When I decided to start flower farming, I was primarily interested in growing unique seasonal flowers that weren’t available from traditional outlets. As I started researching, I learned about the slow flower movement. Much like the local food movement, slow flowers seek to bridge the farm to table gap by supplying flowers to the local community.
This movement started, in part, due to frustrations with the inherent sustainability issues of importing flowers, and has led to a surge in new local flower farms. When I started out, I was astounded by what I learned about the flower industry. I had never thought too much about how or why so many flowers were available all year long. After lots of reading, I was surprised by what I learned and even more committed to becoming a flower farmer-florist who could supply my local community with an alternative to imported flowers.
Local, sustainably grown flowers use fewer resources, generate less trash, and support a healthy ecosystem, which in turn, benefits local wildlife and ultimately everyone who enjoys those flowers. In short, locally grown flowers deliver the freshest possible flowers to your home, with the least environmental impact.
Next time you find yourself in need of flowers, please think about supporting your local flower farmers who can be easily located through a search at localflowers.org. If you want a farmer florist you are sure to find one near you using the farmer-florist collective. You are sure to find a flower farmer near you!
Local flowers come in an enormous array of varieties, each with their own unique shape, texture, and colors, not found in imported flowers.
Local flowers retain the natural scent mother nature intended for them and are safe for you to bury your face in and take a big whiff to be transported to an occasion, a location, or a memory.
Locally grown flowers support the local ecosystem by providing food and shelter for bees, insects, birds and other wildlife.