The Slow Flowers Podcast is the award-winning, long-running show known as the “Voice of the Slow Flowers Movement.” Airing weekly for more than 9 years, we focus on the business of flower farming and floral design through the Slow Flowers sustainability ethos. Listen to a new episode each Wednesday, available for free download here at slowflowerspodcast.com or on iTunes, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
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Episode 678: Slow Flowers Visits France (Part 2) – a tour of Les Singulières Ferme Florale with flower farmer Coralie Vinet
mercredi 28 août 2024 • Durée 35:11
https://youtu.be/pDSIccF_SF4?si=XwzwLRt-FlclsTPq
We know that there’s been widespread embrace of the Slow Flowers Movement across the world, especially in countries that have seen their flower production move overseas. While the concept of Slow Flowers started right here, the term and philosophy have been adopted and embraced worldwide – and we definitely take credit! It’s inspiring to meet folks across the globe who are bringing local flowers to their communities – and today, you’ll meet Coralie Vinet, an organic flower farmer and farmer-florist in Western France, whose farm I recently visited.
Last week, you joined my visit to the magical place called Mill on the Rock with Tara Kolla, as we discussed her journey from owning Los Angeles-based Silver Lake Farm to her idyllic destination venue in Western France.
A day on a French Flower Farm, with Debra, Tara Kolla, and Coralie Vinet of Les Singulières Ferme Floral
Coralie Vinet and Debra Prinzing
And this week, I’m sharing the other stop on that trip – to visit to Les Singulières Ferme Florale and a conversation with organic flower farmer Coralie Vinet.
Floral design by Coralie Vignet (c) ELISEGD
After fifteen years as a florist working in various craft shops in the Grand-Ouest region of France, Coralie returned to the origins of plants, driven by her human and ecological convictions. She created “Les Singulières” a flower farm in April 2022. Now in her third season, Coralie writes this on her website:
Flowers by Coralie Vinet of Les Singulières
"We cultivate seasonal organic flowers in the Vendée climate, respecting the soil and its biodiversity. Our production technique has a low ecological impact as we produce unique, imperfect and poetic flowers. We offer farm bouquets, naturally composed of wild flowers. Inspired by SLOW FLOWERS, our floral production respects the environment and its resources."
Floral Art Workshop at Mill on the Rock
In this interview, you’ll also hear the voice of Tara Kolla, who both introduced me to Coralie, she also provided French-to-English translation for the interview. Let’s jump right in and get started – and meet Coralie and Tara.
You’ll also find links to details about the upcoming Flower Art Workshop, taking place at Mill on the Rock on September 28th.
The session includes lessons in hand-held bouquet-making, wreath creation and vase composition. Lunch and snacks are included, plus tips for growing your own as well as a flower foraging as you are invited to wander through Tara’s garden at Mill on the Rock.
If you’re in Europe, it’s just a day’s trip to attend – and I encourage you to check it out!
Find and follow Corlie on Instagram and Facebook
Thank you to our Sponsors
This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 750 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers.
Thank you to our lead sponsor, Flowerbulb.eu and their U.S. lily bulb vendors. One of the most recognizable flowers in the world, the lily is a top-selling cut flower, offering long-lasting blooms, year-round availability, and a dazzling petal palette. Flowerbulb.eu has partnered with Slow Flowers to provide beautiful lily inspiration and farming resources to help growers and florists connect their customers with more lilies. Learn more at Flowerbulb.eu.
Thank you to the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market, a farmer-owned cooperative committed to providing the very best the Pacific Northwest has to offer in cut flowers, foliage and plants. The Growers Market’s mission is to foster a vibrant marketplace that sustains local flower farms and provides top-quality products and service to the local floral industry. Visit them at seattlewholesalegrowersmarket.com.
And thank you to Longfield Gardens,
Episode 677: Slow Flowers Visits France to catch up with former Los Angeles flower farmer Tara Kolla of Mill on the Rock
mercredi 21 août 2024 • Durée 39:17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfjE0dyUdhs
Urban flower farmer Tara Kolla, owner of Silver Lake Farms in Los Angeles.
When she owned and operated Silver Lake Farms, Tara Kolla was one of Los Angeles’s pioneering urban flower growers.
She helped change legislation to approve backyard flower farming and was a popular vendor at Hollywood Farmers’ Market.
