IF you’ve ever started watching one gardening video and somehow ended up three hours later watching someone plant dahlias in another country, you might understand how Laura Langham got to where she is.
Ms Langham never intended to become a flower farmer, but today she is the proud owner of Cargo Flower Farm.
And she said it all began at home when she stumbled upon a YouTube channel named Garden Answer.
She said she was completely captivated watching the host design gardens and remodel outdoor spaces at her home.
Coincidentally, the creator of the channel was named Laura as well.
“I found her so inspiring,” Ms Langham said. “I’d see her create something and think, ‘Maybe I could have a go at that’.”
In time, Ms Langham found herself devoting more and more energy to tending various parts of her garden.
As she learned through hands-on experience, she discovered a genuine love for working outdoors and taking pride in cultivating something with her own hands.
When COVID hit, gardening took on an even more central role in Laura’s routine.
Caring for a toddler and an infant while confined to the home, she, like countless other families, faced endless days indoors.
One frustrating problem spot had bothered her for ages: whenever it rained, the space by the front entrance turned into a soggy patch of mud.
Determined to fix it, Ms Langham sourced a batch of pavers and set to work laying a paved walkway at the base of her front steps.
“I had absolutely no idea how much work I was getting myself into!” she said.
She said she went on to remove the dirt, wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow, eventually paving about 20 square metres.
Despite being a massive undertaking alongside caring for two small children, Ms Langham reflects that the project provided support during a challenging time, giving her focus, an outdoor outlet, and a sense of ownership.
“Being at home with two very young children during COVID was hard,” she said.
“That project gave me something that was mine. It gave me a reason to get outside, and importantly, it got all of us outside, which was exactly what we needed at the time.”
From there, the gardening obsession really took hold.
She began propagating succulents, captivated by watching a single tiny leaf develop into an entirely new plant.
As Ms Langham continued learning, experimenting, and expanding her collection, she started considering whether she could expand her efforts even further.
In 2023, she had an idea that seemed fairly bold at the time: what if she could actually grow flowers and sell them?
Although, she said there was no business plan sitting in a drawer, just someone who loved gardening and wanted to see if she could turn that interest into something more.
Driven by her growing curiosity and desire to experiment, Ms Langham began contemplating taking her gardening efforts a step further.
By 2023, an ambitious thought took shape: could she actually cultivate flowers to sell?
Without any formal business strategy in place, it was simply a passion project borne out of a genuine love for plants and a drive to see where her interest might lead.
Her breakthrough arrived via a local connection.
A resident in Cargo posted on Facebook about launching a roadside setup named the Cargo Pantry to sell homemade sourdough.
Spotting the update, Ms Langham reached out to ask if she could offer locally grown flowers beside the bread, and received an enthusiastic yes.
“So suddenly I thought, right, I guess I’m doing this!” she said.
She quickly designed a logo using Canva, launched an Instagram account, and focused on growing her first crops, starting with ranunculus.
When her initial bouquets went on display at the Cargo Pantry, seeing her hard work available for customers proved immensely rewarding.
“I can still remember those early bunches and how exciting it was knowing that somebody was actually going to stop, pick up flowers that I had grown myself and take them home,” she said.
After two successful seasons partnering with the Cargo Pantry, a new chapter opened. When the stall’s founder decided to step back while expecting her fourth child, Ms Langham purchased the stall.
The acquisition gave Cargo Flower Farm a dedicated permanent venue, transforming her modest trial into an independent enterprise.
Ms Langham said that gardening possesses a special ability to keep a person grounded, as there is always more to discover.
Right when you feel you have mastered a technique, unexpected weather, a new pest, or an uncooperative plant arrives to show you otherwise.
Yet, that continuous challenge is precisely what maintains her passion.
Each new season offers fresh experiences, novel varieties to cultivate, and distinct challenges to overcome. Looking ahead to the upcoming growing season brings a deep sense of fulfillment.
“There is always something new to learn, something new to grow and another season to look forward to,” she said.