About this podcast
Rooted Agritourism is the go-to podcast for rural entrepreneurs building diversified, sustainable, and story-driven farm businesses. Hosted by Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen—flower farmer, educator, and founder of Sunny Mary Meadow cut flower farm—this show goes beyond blooms to explore the full spectrum of agritourism and value-added agriculture.
Whether you're launching a U-pick field, hosting farm events, bottling your own products, or dreaming up the next big rural business idea, you'll find honest insights, real-world strategies, and a whole lot of encouragement here. Each episode blends personal experience, practical tools, and conversations with innovative ag-based business owners who are redefining what it means to grow on your own terms.
From marketing perishable products to navigating burnout, building memberships, and scaling farm income streams—Rooted Agritourism is your weekly companion for building a life and business deeply rooted in purpose, place, and profitability.
Podcast Website: https://www.sunnymarymeadowcoaching.com/rootedagritourism
Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootedagritourism/
Business Coaching: https://www.sunnymarymeadowcoaching.com/
Farm Website: www.sunnymarymeadow.com
FarmerstoFlorists: https://www.farmerstoflorists.com/
Farm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnymarymeadow/
Podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/888196709178852
Episodes
The newest 20 of 186 episodes
- Thermostat or Thermometer: What a County Permitting Battle Taught Me About Leadership · 21 min · Season 4 Episode 22Takeaways • You cannot argue people into changing their minds. You can only outlast their fear with evidence, patience, and showing up consistently. • Leaders set the…
- Heated High Tunnel Lessons: What I Learned My First Year Growing Flowers in Zone 4B · 13 min · Season 4 Episode 21Takeaways • Heated high tunnels create more control, but they also create new management challenges • Crop planning and data tracking made recovering from crop losses much…
- How I Run Multiple Businesses With Zero Employees and Still Grow · 24 min · Season 4 Episode 20Takeaways • Traditional hiring is not the only path to business growth and scalability. • Systems, freelancers, and strategic outsourcing can create more flexibility and…
- What Is Value-Added Agriculture? How Farmers Create More Income Without More Land · 8 min · Season 4 Episode 19Takeaways • Value-added agriculture is about increasing the value of what you already produce rather than expanding acreage or inputs. • Agritourism creates stronger customer…
- Commodity vs Community Farming: The Shift Transforming Agritourism · 10 min · Season 4 Episode 18Takeaways • Commodity farming offers scale but limits control and profitability • Community-based agriculture creates higher value through relationships and experiences •…
- How Liz Fiedler Mergen Built a Value-Added Farm Business from Grief and Grit · 5 min · Season 4 Episode 17Takeaways • Value-added agriculture can help small farms create stronger margins and deeper customer relationships. • Direct-to-consumer farming opens new opportunities for…
- Podfest Publishing Panel: Real Talk on Writing "Flowers Bloom Anyway" · 39 min · Season 4 Episode 16In this inspiring episode of Rooted Agritourism, host Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen shares the mic with publishing veterans and fellow authors during the Future Proof Author panel at…
- Crop Planning for a Flower Farm that Actually Works · 14 min · Season 4 Episode 15Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen, owner of Sunny Mary Meadow, delves into the core principles of crop planning for flower farms. Emphasizing alignment rather than control, she discusses…
- Flowers Bloom Anyway: Building Better Relationships in Life with Mark Hicks · 12 min · Season 4 Episode 14In this episode of the Rooted Agritourism podcast, host Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen sits down with Dr. Mark Hicks of The Learning Love Foundation to discuss personal growth, healthy…
- The Power of Community: Insights from the Flower Farmer Forum with Ali Anderberry · 24 min · Season 4 Episode 13In this episode of the Rooted Agritourism Podcast, Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen, owner of Sunny Mary Meadow, discusses the upcoming Flower Farmer Forum Conference and shares a…
- What 2025 Taught Me About Business, Burnout & Bravery · 13 min · Season 4 Episode 12Pre-Order Flowers Bloom Anyway: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flowers-bloom-anyway-a-memoir-liz-fiedler-mergen/1148638651?ean=9781636989273 In this episode of Rooted…
- Revolutionizing the Floral Industry with 'Farmers to Florists' · 16 min · Season 4 Episode 11Sign up for the webinar: https://www.sunnymarymeadowcoaching.com/registration-page-222a1dfe-fee7-469e-8156-8379cc388865 In this episode of the Rooted Agritourism Podcast, Dr…
- Flowers Bloom Anyway: The Pre-Order of the Book is Available Now · 10 min · Season 4 Episode 10Pre-Order Flowers Bloom Anyway: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flowers-bloom-anyway-a-memoir-liz-fiedler-mergen/1148638651?ean=9781636989273 In this episode of Rooted…
- What to Expect at Flower Farmer Forum 2026 · 9 min · Season 4 Episode 9In this episode of the Rooted Agritourism Podcast, host Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen from Sunny Mary Meadow announces the upcoming 2026 Flower Farmer Forum Conference. Scheduled for…
- The Bloom Room Blueprint: Turning a Flower Farm into a Community Hub · 23 min · Season 4 Episode 8Save $25 on your CoolBot: https://storeitcold.referralrock.com/lv1/6R543BWF/ Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen, owner of Sunny Mary Meadow in Central Minnesota, shares the journey of…
- Crafting Cider and Experiences: The Milk and Honey Cider Agritourism Story · 30 min · Season 4 Episode 7Flower Farmer Forum Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHVg-R6xh_0 Flowers Bloom Anyway Waitlist: https://www.lizfiedlermergen.com/author In this episode of 'Rooted…
- Flowers Bloom Anyway: Making the Fertilizer Framework Work for your Farm · 14 min · Season 4 Episode 6Flower Farmer Forum Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHVg-R6xh_0 Flowers Bloom Anyway Waitlist: https://www.lizfiedlermergen.com/author Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen of Sunny…
- Heidi Montag on Butter Heads, Farming Challenges, and Ag Advocacy · 32 min · Season 4 Episode 5In this episode of 'Rooted Agritourism,' Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen interviews Heidi Montag, a finalist in the Princess Kay of the Milky Way program in Minnesota. They discuss…
- Crafting Cider from the Ground Up: Milk and Honey Cider’s Agritourism Journey · 39 min · Season 4 Episode 4In this episode of 'Rooted Agritourism,' Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen from Sunny Mary Meadow interviews Peter Gillitzer, co-owner of Milk and Honey Cider in St. Joseph, Minnesota. The…
- Farming with Purpose: Liz Fiedler Mergen’s Vision for Rural Business Growth · 38 min · Season 4 Episode 3In this insightful episode of 'Rooted Agritourism,' Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen, the owner of Sunny Mary Meadow flower farm in Central Minnesota, shares her unique journey from a…
