Dish the Dirt – Details, episodes & analysis

We’re closing out 2025 with a soulful, grounded, and beautifully honest conversation with Brooke Stewart of Meadowbrook Flower Farm. Set between Port Fairy and Warrnambool, Brooke’s six-acre farm is shaped by wind, weather, family, and the deep desire to build something meaningful from home.

Brooke shares how flower farming became the anchor she needed during motherhood, a FIFO lifestyle, raising a child with Williams Syndrome, and the isolation of early COVID. What started with a handful of Aldi dahlias, a cottage garden, and a suggestion to “go for a walk and listen to a podcast” has grown into a thriving, seasonal farm that reflects her resilience, curiosity, and huge heart.

This episode is rich with learning, laughter, and the kind of honesty that reminds us why Dish the Dirt exists: to celebrate the growers, the stories, and the small everyday triumphs happening on farms across Australia.

As the final episode of the year, it feels fitting, grounding, and full of hope. Thank you to every listener who has tuned in, shared an episode, spread the word, and supported local flower farmers in 2025. This community is a gift.

• How Brooke discovered flower farming through motherhood and a well-timed podcast recommendation
• Building a flower farm around FIFO schedules & family life
• Moving from a 120-year-old cottage to six acres of possibility
• Floods, droughts, crickets, windbreaks & the unpredictable reality of farming
• Her love for bulbs (especially gladioli!) and planning crops around life, not perfection
• Soil regeneration, composting & reducing inputs
• The power of showing up at conferences and finding your flower farming “village”
• Overcoming imposter syndrome and claiming the title “farmer”
• Community dinners, local networks & the importance of women supporting women

3 things she’d take if she had to leave quickly:

• Her zero-turn mower
• A sunflower head for seeds
• A handful of trusty snips

One flower to repopulate an empty island:

• Bells of Ireland (or Gladioli!)

Flower hero:

• Lisa Mason Ziegler

This is the final Dish the Dirt episode of 2025.

Thank you for:

• every listen
• every share
• every message
• every time you’ve supported a grower featured on the show

Your support builds this community, lifts up our growers, and keeps these stories alive. I can’t wait to bring you more voices, more farms, and more beauty in 2026.

Add any links here if you’d like @meadowbrookeflowerfarm

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• Key topics:

  • Diversifying crops and sustaining staff year-round

  • Protected cultivation and the benefits of greenhouses

  • Exporting Australian flowers to Japan and beyond

  • Collaboration, community, and why sharing knowledge matters

  • Adapting to climate change and investing in renewable energy

• Mentioned:

  • Wildflowers Australia

  • AgriFutures research library

  • East Coast Wildflowers and the growers who inspire him

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen.

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🌸 Episode Summary:
This episode is a special one — recorded back in 2020, it captures the early days of Florelie Seasonal Flowers, a specialty cut flower farm in Bungaree, just outside of Ballarat, Victoria.

Lorelie shares how a bunch of homegrown peonies gifted on her birthday planted the seed for what has since grown into a thriving, full-time flower farm. At the time of recording, Loralee was growing on a small scale with dreams of something bigger — and as of today, Florelie spans 2.5 acres of cultivated blooms on a 20-acre property.

We talk about:

• The power of starting small (200 pots, 300 dahlias!)

• Transitioning from speech pathology to flower farming

• Her passion for dahlia breeding and what makes Florelie’s tuber offerings so unique

• How she connects with florists and customers through Instagram

• Lessons learned about soil, irrigation, pests, and pinch points

• The importance of understanding crop viability and niche value

• Her long-term dream of a peony paddock — and how she’s slowly making it happen

Whether you're a gardener, a florist, or dreaming of growing your own flowers — Loralee’s story is honest, practical, and deeply inspiring.

🌼 Connect with Florelie:
Website: www.florelie.com.au
Instagram: @florelieseasonalflowers

💐 Want to Grow Your Own?
Sign up for dahlia tuber sale alerts, workshops, and seasonal tips via their website. The online shop typically opens between July–August each year.

🎧 Listen Now:
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

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n this episode of Dish the Dirt, we head to Coonamble, NSW, to meet Emily from Petal & Bow Flowers — a passionate grower carving out her own path in Australia’s warm, dry inland.

What began as a maternity leave project has bloomed into four hectares of native paper daisies and a farm-based business focused not only on growing beautiful flowers, but also on harvesting and sharing their seeds. Emily shares her journey from backyard grower to managing a large-scale native flower operation, the clever ways she and her husband have built systems from scratch (including a DIY seed cleaner!), and how she’s now helping schools and community groups fundraise through meaningful flower-growing experiences.

