Alaska Peony Growers

mulch peony blog

2009-06-22T13:31:00.001-08:00

Are folks mulching their peonies in winter and if so with what?

2008-09-17T09:15:00.000-08:00

I just got an e-mail from one of my brokers for hot water treated paeonia--he has- anybody need any
Rita Jo
Duchess de nemours-white 2/3 $ 2.00 4-5 eyes 2.75
Kansas-red 2.00 2.75
Sarah Bernhardt-pink 1.55 2.10
Victoire a la Marne-dk red 1.70 2.20
Dr. Alexandser Fleming-pink 1.60 2.15
Monsieur Jules Elie-rose 1.60 2.15
Felix Crousse4-scarlet 1.80 2.55
Packing size 2/3 150 per box, 4-5 eyes 50 per box.
Grower is located on the West Coast.
Fritz Creek Gardens
Rita Jo Shoultz
Box 15226
Fritz Creek, AK 99603
ritajo@alaskahardy.com
www.alaskahardy.com
(907)235-4969
Fax (907) 235-8116

peonies wanted

2008-08-07T12:08:00.000-08:00

Soes anyone have 85 stems of Ivory color? If you do please contsct Courtney at 303-507-5 147.
Jan

30-50 pinks in mid-august

2008-06-25T11:26:00.002-08:00

A woman contacted me wanting 30-50 peonies in "any shade of pink" for delivery to California in mid-august.
If you would like to contact her directly please e-mail me at Amy.Pettit@alaska.gov and I'll forward you her contact info.
Thanks.
***The interest is building!!!***

Wedding in Utah

2008-06-24T16:49:00.002-08:00

Hello,

A woman called the GBG looking to buy peonies for her wedding on August 14th in Utah. I don't know the exact details of what she is looking for (I didn't answer the phone) but, even with as late as our flowers are this year I don't think we can supply them that far into August. So, if any of you out there want to take this one on contact me at the garden (907-474-6921) and I will set the deal up for you, otherwise I will have to turn her away.

Jim

Interior Peony Growers Field Trip

2008-06-18T10:00:00.002-08:00

There will be a Field Trip on Wednesday, July 9 for those interested in Peony Production in the Interior. REGISTRATION REQUIRED!
If you did not receive the informational e-mail from Sue Kent & the Steering Committee, please contact Patricia O'Neil at Patricia.ONeil@alaska.gov or 761-3858.
There is no cost to attend but pre-registration is REQUIRED!
Please join us to learn more about disbudding, ideal bud stage for harvest, cutting & packaging, etc., etc.!
Doug Warner & Richard Estelle will also give an informal presentation of the information gathered on the West Coast Peony trip last month Wednesday evening.

meeting in Fairbanks date changed

2008-06-05T08:25:00.002-08:00

It now looks like the meeting date in Fairbanks will be July 9. We can gather the evening of July 8 for those coming the day before. An agenda is still being worked out. We are a little behind in harvest date this year due to a cool spring.

Summer Sales

2008-05-20T12:42:00.002-08:00

Hello,

If any of you out there have flowers that will be ready for harvest and sale this summer, and are interested in piggybacking on with the botanical garden for a wholesale shipment, let me know. Since there will be money involved, I will write up some sort of a more formal agreement to ensure there are no problems. This agreement will be ready by the time of the first grower meeting this summer, which I believe is tentatively scheduled for the week of June 16. Also, if you do decide to join us in sales we are going to require that you help out with sorting, bunching, grading, packing, etc.

I you have any interest at all, please e-mail or call me at the GBG (Ph.# 474-6921)

Jim

Publication

2008-05-01T09:22:00.002-08:00

Jim Auer has written a paper summarizing marketing opportunities for Alaska peonies. It is available at

http://www.uaf.edu/snras/afes/pubs/misc/index.html

pubs 08-03

As we gain experience with peonies, we will modify the information in this document.

SARE

2008-05-01T09:14:00.002-08:00

The Western Region SARE program has released its grant application deadlines for 2009. Farmer/rancher grants as well as professional + producer grants are due Dec 5. They don't fund startup money for businesses, but they are interested in sustainable agriculture innovative ideas. Your local extension agent or experiment station researcher can help you formulate your ideas into a proposal. Alaska growers have successfully received a few SARE grants over the years.

Flower Petals

2008-04-05T13:00:00.002-08:00

Hello,

I was surfing the web looking for different ways you guys could market flowers and I came across flower petals for weddings. Flower petals are generally sold freeze dried, by the cup or liter. Assuming you could get two cups of petals from a large double bloom, the going price online is about three dollars per stem. It would be a good use for flowers that have passed their harvest stage, the price is good, and you could sell them year-round . The only problem is you need a way to freeze dry them.

Jim

New Agriculture Innovation Grant Announced

2008-02-29T12:28:00.002-09:00

Good afternoon all.
I wanted to encourage you all to visit the Division of Agriculture web site and review the Innovation Grant letter and application. www.dnr.state.ak.us/ag
This is an exciting new opportunity for Specialty Crop (flower!) growers.
I look forward to seeing your proposal.
Please call with questions.

Information on setting up an Association/Coop

2008-02-14T13:16:00.003-09:00

John Dart asked me to put this forward on the blog. He's looking for comments on this, ideas, and input. To do this, please add a comment to this post. Thanks, Chris.

-------------------------------
From John Dart:

I've found an excellent source for guidelines in setting up a coop. (Assocciation)

1. Discuss with small groups of producers the perceived economic need that formation of a cooperative might fulfill.

2. Hold an exploratory producer meeting. Vote whether to continue. If affirmative, select a steering committee.

3. Conduct an investigation to determine feasibility of cooperative, if so work out details of proposed cooperative. This step may require several intermediate steps such as:

a.) Conduct a producer survey as a basis for determining cooperative feasibility.

b.) Hold second general meeting to discuss results of producer survey. Vote whether to proceed.

c.) Conduct a market, or supply, and cost analysis.

d.) Hold third general meeting to discuss the results of the market, or supply, and cost analysis. Vote whether to proceed, this time by secret ballot.

e.) Conduct a financial analysis and develop a business plan.

4. Hold general meeting to hear results of feasibility study. Vote again whether to proceed. If affirmative, vote a second time on whether the steering committee should remain intact or changes should be made.

5. Draw up necessary legal papers and incorporate.

6. Call a meeting of Charter Members to adopt the bylaws. It is a good idea to invite all potential membership to ratify the bylaws. Elect a board of directors.

7. Call the first meeting of the board of directors and elect officers. Assign responsibilities to implement business plan.

8. Conduct a membership drive.

9. Acquire capital, including developing a loan application package.

10. Hire the manager.

11. Acquire facilities.

12. Start up operations.

It looks like we are at step #2. The literature states it takes 1-2 years to set this up.

We may want to consider forming local coops/associations first and then federating into one statewide organization.

I have Articles of Incorporation and bylaw examples. I would like to scan these documents and then send them on to you.

As Sue mentioned, I really wonder how many stems we can count on in the next three to five years? I am going to try to get the interior folks to attend an Understanding Cooperatives class during the month of March. If I can get an idea of whether this group is feasible, it will help tell us how many producers/stems we are dealing with here in the interior.

Peony meetings were successful

2008-02-06T11:52:00.000-09:00

Hi folks,
I am waiting for the list of emails to send out invitations for new members to join. I will be out of town from Feb 11-21 so don't give up if nothing happens during that time.
Jan

Partnership Opportunity

2007-07-31T15:21:00.000-08:00

Hello Peony People,

I don't know if all(or any) of you know me. My name is Jim Auer, I am a graduate student in resource economics studying peonies markets under Pat Holloway.

If anybody out there on this blog is interested I talked with the owner of Kennicott Brothers Floral while doing my research on this whole floral industry thing and he mentioned that he was interested in the possibility of partnering with Alaska growers.
Kennicott Brothers are an importer and supplier to florists, grocery stores and wholesalers, the Kennicott family has been in the industry since the late 1800s.

So, discuss among yourselves. If anyone is interested you can call, or e-mail me at the botanical garden and I will get you the contact info.

Jim

peonies available from Rita Jo's supplier

2007-03-30T08:40:00.000-08:00

Paeonia growers

Just got a note from my supplier for Paeonia for the summer shipment. These varieties were still available. They go pretty fast so take that into consideration.

Adrianna 3-5 eyes 2,100 $3.87

Dr. Alex. Flemaing 300 $2.69

Edulis Superba 2,575 $2.69

Felix Crousse 525 $2.69

Felix Supreme 375 $2.73

Flame 1,850 $3.69

Gen McMahon 275 $2.69

Leslie Peck 1,450 $2.91

Paladdin 300 $3.91

Roseletta 1,275 $2.91

Seashell 1,400 $3.69

Sword Dance 2,950 $3.91

Victoire a la Marne 125 $2.69

All are size 3-5 eyes

Prices do not include freight

Rita Jo

Fritz Creek Gardens
Rita Jo Shoultz
Box 15226
Fritz Creek, AK 99603
ritajo@alaskahardy.com
www.alaskahardy.com

Call for August peonies

2007-02-28T11:26:00.000-09:00

Hello fellow growers. I got this email today looking for some wedding peonies this August. I will not have peonies ready to go this year. . . anybody else able to provide them?

Hi Sue,

I got your name from Don Smetona. I am having an August wedding in Michigan and have my heart set on having a bouquet of peonies, and of course they are out of season at that time. All of the flower shops and flower vendors tell me there is no way to get them, and if we do they will be very small. I was ecstatic when Don told me you might have some options for me! He said you are in Alaska and you can send them for summer weddings. That would be so great!!! Let me know if you have any options for me!

I would appreciate it so much! Thank you!

Jessica Karns
Administrative Assistant
Prudential CRES
Callander Commercial
171 Monroe Ave., NW Ste. 900-C
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Tel: 616-459-8000
Fax: 616-459-3300

peony export information

2007-02-13T09:24:00.001-09:00

Subject: peonies as cut flowers from AK
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:41:42 -0800
From: Paul.L.McCarthy@aphis.usda.gov

Good morning. It is my understanding that you are developing a cut flower
market. Congratulations! AK needs more diverse exports.
Import requirements vary from country to country so please feel free to
contact me with any questions that might arise.

the United Kingdom fall under European Union regulations. Currently peony cut flowers are unrestricted, but I would highly recommend getting a phytosanitary certificate. It always seems to help expedite entry. Also keep in mind that this is the current regulation. Requirements for export change almost daily for some countries so check back with me from time to time to make sure the entry requirements have stayed the same.

For Fairbanks, you would need to contact Charles Knight for certification:
907-451-2762.

Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions.

Cheers!

Paul L McCarthy, Ph.D.
USDA, APHIS, PPQ
AK and WA Export Certification Specialist
1710 South 24th Avenue
Yakima WA 98902
Phone (509) 249-5568

Peony Supplies

2006-12-22T22:49:00.000-09:00

We have about 5 varieties of peonies and are interested in expanding both the varieties and the numbers we have. We are looking for good suppliers of varieties such as Sarah Barnhardt, Bowl of Beauty, and a red such as Kansas. Anyone have any suggestions?
Ron

Klingman thesis and other publications from GBG

2006-12-21T10:11:00.000-09:00

I have put the Klingman thesis on the GBG publications web page, a link is also provided in the Misc. peony links to the right.
Jan

intro

2006-12-17T08:31:00.000-09:00

I have 120 diffrent cultivars . The majority of them were planted this fall. I live near Palmer Alaska . My peonies came from several reputable nurserys. I paid full price for them. To mark them I inserted a 2ft bamboo stake then slid a six inch peice of pvc on to the bamboo, the name written on the bamboo. So far the markers are doing well, but I have a map for backup. I have several acres of forest land available and intend to plant as many as I can afford for several years. I hope that this would provide income and pleasure when I retire in about 9 years. I plan a slow steady approach to this. I am interested in the results people get from all cultivars. Cut flowers for profit are my main concern however I love the singles and want to see them in my own garden. I have read several books on peonies. I have a 1930s copy that once belonged to James Mcfarland (of roses fame). I enjoy reading and want to know the history of the people who my peonies were named after.

Soil pH

2006-12-14T16:34:00.000-09:00

Jan and/or Pat - What is the pH of the soil in your peony beds? Thanks. Sue

peony available this spring

2006-12-12T08:30:00.000-09:00

Been working with my supplier and have the following extras that look real nice for cost, size etc that would be available in early summer or whatever (from the Oregon farm) in freezer now
Shirley Temple for $2.65 , approx. 850, fragrant creamy white--one of my favorites--would be great for the Farmer's Market because of the fragrance
Walter Faxton $2.44 , about 1,500

Sold everything else on the early list. Is anyone still looking for stuff?
Rita Jo

Presentation at Sustainable Agriculture conf.

2006-12-11T16:08:00.000-09:00

Hello all,
Pat Holloway has agree to give a presentation on Peony at the 2007 Sustainable Agriculture Conference SARE that will be held in Fairbanks on March 30, 31, 2007 Princess Hotel. Additional information will be available in the SARE newsletter. Michele