growing cut flowers, then I went down a YouTube spiral but landed on Jesse Frost’s No-Till Growers and started applying what I was learning to my growing process.
I set up a seed station in our basement and grew various flowers. Sometimes I failed, sometimes I succeeded – but the most important thing was that I was learning! So, I decided to take it a step further, enrolling in courses at Cornell University’s Small Farm Program and pursuing courses on growing cut flowers, accessing capital, and soil health.
Here, I started to learn about not only growing plants but also growing a business. This season will be my first season selling my flowers, and I’m excited to learn what works and what doesn’t. I’m excited to grow new connections with the community, and I’m excited to work towards our expansion effort to purchase land in 2025.
Next year, my partner and I plan to buy acreage, expand Grace Rose Flowers, and scale our growing efforts. We’re also hoping to eventually expand not only our flowers but also the business itself next year. When my partner and I started dating nearly 3 years ago, he traveled around the US building glorious treehouses. He fell in love with the structures, and we hope to combine property for the farm with a treehouse or two and invite folks to stay in the treehouses and experience what we hope will be a magical flower farm.
I want others to find their escape outdoors with us and enjoy nature’s beauty, which we often miss due to day-to-day responsibilities.
I hope that with enough determination, lessons, and compassion, I can prove to others that anything is possible. You know that saying, “You can be whoever you want to be. Don’t let those voices or noises, whether they’re inside or outside, distract you.” — I want to prove to others that this is true! You can live the life you wish for.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been a slow and windy road. So far, my biggest challenges have been finding space to grow and switching my mindset from “being good at growing” to “being good at starting AND running a business.”
Just because I can grow something well doesn’t mean I’ll be good at turning it into a business! So, I want to make sure I’m smart about it and that I can not only start a business but also maintain it. So often, in my day job industry (tech), you see a lot of start-ups, but they often struggle to maintain profit or achieve growth. I don’t want that to be my story. I want this dream to flourish into a successful business I can eventually depend on for my full income.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Grace Rose Flowers?
Grace Rose Flowers is named after my grandmother, Grace. My grandmother was a big part of my childhood and someone I have always admired. She was smart, ambitious, and creative. She was a fantastic painter and often painted beautiful oil canvases of flowers.
Grace Rose Flowers is currently my home garden, where I grow cut flowers and sell small bouquets or wholesale to businesses or florists. I am known for growing flowers with a regenerative approach. I don’t use chemicals or pesticides and follow a no-till approach with our soil.
I’m currently looking for florists to partner with who are patient as I learn the ropes of the business. I would love to forge connections and make some beautiful floral arrangements together!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If readers would like to get in touch with me, they can refer to the contact sheet on my website: https://www.graceroseflowers.com/say-hello
Also, if anyone would like to purchase flowers, they can contact me directly at graceroseflowers@gmail.com or submit this form: https://forms.gle/7K2BJmDQ7XGmCZpS8
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.graceroseflowers.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graceroseflowers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/graceroseflowers/