We also talk about:

• What it’s really like to farm in a hot, dry climate

• Why paper daisies (Rhodanthe) are her hero crop

• The importance of community, adaptability, and trial and error

• Her experience joining Growers Avenue at MIFGS

• And the beautiful momentum building around Australian-grown flowers and seed sharing

This conversation is full of warmth, determination, and down-to-earth insight — a true reflection of Emily herself.

🌼 Follow Emily:
Instagram: @petalandbow.flowers

Website: https://petalandbowflowers.com.au

🌻 Want to support the show?
Share this episode with a friend, tag us online, leave a review, or simply keep celebrating and buying local blooms.

🎧 Listen on:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google | or wherever you tune in.

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Guest: Sophie, founder of With Love Sophie and Honey Bunch Farm

Location: Yark, VIC — a picturesque valley near Mansfield with a short and unpredictable growing season, but loads of heart.

What We Cover:

• Sophie's journey from floristry to flower farming
• How growing for florists shaped her crop choices
• The chaos and learnings from her first year (hello, flood + 300 lost dahlias!)

• 
  

  Why she’s obsessed with sweet peas—and why they’re perfect for her business model
• Building a product-based approach using seeds + cut flowers
• The launch of her Micro Flower Farm Club
• Her mission to grow more sustainable, foam-free floristry practices
• The role of wholesalers, co-ops, and collaboration in building a better industry

• Educating clients about seasonality and transparency around imported blooms

  🌸 Links & Mentions

• 
  

  Follow Sophie: @hunnybunchfarm

• 
  

  Sustainable Floristry Resource: Academy of Wildflower
• Growers Avenue at MIFGS
• Mentioned Growers: Josie from High Country Flowery, Marty from QC Flower Farm

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🌸 Episode Summary:
In this heartfelt and honest episode of Dish the Dirt, we catch up with Janae and Chris from Fleurs de Lyonville—a flower farming couple based just outside of Melbourne. Recorded live at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show as part of our Growers Avenue series, this conversation offers a grounded look into what it really takes to grow a sustainable flower farm and business as a family.

From managing over 50 different flower varieties, running farm tours, hosting workshops, and launching a thriving pottery side business, to surviving tough seasons (including sheep-related seedling sabotage!), Janae and Chris share it all with humour and vulnerability. Whether you’re just starting out, in the thick of it, or wondering how to take the next step—this episode is full of relatable moments, practical insights, and encouragement.

And personally, this episode means a lot. From my first bucket of dahlias, to the very first season of Dish the Dirt, to Growers Avenue—Janae and Chris have always said yes, and I’m deeply grateful for their continued support and belief in this community.

🌿 In This Episode, We Cover:

• Running a flower farm as a couple and raising a family

• Building multiple income streams (retail, wholesale, events, pottery, tours)

• Structuring a diverse growing season for mixed bouquets

• How COVID reshaped their business—and what’s stuck

• Pottery + petals: merging creative passions

• What to know before hosting tours on your property

• Why microflower farms matter more than ever

🌻 Connect with Flore de Lienville:
📸 Instagram: @fleurs_de_Lyonville
🌐 Website: www.fleursdelyonville.com.au

💬 Loved this episode?
Please share it, tag us on socials, and leave a review so more growers and dreamers can find these stories. Your support helps this podcast grow—just like flowers, from the soil up. 🌱

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🌸 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Dish the Dirt, we're thrilled to welcome back Mardi from Quite Contrary Flower Farm in Gippsland, Victoria. From lawyer to full-time flower farmer, Mardi’s journey is anything but conventional—and that’s exactly what makes it so inspiring.

We dive into what’s changed since she last joined us: refining her business model, narrowing in on specialty crops like dahlias, David Austin roses, and bearded irises, and what it really means to grow your way. Mardi speaks candidly about burnout, quality control, the pitfalls of trend-chasing, and the realities of running a flower farm that’s both sustainable and soulful.

Whether you’re a seasoned grower, a budding florist, or someone who just loves local flowers, this episode is packed with wisdom, humour, and deeply honest insights from someone living and breathing the field every day.

🌿 What We Cover:

• How Mardi went from corporate lawyer to full-time flower farmer

• The evolution of her crop focus and what she’s learned along the way

• Why she doubled down on dahlias, David Austins, and bearded irises

• Selling at the farm gate vs. wholesale vs. retail

• The business realities of flower farming (yes, spreadsheets matter!)

• What makes local flowers so f*#%ing great

• Lessons from the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

• Advice for anyone thinking about diving into flower farming

🌸 Guest:
Mardi – @qcflowerfarm
Founder of Quite Contrary Flower Farm, Gippsland VIC
Specialising in specialty cut flowers grown with heart and intention.