In 2016, Tara and her husband dramatically reimagined their lives and moved to the La Rochelle region of France. They bought a 18th century stone millhouse and poured just as much love and care into its renovations as Tara had once devoted to growing flowers.
Earlier this month, I visited Mill on the Rock and today, I’m sharing a beautiful conversation to catch up listeners on the next chapter of Tara’s floral story.
This iconic photo is showing up everywhere and I am so lucky it's mine! So symbolic of slow, locally-grown flowers. Design and truck: Tara Kolla, Silver Lake Farms (Los Angeles) (c) Debra Prinzing
Today’s episode is a very special one as we reconnect with former Los Angeles organic flower farmer Tara Kolla – consider this a new installment of our collection of “where are they now?” follow-up shows!
Fans of the Slow Flowers Movement first met Tara in 2012 in the pages of The 50 Mile Bouquet, the little book that launched so much awareness around local, seasonal, and sustainable flowers. I featured Tara in a chapter called “Flower Patch Politics,” profiling Silver Lake Farms, her urban, organic food and floral enterprise. Hers is an inspiring story of transitioning from a career in PR and Marketing in 2003 to become a farmer growing a diversified mix of flowers, organic greens, and vegetables. Tara’s story not only wowed our readers, but wowed her customers across the City of Angels. She became a passionate advocate who revived a 1940s-era “truck gardening” ordinance that neighbors insisted only permitted residential gardeners to sell the excess food they grew – NOT their flowers.
We captured Tara’s story with photography by David Perry, and I’ll share a PDF of the full chapter as a bonus in today’s show notes for you to download and read. In April 2014, Tara also appeared as a guest on the Slow Flowers Podcast, Episode 314.
Flower Patch PoliticsDownload
By then, I was living in Seattle, so I managed to stay in touch with Tara long-distance. She visited us in Seattle once; I visited her in Los Angeles; IG was just taking off, so of course we followed one another – and then, to my surprise, in 2016, Tara posted that she was moving to France! I was enthralled by her story – seemingly ripped from the pages of Peter Mayle’s bestseller, A Year in Provence, about the renovations of an ancient edifice and a new life built around it.
Mill on the Rock potager
Roses at Mill on the Rock
If you followed Tara’s Silver Lake Farms account on IG, you also saw news of her transition to Mill on the Rock. Today, you’re in for a treat because I visited Tara when I was in France earlier this month – and we recorded a laughter-filled episode that continues her amazing tale.
Floral Art Workshop at Mill on the Rock
Flowers are (of course) part of the story, and Tara’s upcoming event at Mill on the Rock, a retreat venue in France’s La Rochelle region, is at the heart of it. Learn more about the upcoming Flower Art Workshop, taking place at Mill on the Rock on September 28th.
The session includes lessons in hand-held bouquet-making, wreath creation and vase composition. Lunch and snacks are included, plus tips for growing your own as well as a flower foraging as you are invited to wander through Tara’s garden at Mill on the Rock. If you’re in Europe, it’s just a day’s trip to attend – and I encourage you to check it out!
Stay tuned for next week’s Episode 678 – you’ll want to watch and listen to Slow Flowers Visits France Part Two, and tour Les Singulieres, a French flower farm that Tara took me to.
Episode 668: Slow Flowers Summit Preview with Farmer-Florists Melanie Harrington of Dahlia May Flower Farm and Janis Harris of Harris Flower Farm
mercredi 19 juin 2024 • Durée 01:01:42
Get ready for our inspiring conversation with Janis Harris and Melanie Harrington as these two farmer-florists bring us a preview of their upcoming presentations at the Slow Flowers Summit, taking place next week in Banff, Alberta, Canada.
https://youtu.be/BB4P-L5LxHQ?si=21zkPLOb7aMxj8Ki
In just a few days, I’ll be gathering with nearly 100 attendees at the Slow Flowers Summit, which will take place June 23-25 at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity in Banff, Alberta, Canada.
It is our seventh annual Slow Flowers Summit – our first in Canada and our first international conference. We planned this Summit to showcase the expertise and knowledge of Canadian floral, horticultural, and sustainability experts – most of whom are Slow Flowers Members. We are thrilled with the deep body of knowledge that our Summit attendees will receive from 10 inspiring speakers!
