142. Andrea McAdow on Marketing, Flower Production, and Success with CSA

Today we’re chatting with Andrea McAdow, owner of Rosebird Farms located in Kingman, Arizona. Nestled in the Cerbat Mountains on just over 2 acres, Rosebird is a certified naturally grown farm growing over 20 varieties of produce any given season. They use high density planting with a focus on soil health in order to get the most out of the land. Andrea came into farming after starting her career in civil engineering and construction management. She felt she needed to give back to the Earth and the community, which led her to the farm life! Hear the tale of a drastic yet dedicated and passionate (and of course, thriving) career shift on today’s episode!   You’ll hear: Why Andrea shifted from civil engineering to farming 1:23 How Rosebird Farms got customers at the beginning 4:17 How they advertise 6:17 How Rosebird handles their flower production 9:50 How they sell their flowers 18:26 How Andrea handles the CSA 22:41 How Andrea communicates with other farmers regarding business prospects 26:12 How their products are priced 28:44 What lessons Andrea learned along the way to becoming a thriving farmer 29:25 Andrea’s advice for those looking to get started on the farming journey 31:51About the guest:Andrea McAdow is the owner of Rosebird Farms, a certified naturally grown farm located on 2 acres in the high desert of Northwestern AZ. After starting her career in civil engineering and construction management, Andrea began farming to explore her passion for working with nature and serving her community. Rosebird Farms grows produce and cut flowers for their CSA and year-round farm stand. They also work with other regional farmers and value-added producers to aggregate and distribute a full line of local products throughout Mohave county.   Resources: Website - https://www.rosebirdfarms.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rosebirdfarms Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rosebirdfarms/   Harvest Hosts Resources: If interested in being a host, please be sure to mention ​​Thriving Farmer Podcast on your application! Harvest Hosts Facebook  Harvest Hosts Instagram  Become a Host Information We are Harvest Hosts, a platform that connects over 180,000 RVers to local businesses and attractions. Based on our recent survey, Harvest Hosts members spend an average of $50 per night at each Host Location they visit; well-established Hosts are reporting an average of $13,000 in additional annual revenue. Our model is a cost-free opportunity for hosts to share their offerings with our members by opening up space for an overnight stay. We simply tell our members about you and they schedule their visit in advance. In exchange for the overnight stay, Harvest Host members are encouraged to make a purchase of at least $20 at each host location they visit. We hope to see you as a new host location of ours soon. ​If you have additional questions, please contact our Account Executive, JD at [email protected]  ​Don't believe us? Hear more from a host!

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If you’re looking to build a profitable farm that works, The Thriving Farmer Podcast is for you. Learn the latest tricks and strategies from successful farmers, strategize with in-depth interviews with leaders in the industry, and connect with stories of farmers just like you. With over 15 years of farming background, your host Michael Kilpatrick has the experience and authority to bring you practical advice, ask the hard questions, tease out the gold nuggets, and help share what it’s really like to build a truly profitable, sustainable farm. In the interviews, we focus on building farms that last, setting up your systems, knowing your customers, building your team, and treading that ever-challenging work/family/life balance.