Quince Blossom Ridge: Trading Aprons for Flowers...How These Farmers Grew in a New Direction

<p>On this week’s episode, I traveled to Waldorf, MD to interview the husband and wife team behind Quince Blossom Ridge, Alex and Dan Till. <br /><br />What happens when the life you built no longer feels like the life you want?<br /><br />For Alex and Dan, both trained chefs who spent years working in restaurants and bakeries, the answer began with a pandemic, a backyard garden, and a desire to escape the windowless kitchens where time seemed to disappear. What started as a hobby eventually became Quince Blossom Ridge, a cut flower farm shaped by constant pivots, unexpected challenges, and a shared vision for a more connected life.<br />In this episode, we visit Alex and Dan at their farm to talk about leaving hospitality, building a business from the ground up, and learning to adapt when nothing goes according to plan. They share what it really takes to grow and sell flowers—from months of planning and unpredictable weather to tariffs, rising costs, customer demand, and the true economics behind a $30 bouquet.<br />We also explore the importance of storytelling, community, and staying connected to the people who support your business. Because behind every beautiful bouquet is a lot of labor, risk, creativity, and care.<br /><br />Chapters<br /><br />00:00 Introduction to Alex and Dan from Quince Blossom Ridge<br />00:07 Origins of the flower farm and initial ideas<br />00:09 From culinary school to flower farming<br />00:30 Impact of COVID-19 and business reflection<br />00:51 Transition from bakery to flower farm<br />01:10 Reinvention and adapting to change<br />01:21 Seasonality and crop planning<br />01:51 Pricing, profit, and market strategies<br />02:19 Tariffs and import challenges<br />02:46 Community and customer relationships<br />03:08 Partnership and working with a spouse<br />03:19 Future vision for the farm and events<br />03:25 Closing thoughts and support for the farm<br /></p><p>Resources<br /><br />Online Store: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://quince-blossom-ridge.square.site/" target="_blank">https://quince-blossom-ridge.square.site/</a><br />website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://quinceblossomridge.com/" target="_blank">https://quinceblossomridge.com/</a><br />Newsletter signup - <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://auspicious-feather-79247.myflodesk.com/o51cqq5xdn" target="_blank">https://auspicious-feather-79247.myflodesk.com/o51cqq5xdn</a><br />Alex interview on Garden DC Podcast: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/08/gardendc-podcast-episode-253-farm-to.html" target="_blank">https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/08/gardendc-podcast-episode-253-farm-to.html</a><br /><br />Where to buy our flowers: <br />Tuesdays May-June, August-October - City Center DC <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.freshfarm.org/markets/citycenterdc" target="_blank">https://www.freshfarm.org/markets/citycenterdc</a><br /><br />Saturdays April-Mid December - Monroe Street Market/Brookland Arts Walk -<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.freshfarm.org/markets/monroe-st" target="_blank">https://www.freshfarm.org/markets/monroe-st</a><br /><br />Saturdays April-November - Gateway Farmers Market <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/gateway_farmersmarket/?hl=en" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/gateway_farmersmarket/?hl=en</a><br /><br />Stem Share Bouquet Subscriptions - Pickups on Thursdays in DC, MD, VA - <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://quince-blossom-ridge.square.site/stem-share-bouquet-subscription" target="_blank">https://quince-blossom-ridge.square.site/stem-share-bouquet-subscription</a></p>