In the Garden | Growing and Breeding Sunflowers with Steve Kaufer

Welcome back to In the Garden with Flower Hill Farm, where we dig into the beauty, rhythms, and practical magic of growing a garden you love. Join Nicole from Flower Hill Farm for thoughtful conversations, seasonal inspiration, and real-world gardening wisdom. Powered by Botanical Interests, your trusted source for high-quality seeds and gardening know-how. Whether you are dreaming big for the coming season or feeling called to grow something new, this show is your invitation to slow down, listen closely, and grow with intention. In this episode, Nicole is joined by Steve Kaufer of Sunflower Steve Seed Co. for a heartfelt and inspiring conversation all about sunflowers. Together, Nicole and Steve talk about what it means to grow on a larger scale, how curiosity can shape a career, and why following your heart sometimes starts with a single plant. Steve shares the story of the sunflower that changed the course of his life and how that moment led him into breeding sunflowers, a practice he has been dedicated to for over 17 years. With more than two decades of experience as a cut flower grower specializing in wholesale production, Steve brings a deep well of knowledge about large-scale growing, plant selection, and the patience required to steward new varieties into the world. The conversation also explores Steve’s work with native prairie flowers, the evolution of his seed company now in its fourth year, and the passion that fuels his focus on sunflowers and natives. Along the way, Steve reflects on balancing farming, family life as a father of four daughters, and his other lifelong passion: falconry. At its core, this episode is about leading with curiosity, trusting your instincts, and allowing plants to guide you toward unexpected paths. If you love sunflowers, dream of growing bigger, or need a reminder to follow what lights you up, this episode will leave you inspired to look toward the sun and see where it leads. 🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and follow along on YouTube for behind-the-scenes clips, garden tours, and exclusive episodes. 🌼 Follow Our Guest Steve Kaufer, Flower grower, breeder and Seed Producer Website: https://www.sunflowersteveseedco.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sun_flower_steve/ 🌱 Special Offer for Listeners: Get 5% off all online purchases at BotanicalInterests.com with code INTHEGARDEN 🌸 Seeds Mentioned: Sunflower Collection Page: https://bit.ly/4sva717 Lemon Queen: https://growepic.co/3LBVQzd Heirloom Beauties: https://growepic.co/4q5X30J Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices