Open Flower Network: Channeling Optimism
Plugging into Flower Plugs
Jun 25, 2025
Do you use flower plugs on your farm?
Plugs are very small seedlings, sold by the tray in a wholesale fashion. In this video, Theresa Schumilas of Garden Party Flower Farms talks about the history and the future of the Collective Plug Order, a grassroots collaboration that has let small flower farmers in Canada pool their plug orders, saving money and giving access to products they couldn’t meet the minimums for on their own.
I started this with a few other farmers in 2016. I couldn’t meet the minimums, I was just starting out, and I knew I needed plugs. And so I just approached other farmers who were near me and said ‘Would you like to do this together? Do you want to go in on an order?’ And it just grew and grew.
More resources for
Channeling Optimism
Working with ‘Cool’ Flowers
What are ‘cool flowers’? In this post, we’re walking through the basics and benefits of fall-planted annuals.
Pick Your Sales Channel
Learn about the opportunities and limitations of different flower sales channels, from on-farm sales to Pick Your Own to wedding design.
Financial support was provided under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