I’m delighted that we are partnering with the Cooperative Flower Network based in Edmonton to ensure that our speakers and attendees will have a chance to experience designing with Alberta-grown flowers. I’m also thrilled that we are partnering with the team behind Canadian Flowers Week to share the story of Slow Flowers across Canada.
Janis Harris of Harris Flower Farm (left) and Melanie Harrington of Dahlia May Flower Farm (right)
The first day of the Summit kicks off with two back-to-back presentations under the banner of “Meet the Farmer-Florist,” and it’s my pleasure to introduce today’s guests, Melanie Harrington of Dahlia May Flower Farm in Trenton, Ontario, and Janis Harris of Harris Flower Farm in St. Thomas, Ontario. At the Summit, these women will share the stories of their floral enterprises, each of whom will close out her lecture with a design demonstration.
As a preview, we recently hosted Janis and Melanie as special guests of the June Slow Flowers (Virtual) Membership Meet-Up. We recorded the session for you to hear today. You’ll find it so enlightening to learn about these two farmer-florists and their businesses, as they discuss the challenges (and rewards) of balancing flower farming with design services through a variety of channels.
Find and follow Melanie Harrington, Dahlia May Flower Farm on Instagram and Facebook
Find and follow Janis Harris, Harris Flower Farm - on Instagram and Facebook
Listen: Melanie’s and Janis’s past appearances on the Slow Flowers Podcast:Melanie on the Slow Flowers Podcast - Episode 312 (August 30, 2017) Janis on the Slow Flowers Podcast - Episodse 304 (July 6, 2017) and Episode 450 (April 22, 2020)
Slow Flowers Summit 2024
I’m departing for Alberta in a few days to make the trip to Banff, and I want to encourage you to follow @SlowFlowersSociety and @SlowFlowersSummit on Instagram next week, as I know our social media manager Niesha Blancas will be filming some fun IG Live segments straight from the Slow Flowers Summit to share with you! We wish you were with us in person, but you’ll still catch some of the amazing education through our social media channels.
And as a footnote, we’re so grateful to all of our Slow Flowers Summit Sponsors, including Red Twig Farms, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, New Age Floral, Sakata Seeds, OLMS Bamboo Floral Sticks, Ball Seed, and Rooted Farmers. Our partner thanks goes to BLOOM Imprint, our publishing partner. We are also grateful for the support from our Alberta host, and member, Becky Feasby of Prairie Girl Flowers. You can learn more about our sponsors, speakers, program, and schedule at slowflowerssummit.com.
Thank you to our Sponsors
This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 750 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers.
Thank you to Rooted Farmers. Rooted Farmers works exclusively with local growers to put the highest-quality specialty...
Episode 575: The Floral Coach’s Amy Balsters shares her bouquet-making philosophy and inspiring business model
mercredi 14 septembre 2022 • Durée 50:13
https://youtu.be/bcTATh8hmVk
Amy's signature loose-and-airy, asymmetrical bouquet style
I first met Slow Flowers member Amy Balsters in 2018 when she was a wedding and event florist operating as Amy Nicole Floral. We both attended a floral conference and during a few days together, we made a friendly connection. Later that year, Amy relocated with her family from Southern California to the Washington, D.C., area and the timing was ideal for her to attend the 2nd Slow Flowers Summit in the nation's capital. And she joined Slow Flower Society as a member.
Through our social media connections, I watched as she began teaching bouquet-making skills around the country, helping florists learn the art of the loose and airy bouquet style. One of her workshops promised: "if you struggle with your bouquets feeling tight, lacking dimension or movement, or creating anxiety, this class is for you."A few years ago, she rebranded her business as The Floral Coach and began to teach online and in person workshops. Classically trained, Amy is an award-winning floral design educator with vast industry experience spanning 2 decades in retail floristry, weddings, and special events. She specializes in teaching the romantic-inspired, "loose and airy style" and is the creator of Bouquet Bootcamp, a comprehensive design course and hands-on workshop series.
In late August, I met up with Amy in San Diego where we both participated in the CalFlowers FunNSun Conference. Amy taught two hands-on bouquet making workshops and I was a panelist for the Floral Marketing presentation. I flew in a day early so I could take Amy's workshop and I asked her to sit down with me for a video interview.
I'm so thrilled to share her story with you --and to connect you with Amy's educational offerings.