🌼 Links & Resources:

• Quite Contrary Flower Farm on Instagram

• American Specialty Cut Flower Growers Association (for those nerdy vase-life studies!)

💬 Let’s Keep Digging:
Loved this chat? Share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you never miss a story from the soil up.

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🌱 Guest: Jodie (aka The Solo Gardener), 5 Acre Farm, Taradale VIC
📍 Recorded at: Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show – Growers Avenue

In this episode, we meet Jodie, a self-described Solo Gardener and the driving force behind 5 Acre Farm in Taradale, Victoria. Jodie shares her inspiring journey from corporate life to cultivating a biodiverse dream on Dja Dja Wurrung country—navigating the realities of farming, floristry, creativity, and courage, all as a one-woman powerhouse.

We talk about her bold career shift, her passion for biodiversity, and the creation of the BioBed installation at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show—a floral bed frame bursting with life and layered meaning.

Jodie reflects on her biggest challenges, her love of learning through doing, and the importance of building community—especially for women stepping into land-based lives on their own terms. She also shares her plans for the future, from composting with locals to flower-growing workshops, art exhibitions, and more.

• Making the leap from corporate to creative rural life

• The meaning and message behind the BioBed

• What it really takes to run a farm solo

• Thoughts on biodiversity, community composting, and resilient soil

• Finding purpose and joy through small, meaningful actions

• Jodie’s advice for anyone dreaming of starting something new

“If you’ve got a dream—just go and do it. Step into the fear and start. You don’t have to know everything. You’ll learn as you go.”

• 5 Acre Farm

• Growers Avenue at MIFGS

• YIMBI Composting Group

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.
🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share!

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🌿 Guest: Joanne, Flower & Seed Farmer | Albury-Wodonga, VIC https://backyardgardenenthusiast.com.au/
📅 Recorded: Live at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show – Growers Avenue
🎧 Podcast: Dish the Dirt
📍 Location: Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

In this special episode recorded live from the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, host Rebecca Noble sits down with Joanne, a passionate Australian native flower and seed farmer from Albury-Wodonga.

Joanne shares her story of transforming a backyard block into a thriving native garden and seed farm. She discusses her love for species like billy buttons, blue devils, and native tobacco—and how saving seeds evolved from hobby to purpose-driven business. Together, they chat about biodiversity, seed resilience, and the joy of watching native grasses sway while red-browed finches drop in for a feed.

This episode is filled with gentle laughter, grassroots wisdom, and a constant background hiss (that’s the bustling atmosphere of the Flower Show!)—a perfect backdrop for celebrating the resilience and creativity of Australian growers.

• Why native plants belong in every garden—formal or cottage

• How Joanne discovered the magic of billy buttons and blue devils

• Seed collecting as an act of care and curiosity

• The role of native grasses in biodiversity and birdlife

• Challenges and joys of being a solo seed farmer

• The thrill of seeing her seeds in the hands of everyday gardeners.

• Native tobacco, blue banded bees, Xanthorrhoea (grass trees)

• Pollinator Corridors and native planting projects in Melbourne

“I really am more of an advocate than a salesperson... 60% of biodiversity is in the ground layers—and we need to look closer, not just up at the trees.”

Available wherever you get your podcasts—Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or via dishthedirtpodcast.com.au
🎧 Don’t forget to rate, review, and share!

To the Growers Avenue team at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show for supporting this live recording. And of course, to all the passionate growers who make our landscapes so rich in story.

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In this episode of Dish the Dirt, we speak with Olivia from Pemberley of Malmsbury about her third year participating in the Main Central floral installation at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. After winning a Gold Medal and People’s Choice Award in 2023, and a Bronze Award last year, Olivia returns with even more passion—this time celebrating community, collaboration, and local blooms.

We dive into how Olivia and her fellow micro flower farmers from the Macedon Ranges joined forces to create large-scale installations that not only wowed judges and audiences, but also highlighted the power of working together. These growers donate their flowers to community events like the Kyneton Agricultural Show, creating beauty and impact beyond the industry.

💐 Featured Farms
Support the growers behind the magic:

• Lombardy Farm – lombardy.farm

• Pemberley of Malmsbury – pemberleyofmalmsbury.com.au

• Bunch Flower Farm – @bunch_farm on Instagram

• Fat Magpie Farm – fatmagpiefarm.com.au

✨ If this episode inspired you, please rate and review us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps us grow and share even more stories from flower farmers across Australia.

We can’t wait to see what Olivia and the team dream up next year—and we hope it encourages more farmers and florists to team up at MIFGS. Wouldn’t that be magical?

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