Episode 588: Meet Lourdes Still of Masagana Flower Farm in Manitoba – Experience Guide, Flower Grower and Natural Dyer




SLOW FLOWERS with Debra Prinzing show

Summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVviPc2Ei_0<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> A few weeks ago, we had a virtual visit to the big Island of Hawaii to meet farmer-florist Christian Ingalls of Daisy Dukes Flower Farm. Today, we're journeying to the Canadian province of Manitoba, where it's quite the opposite, weather-wise. But you'll be warmed by my guest's positive energy and inspiring story!<br> <br> <br> <br> Lourdes Still of Masagana Flower Farm<br> <br> <br> <br> You may remember meeting Lourdes Still of Masagana Flower Farm and Tinta Studio during our March 2021 Slow Flowers member meeting - the theme was Diving into Dye Plants, and Lourdes was one of three expert members who shared about how they integrate plant-based natural dyes into their cut flower farms. Our other member-experts included Julie Beeler of Bloom &amp; Dye, and Elaine Vandiver of Gholson Gardens.<br> <br> <br> <br> Students of the Tinta Experience at Masagana Flower Farm<br> <br> <br> <br> In the past 18 months, a lot has happened at Masagana Flower Farm, and I asked Lourdes to share how her entire business focus has shifted to on-farm experiences built around growing and crafting with dye plants. By partnering with Travel Manitoba and taking advantage of mentorship and grant programs for small businesses in her area, Lourdes has leveraged her micro farm and textile studio into a flower destination that soon will draw customers not only during flower farming season, but year round.<br> <br> <br> <br> Flowers for plant-based textile dyes<br> <br> <br> <br> Lourdes has hosted between 75 and 81 TINTA Experience guests annually in the past two years. With the opening of the studio, she hopes to double the capacity and reach, projecting an average of 160 guests annually, with summer being the busiest time of the year.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> https://youtu.be/WhildB8laEw<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN:<br> <br> <br> <br> Check out Masagana Flower Farm's Kickstarter campaign to help raise funds to complete her studio. The studio construction is two-thirds finished and Lourdes needs to raise the final funds to complete the structure for her 2023 season.<br> <br> <br> <br> Hands-on learning at Masagana Flower Farm<br> <br> <br> <br> Find and follow Masagana Flower Farm:Masagana Flower Farm on Instagram and FacebookREAD: Chatelaine Magazine: Inside The Growing, Gorgeous, Female-Led Slow Flowers Revolution<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> News of the Week<br> <br> <br> <br> Top row, from left: Julio Freitas, Amy Balsters and Lennie LarkinMiddle row, from left: Gina Lett-Shrewsberry, Dee Hall, Tracy Yang and Valerie ChrisostomoBottom row, from left: Becky Feasby, Amber Tamm, Sarah Reyes and Debra Prinzing<br> <br> <br> <br> The Slow Flowers Summit takes place June 26-27, 2023,  in a strategic partnership with venue and host Bellevue Botanical Garden in Bellevue, Washington, outside Seattle. <br> <br> <br> <br> In news this week, the Slow Flowers Summit Early Bird ticket sale continues through the end of December -- you'll want to take advantage of the $100 off discount we're extending to our Slow Flowers members and guests. The Slow Flowers Summit is unique as a professional floral industry conference because it brings together influencers in both growing and design -- all to support domestic floral agriculture and sustainable floristry. We invite flower lovers, artists, gardeners, growers, wholesalers and retailers to come together in this event that celebrates responsible design practices.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Click here to Register at our Discounted Early Bird Rate!<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Thank you to our Sponsors<br> <br> <br> <br> This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops,