Asiatic lilies galore

It’s looking like Holland at Sarah and Michael’s Farm. The operation’s niche crop is lilies. The bulbs (from Holland) are forced in crates, in a media of 100 percent coir from Sri Lanka. Coir has a great structure for lilies – strong fibers that keep air in the mix, helping to avoid pythium. The media is all reused after a steam sterilization.

The operation uses no pesticides or fungicides, but relies on good soil and a controlled environment. And it helps that flowers are harvested before buds open.

But more than all this, I like the attitude of the operation’s leadership. Co-owner Michael Turner shared two rules for those companies he deals with: you’ve gotta pay your bills and you’ve gotta be nice.