Design-ship: A Hands on Floral Experience in the Garden

An exploration of flowers… from the perspective of a flower farmer.

Design-ship is a  seasonal, small-group floral practice for designers and creatives who want to deepen their relationship with flowers. Part workshop, part gathering, part creative ritual ... it’s an invitation to slow down, work with your hands, and explore floral design through the lens of flower farming.

Over the course of several weeks, we’ll meet on the farm in the early evening to harvest what’s blooming, learn foundational design techniques, and create alongside one another in an open-air setting. This is not a traditional class or a polished studio environment... it’s a working flower farm, complete with uneven ground, changing light, and the beauty of being outdoors.

Each week focuses on a different aspect of floral design, from harvesting and using local flowers to designing centerpieces. You’ll work with fresh, locally grown flowers, learn through demonstration and hands-on practice, and leave each session with a finished arrangement of your own.

Design-ship is about presence over perfection. This experience is especially well-suited for aspiring florists, creatives, and flower lovers who want to deepen their understanding of seasonal design in a hands-on, supportive environment.

The Design-ship is a six-week seasonal gathering held during the height of the flower season, when the fields are at their most abundant.

Design-ship: A Seasonal Floral Gathering

  • Week 1 – Gathering & Bouquets
    Harvesting from the field and learning foundational bouquet techniques.

    Week 2 – Centerpieces & Structure
    Working with mechanics, balance, and form using seasonal material.

    Week 3 – Designing With What’s Growing
    Embracing abundance and constraint — letting the field guide the work.

    Week 4 – Color, Texture & Movement
    Exploring harmony, contrast, and natural rhythm in design.

    Week 5 – Personal Style & Intuition
    A more open session to follow your instincts and refine your voice.

    Week 6 – Closing Gathering
    A final design, reflection, and celebration of the season together.

  • Design-ship takes place on a working flower farm — open air, golden light, and real growing conditions.

    • Outdoor tables & pop-up tents

    • Uneven ground and natural terrain

    • Porta potty on site

    • Dress for the weather and the work

    This is part of the beauty: real, grounded, alive.

    • All flowers + materials

    • Use of tools and vessels

    • Hands-on instruction and guidance

    • A small, intimate group (limited spots)

    • A finished arrangement to take home each week

  • $395 for the full 6-week series

  • This experience may be a great fit if you…

    • Love flowers and feel drawn to learning more about floral design

    • Are curious about working with locally grown, seasonal blooms

    • Want to build confidence and skill through hands-on practice

    • Enjoy creating alongside others in a relaxed, supportive environment

    • Are excited by the idea of slowing down and connecting more deeply with the land

    • You want to be pushed creatively to use what we have versus follow a floral recipe

    This experience may not be the right fit if…

    • You’re looking for a polished indoor studio or luxury classroom setting

    • Being outdoors — wind, sun, dirt, and all — doesn’t sound appealing

    • You prefer highly structured, step-by-step instruction rather than open exploration

    Design-ship is rooted in real farm life, creative curiosity, and learning through doing. It’s imperfect, beautiful, and deeply connected to the season — just like the flowers themselves.