Take Amy's Free Webinar: 4 Ways to Better Bouquets
Follow The Floral Coach on Instagram and Facebook
Watch Amy on YouTube
Learn more about Bouquet Bootcamp
This week's News: Join the Slow Flowers September 16 Meet-Up
Four of the new floral storefronts welcomed in 2022 (and there are more!). Clockwise, from top/left:Feast & Flora (Charleston, SC); Morning Glory Flower Co. (Glenville, WV); Sunborn Gardens (Madison, WI); and Wilrett Flower Co. (DeKalb, IL).
It’s September and I wanted to give you a head’s up that our monthly Slow Flowers Member Meet-up is returning after our summer break! Typically, we all meet in the Zoom Room on the 2nd Friday of each month, but for this month only, we’ve scheduled the Meet-Up for the 3rd Friday – September 16th, 9 am Pacific/Noon Eastern. Our focus is “Diving into Retail Flower Shops,” and you’ll meet four Slow Flowers members who will join us (virtually) from their new retail spaces and give us a virtual tour. How can you create your community’s “favorite little flower shop”? Our member experts will share a “checklist” for anyone thinking of moving from a private studio or farm to the retail landscape.
Click here to pre-register for the 9/16 Meet-Up
Thank you to our Sponsors
This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers.
Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers. Farmgirl Flowers delivers iconic burlap-wrapped bouquets and lush, abundant arrangements to customers across the U.S., supporting U.S. flower farms by purchasing more than $10 million dollars of U.S.-grown fresh and seasonal flowers and foliage annually. Discover more at farmgirlflowers.com.
Thank you to Red Twig Farms. Based in Johnstown, Ohio, Red Twig Farms is a family-owned farm specializing in peonies, daffodils, tulips and branches, a popular peony-bouquet-by-mail program and their Spread the Hope Campaign where customers purchase 10 tulip stems for essential work...
Episode 574: Fourth-Year Flower Farmer, a virtual tour and visit with Jenny Chantz of Merritt Meadow Flower Farm in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania
mercredi 7 septembre 2022 • Durée 39:42
https://youtu.be/0F9B-tPVMJE
I'm excited to share today's show with you for a number of reasons. My guest is farmer-florist Jenny Chantz of Merritt Meadows Flower Farm. Recently, we recorded this conversation about her farm, her market, her flowers and her story.
Jenny Chantz of Merritt Meadows Flower Farm (left); the spring "friendship" bouquet that Jenny made and delivered to Debra's friend.
Our conversation began this past April, when I reached out to Jenny for help with a few floral deliveries I wanted to send a friend who was experiencing some tough medical issues. I searched the map of Slow Flowers members in the greater Philadelphia market, comparing zip codes and distances, and determined that Jenny's Merritt Meadows Flower Farm was pretty close to the facility where my friend had been admitted.
I reached out and to my delight, what I needed was exactly the type of specialized service that Jenny offers! It was springtime, so she harvested and designed two bouquets during the season, delivering them in person to my friend. While the need for flowers was a sad one, I felt so comforted having a Slow Flowers member to call! Jenny took time to email me a list of the flowers she planned to harvest -- an organic flower arrangement of anemones, ranunculus, daffodils and locally grown foliages of dusty, eucalyptus, euphorbia, privet, cherry laurel and pachysandra. She sent me photos and reassured me that it all went well.
A custom Merritt Meadows Flower Farm bouquet - grown and arranged by Jenny Chantz (shown at right)
Getting to know more about Jenny and Merritt Meadows inspired me to invite her to join me as a guest on the Slow Flowers Show. We are in for a treat!
Find and follow Merritt Meadows Flower Farm:Merritt Meadows Flower Farm on Instagram
Join our September Slow Flowers Member Meet-Up
Four of the new floral storefronts welcomed in 2022 (and there are more!). Clockwise, from top/left:Feast & Flora (Charleston, SC); Morning Glory Flower Co. (Glenville, WV); Sunborn Gardens (Madison, WI); and Wilrett Flower Co. (DeKalb, IL).
It's September and I wanted to give you a head's up that our monthly Slow Flowers Member Meet-up is returning after our summer break! Typically, we all meet in the Zoom Room on the 2nd Friday of each month, but for this month only, we've scheduled the Meet-Up for the 3rd Friday - September 16th, 9 am Pacific/Noon Eastern. Our focus is "Diving into Retail Flower Shops," and you'll meet four Slow Flowers members who will join us (virtually) from their new retail spaces and give us a virtual tour. How can you create your community's "favorite little flower shop"? Our member experts will share a "checklist" for anyone thinking of moving from a private studio or farm to the retail landscape.
