YA BUSINESS MENTORSHIP NETWORK – FIORELLA FARMS

“The greatest challenge I’ve faced so far as a new farm business is visibility. Marketing can be tough and finding the right audience for your product is vital. As a new business, I’m working hard on getting my name out there, providing quality products that my customers see value in, and building connections and community that create more than a simple transactional relationship.”

– Kristen E., Fiorella Farms, BC

Young Agrarians is celebrating the eleventh year of the Business Mentorship Network (BMN) program in BC and the third year of the BMN in the Prairies! The BMN offers a year-long farm business mentorship to a diverse array of new and young farmers. Through one-on-one mentorship, peer networks, and online workshops, new farmers develop the skills necessary to operate ecologically sustainable and financially viable farm businesses.

Applications for Mentees across Western Canada open in October 2025. Mentor applications are accepted year-round. Want to be notified when applications open for the 2026 cohort? Click below!

Meet a mentee from the current cohort and learn about their farm and why they joined the Business Mentorship Network. Want more? Head over to our BMN Blog for more mentorship stories.

Meet a Mentee: Fiorella Farms

My name is Kristen (she/her), the owner and farmer behind Fiorella Farms. I’m excited to be participating in the Young Agrarians Business Mentorship Program for 2025. My mentor is Kailli Pigott, owner of Dancing Dandelion Farms based on Vancouver Island.

I currently farm on family-owned land, which I graciously acknowledge is within the traditional unceded territories of the Katzie (q̓ic̓əy̓) and Kwantlen (qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓) First Nations of Maple Ridge, and the Sumas (Semá:th) and Matsqui (Mathxwí) First Nations of Abbotsford. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be an ally in land stewardship, caring for the land that raised me. 

What inspired you to get into farming?

I grew up farming in Abbotsford, where my parents ran a vegetable and mixed livestock farm through my childhood. From early on, I’ve fostered a connection to the land and the animals that has been a constant source of inspiration. I’ve continued to farm to varying degrees over the years, but recently turned my attention to building an agricultural space that is uniquely me, blending my experience, creativity, and values.

I’m passionate about ethical land use and recognize the shared responsibility we have for supporting our ecosystems and communities to thrive. For me, farming is more than production; it’s care for the soil, the water, the microbes, the critters, the plants, and the community. Fiorella Farms is a way of honouring my farming roots, my commitment to the land, my ecological ethics, and my desire to share the beauty and joy that flowers bring.   

How did you learn how to farm?

I learned much of my farming knowledge from my parents. My father is a multi-generational farmer from England, where diversity was a staple of good farming. I’ve continued to expand my knowledge and experience over the past decade, including formal education and practice in agriculture, soils, hydrology, plant care, animal husbandry, and ecology. I had the opportunity to work with local agricultural organizations, where I learned seed saving techniques that I employ on my farm.

What type of business structure is your farm? How much land is under production, and what do you produce?

Fiorella Farms is a sole proprietorship; while I have support in the background when needed, it’s mostly a one-woman show from seed starting to harvesting to bouquet creation. I produce specialty cut flowers with a focus on dahlias. For 2025, I’ll be growing over 300 different dahlia varieties and over 40 unique flower species. I sell cut flowers and bouquets direct to consumers, which provides my customers with the freshest locally grown flowers you could find! I grow on approximately 1/4 acre cumulatively across the two farms, though an expansion is needed for 2025.

Did you access any financing to buy land or start your farm business? 

Start-up and expansion costs for a flower farm can be high, making the investment onerous for new farmers. I’ve utilized savings, off-farm income, and lines of credit to get my farm business off the ground. Luckily, many cut flowers can be grown as perennials or saved and multiplied from previous growing seasons, and infrastructure and supplies can be reused annually; this makes the cost of inventory and infrastructure the largest investment up front.  

What types of ecological farm practices and/or responses to climate change realities do you engage in?

Ecologically conscious practices are at the heart of what I do on the farm. I use methods inspired by regenerative agriculture with a strong focus on soil health, water use reduction, and plant resilience. Healthy soil improves water retention, plant health, and microbial diversity. I use compost and other amendments to build soil organic matter and nutrients, and mulch beds for weed control and moisture retention. 

I use naturally occurring native predatory insects as biological pest control for pests that damage crops. I also use molasses to increase BRIX levels in my plants which makes them inedible for pests, reducing damage and the need for spraying pesticides. I grow drought-tolerant perennials, use drip irrigation, and monitor soil moisture to reduce water consumption. I’m proud that my farm supports and encourages biodiversity, finding sleeping bees on a sunflower or a young tree frog tucked into dahlia petals will always brighten my day.

What informational resources do you use regularly, or have used in the past, to operate your farm business? 

I still use plenty of resources for farming practices and enjoy staying up to date on techniques to advance on-farm sustainability and regenerative techniques. I often attend webinars on science-based approaches, listen to podcasts, read articles and blogs, or connect with other farmers to exchange knowledge and experiences.

Why did you apply for business mentorship? What are your primary business goals for the season?

I applied to the Business Mentorship Program to learn the business side of farming. As a long-time farmer but new business owner, there was a lot of administrative information to learn and it became overwhelming quickly. The mentorship program offers so much valuable information and insight for running a farm business successfully. My primary business goals for this year are to improve marketing, expand production, and maximize sales channels to get my flowers into more homes where they can be enjoyed!

What is the greatest challenge you face as a new farmer?

The greatest challenge I’ve faced so far as a new farm business is visibility. Marketing can be tough and finding the right audience for your product is vital. As a new business, I’m working hard on getting my name out there, providing quality products that my customers see value in, and building connections and community that create more than a simple transactional relationship. Offering online sales and using social media have been incredibly helpful, but I also do a few markets each year to reach new audiences and encourage face-to-face conversations where you can meet your farmer. 

What business tools could you not live without?

Spreadsheets, the most boring business tool I could not live without! I use spreadsheets for seed starting, crop planning, finance and budget management, content calendars, and order tracking. 

How can we find out more about you, your farm, and its products? 

You can find more information on my website, fiorellafarms.ca. My dahlia tuber and cutting sales, peony sales, and bouquet subscriptions are conveniently offered online. Custom bouquet and cut flower orders are welcome, please get in touch via email or social media.

You can find me on Instagram @fiorellafarms or my Facebook page, Fiorella Farms, for updates on what’s happening behind the scenes on the farm!