Want to turn your passion for growing flowers into a small business? The two-day Wisconsin School for Cut Flower Growers can help you learn how to start a cut flower business, grow flowers using organic and sustainable production practices, and market cut flowers.

This workshop will be held on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus February 9-10. Registration costs $195 and includes lunches and refreshments. Enrollment is limited.

The school will be taught by three experienced grower-instructors: third generation flower grower Joe Schmitt, Rich Mansheim of Sandhill Farm, and Carol Larson of Sunborn Gardens and Fairfield Flowers.

The instructors will cover a range of topics including selecting varieties for farmers markets, florists and other sales outlets, planting and harvesting methods, pest management, post-harvest handling and direct marketing. There will also be opportunities to network with other growers.

The Cut Flower Growers School is an offshoot of the Wisconsin School for Beginning Market Growers, which has been helping people grow and market fresh produce since 1998. The 2008 School for Beginning Market Growers will be held Jan. 18-20 on the UW-Madison campus.

The course is sponsored by the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems. For more information contact John Hendrickson at (608) 265-3704 or jhendric@wisc.edu, or visit the CIAS web site: www.cias.wisc.edu.