Mama Gets Creative

You may have found yourself here because you scanned the QR code at my market booth. Maybe you stumbled upon this blog because you are curious about making jelly from flowers. Whatever the reason, I’m glad you are here and full of curiosity. In fact, that is where I got started.

I had been making and selling crochet apparel, accessories, and the occasional blanket for over a decade. It wasn’t working for me. There was always something. Classes, work, a baby, then another. Good crochet takes time and a lot of space in the house. I was drowning in yarn and stressing over all of it. I began to understand that, while I enjoy crochet and had pride in the things that I was making, this just wasn’t going to happen. Plus, I was limited to fall and winter seasons with what I made and everyone and their grandmother crochets or knits. I began looking for something new that I could do year-round, something unique, and something that I enjoyed (and let’s be real, as a single income family, this stay-at-home mama needed to find a way to pay a few bills and still stay with the decision to homeschool our children).

Sometime in 2022, I stumbled upon a recipe for dandelion jelly. Sadly, it was too late in the season, and I couldn’t make it, but I loved the crazy idea so much I held on to it for next year. Early spring 2023, I took my giant pregnant belly outside to pick of dandelions. I made the jelly (with a regular large cooking pot and a dishtowel on the bottom to prevent cracked glass – it works but I don’t recommend it) and immediately wanted to take it to markets. At the bottom of the food blog where I found the recipe, the blogger suggested wild violet. Low and behold, we had a ton of wild violets growing in our yard. While huffing and puffing and asking my then 3-year-old for help so I didn’t have to bend over so much, I made the violet (which is still my favorite and I soon sold out of this year. Sorry, you’ll have to wait until next season!). This is when I knew that maybe I have something here.

I learned from my previous business venture not to just go buying all the things. I wanted to make sure it was feasible before sinking a lot of money into it. I signed up for a market and told myself that I wouldn’t buy all the canning accessories and extra stuff until I sold enough to cover the cost for real canning equipment. This meant I was canning in my cooking pot for a while and using tongs to put in and take out the jars (again, I don’t recommend this, but it got the job done). I had jars filled, sealed, and labeled but nowhere to sell them.

I had one market in the area that I wanted to participate in. Our second baby was born on a Wednesday in April and the following Saturday I’m meeting with the market coordinator to see about becoming a vendor. Unfortunately, there was not enough space for me, but she loved what I had to offer. She recommended a different market that was brand new. I showed up almost every weekend and did well the first time, even with a weeks old baby in tow. However, it was kind of a dud after that first week. The plant nursery that hosted it ended up cancelling the market for the rest of the summer since there was so little traffic. That was the end of the season for me but just the beginning.

When the following spring came around in 2024, I was excited to get back into it. I needed to restock on what was sold out and had ideas for some new flavors from edible flowers. I got accepted into markets I was dying to get into. I started my new Instagram page and made my business name Berry Floral Jellies official. I am always learning new things about flowers, gardening, plant identification, canning, marketing, and business.

I’m now in my second year of production. The jellies have generated more interest than crochet ever had. I added 1.5 ounce jars with a gift box option (or as I often hear it called, a sampler). My next venture will be making some decisions how I want to sell online and ship it. One thing at a time.

I love seeing the curiosity people have when I tell them the jelly is made from flowers. Even more, this profitable hobby is possible to do while being a stay at home homeschooling mom. I have been so blessed.