Flower Farming & Sustainability

Overall, local sustainably grown cut flowers contribute to a healthier planet, stronger communities, and a more vibrant floral culture. Here’s a few reasons how:

• Environmental Impact – The flowers we buy from traditional sources, such as grocery stores and many if not most florists, are typically imported from far away locations such as South and Central America and Europe. We have even seen flowers originating from Africa. In 2021 Canada imported $123 million in cut flowers, 70% of them came from Columbia and Ecuador. Growing flowers locally reduces transportation emissions and energy consumption associated with long-distance shipping. They are packed dry in plastic and cardboard, shipped refrigerated by air and transport truck, and generally stored in refrigerated warehouses.

  Our flowers are produced seasonally and slowly, which translates to their being grown outside in the natural environment (rather than in temperature controlled greenhouses, which require a lot of energy to run) and without the use of chemical fertilizers. We are committed to using packaging that can be reused or recycled with very little waste. Sustainable practices, such as organic farming and reduced pesticide use, also help protect local ecosystems and biodiversity. As noted above, flowers are shipped from distant locales packed using a large quantity of cardboard and plastic packaging. Purchasing locally grown flowers helps to reduce waste and the carbon footprint.

• Support for Local Economies – Purchasing locally grown flowers supports local Canadian farmers and economies. This fosters community resilience and helps maintain agricultural diversity. Buying directly from local growers fosters a sense of community and connection between consumers and producers while also helping customers to connect with nature and the land.

• Freshness and Quality – Imported flowers are harvested several days before they ever reach the consumer. They travel long distances without hydration in unnatural conditions. They are dehydrated and limp when they finally arrive to be sold wholesale. Not the way of nature, right? Local flowers are often fresher, having been harvested shortly before being sold. This generally means that you, the consumer, gets to enjoy a longer vase life and better overall quality compared to imported flowers!

• Seasonality and Biodiversity – Local growers are more likely to offer seasonal blooms, promoting a diverse range of flowers that reflect local climates and conditions. For example, we grow many colours, varieties, and types that you will never see among imported blooms (a great example being sweet peas. We grow dozens of varieties in all shades! Sweet peas are hard to find beyond flower farms because they are delicate and do not travel well.) This practice encourages a connection with the seasons and the environment. With sustainable flower farming, faster does not equal better. There is a whole movement dedicated to changing practices and perspectives, called the Slow Flower Movement. We recommend that you check it out for more information!

• Reduced Chemical Use – We farm using sustainable practices. This means we use little to no synthetic chemicals and fertilizers, which can be harmful to both the environment and human health. This makes local sustainable flowers an environmentally friendly, safer option.

• Ethical Labour - Many imported flowers are produced in countries that lack sufficient labour laws and whose flower farming practices that are unethical and infringe on human rights. Often the affected workers are women working for low wages in unsafe environments. Driven by the outcome of increasing profit, there is a high demand for an increase in productivity often results in the exploitation of labourers who are pressured to work faster without adequate breaks with little regard for their safety and well-being. They frequently sustain injuries and are exposed to harmful chemicals (many of these chemicals are not legal for use in Canada). We wish to provide an alternative in the flower industry to unethical labour practices, where customers can feel confident that their flowers have been grown and harvested ethically by local farmers.

Sources:

Bringing Back the Alberta Bouquet - Alberta Views

The women suffering for your Valentine's Day flowers | Guardian sustainable business | The Guardian

Your food may be sustainably grown, but what about your flowers? - ABC News