Click here to pre-register for the 9/16 Meet-Up
Thank you to our Sponsors
This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers.
Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers. Farmgirl Flowers delivers iconic burlap-wrapped bouquets and lush, abundant arrangements to customers across the U.S., supporting U.S. flower farms by purchasing more than $10 million dollars of U.S.-grown fresh and seasonal flowers and foliage annually. Discover more at farmgirlflowers.com.
Thank you to CalFlowers, the leading floral trade association in California, providing valuable transportation and other benefits to flower growers and the entire floral supply chain in California and 48 other states. The Association is a leader in bringing fresh cut flowers to the U.S. market and in promoting the benefits of flowers to new generations of American consumers. learn more at cafgs.org.
Thank you to Store It Cold, creators of the revolutionary CoolBot,
Episode 573: The 50 Mile Bouquet Series with Charles & Bethany Little of Charles Little & Co.
mercredi 31 août 2022 • Durée 44:33
https://youtu.be/FhiS0CcQmfo
If you've been following along for a while, you have noticed that 2022 is the 10-year celebration of the publication of The 50 Mile Bouquet, a book that, to be honest, started me along the journey that became the Slow Flowers Movement.
In a tribute to this small but mighty book, I'm spending this year circling back to interview as many people featured in its pages as possible. The 50 Mile Bouquet was photographed by David Perry, designed by James Forkner, and brought to market by St. Lynn's Press publisher Paul Kelly.
The opening chapter of The 50 Mile Bouquet includes profiles of several of the flower farmers who shaped the story and influenced my understanding of domestic floral agriculture. These are people who grew specialty cut flowers long before the term Slow Flowers was coined. They are the OG's the originals, who have quietly practiced their craft as artisan growers, supplying their customers, both flower lovers and florists, with superior quality heirloom blooms.
So, today, you will meet Charles and Bethany Little of Eugene, Oregon-based Charles Little & Co. Their story appears in a section called Growers' Wisdom in which we introduce these inspiring growers.
Charles Little has tended to ornamental crops in the verdant Willamette Valley since 1986 and I value his perspective and insights about how flower farmers have navigated the past decade and more. You met Bethany Little earlier this year when I featured her as a guest during her appearance as a NWFGS instructor, and so this is a bonus interview.
Listen to Bethany: Episode 349: Finding a Market for Your Flowers with Bethany Little of Charles Little & Co.Listen to Charles: Grower Wisdom with Flower Farmer Charles Little (Episode 207)
Here’s how to find and follow Charles Little & Co.:
Charles Little & Co. on Facebook
Charles Little & Co. on Instagram
Read: "Heart of the Country," my first interview with Charles and Bethany, that appears in The 50 Mile Bouquet.
Growers Wisdom pdfDownload
Thank you to our Sponsors
This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers.
Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers. Farmgirl Flowers delivers iconic burlap-wrapped bouquets and lush, abundant arrangements to customers across the U.S., supporting U.S. flower farms by purchasing more than $10 million dollars of U.S.-grown fresh and seasonal flowers and foliage annually. Discover more at farmgirlflowers.com.
Thank you to The Gardener's Workshop, which offers a full curriculum of online education for flower farmers and farmer-florists. Online education is more important this year than ever, and you'll want to check out the course offerings at thegardenersworkshop.com.
Thank you to Longfield Gardens, which provides home gardeners with high quality flower bulbs and perennials. Their online store offers plants for every region and every season, from tulips and daffodils to dahlias, caladiums and amaryllis. Check out the full catalog at Longfield Gardens at longfield-gardens.com.
Thank you to Johnny's Selected Seeds, an employee-owned company that provides our industry the best flower, herb and vegetable seeds -- supplied to farms large and small and even backyard cutting gardens like mine. Find the full catalog of flower seeds and bulbs at johnnysseeds.com.
I want to announce the winner of our special giveaway of The Flower School book by Joseph Massie, last week's Podcast guest. We asked listeners to like and follow our @slowflowerssociety IG post and also like and follow Joseph Massie, as well as share a comment with the name or names of their favorite focal flowers. Thanks so much to all who entered our random drawing for this fantastic new bo...
Episode 572: Joseph Massie returns the Slow Flowers Podcast to unveil The Flower School, his new beautiful and useful new design book
mercredi 24 août 2022 • Durée 50:45
https://youtu.be/v-51vvHyJPs
Check out one of Joseph Massie's free YouTube tutorials above
I'm thrilled today to welcome Joseph Massie back to the Slow Flowers Podcast.
I wanted to share the great news of the arrival of Joseph's first book, The Flower School, which has a subtitle: "the principles and pleasures of good flowers," published by UK-based Hardie Grant and is now available online for pre-order. Click to read more about The Flower School book.
AND....we have a beautiful copy for a giveaway, so read on to learn how you can win!
The Flower School is an impressive, 305-page book, brimming with full-color photography of the elements, principles and theory of floral design. There are 25 step-by-step floral arrangements - for the home, gatherings, celebrations and the pure pleasure of flowers.
Before we welcome Joseph, here's a bit more of his story:
Frequently referred to by the media as ‘the floral artist of his generation,’ Joseph Massie is widely regarded as one of Europe’s top floral artists.
When he was just fourteen, Joseph desperately wanted a weekend job, and after successfully applying to the local flower stall, he began spending his weekends working there in his hometown of Liverpool, UK.
Perhaps to some it was an uncommon interest for a fourteen year old boy, but Joseph quickly found his vocation amongst the buckets of blossoms and buds.
Taking steps to pursue his passion, Joseph self funded his education and began to hone his practice and develop a creative ethos, participating in intense training sessions with top international designers and artists. To further build his artistic vocabulary, Joseph began to participate first in regional, followed by national, floral design competitions, and at age nineteen, won his first national design competition, the BFA Young Florist of the Year 2007.
With a clutch of prestigious awards, Joseph turned his attentions to artistic endeavours working across ten countries, on a wide variety of art projects including botanical couture, sculptures and installations. He has received seventeen national & international awards, including five consecutive RHS Gold Medals – and four Best in Show awards – at the world renown RHS Chelsea Flower Show -- the youngest person ever to achieve this feat.
Joseph’s work has since been featured in press including The Times, The Independent, The Daily Mail and his work commissioned by international institutions and brands.
Enjoy this sneak peek into The Flower School. You can learn more from Joseph at these links:🌿 SIGN UP TO FOR JOSEPH'S FREE BEGINNERS COURSE : For the Love of Flowers : Beginnings 🌿 FLOWER CLASS MEMBERSHIP: Join the Flower Class community, for exclusive classes & coaching each and every month. 🌿 BLOG : Discover more free resources on The Cultivate Blog 🌿 PODCAST : Check out The Flowers After Hours Podcast 🌿 TOOLS : For all Joseph's favourite floral tools & supplies
An opening spread from The Flower School
Thanks so much for joining me today. That was an inspiring conversation and I hope you were just as enchanted by Joseph's story and love of floral design as I was.
As Joseph and I discussed, this book reflects his true passion to share his knowledge to encourage and inspire absolutely anyone who wants to work with flowers to be able to do so – and do it well.
He wants everyone -- professionals and flower enthusiasts alike -- to be empowered by the learning process of skills, techniques and principles for a strong floral design foundation. I couldn't agree more.
By the way, Joseph was a guest on Episode 346, which aired April 2018, after we taught together at Tobey Nelson's Whidbey Island Workshop. If you want to hear more about Joseph's fascinating journey to flowers, you can listen to that conversation. I'll share the link in today's show notes..
If you'd like to enter our random drawing to win a copy of Joseph Massie's new book,
Episode 571: Sustainable Everyday Flowers — how a retail studio honors its eco values with Kelsey Ruhland of Foxbound Flowers
mercredi 17 août 2022 • Durée 48:57
https://youtu.be/-JlMNEOeI4s
Left: a selection of Kelsey's handmade ceramic vases; Right: Kelsey Ruhland
My guest today is Kelsey Ruhland, owner of Foxbound Flowers a floral studio offering same-day flower delivery to the Eugene, Oregon, marketplace.
Her brand offers electric vehicle delivery, responsible sourcing, zero waste and non single-use plastics, as well as locally- and U.S.-grown flowers and plants. I'm especially fascinated with her flower shop hacks -- using everything from upcycled cardboard and floral sleeves to create a second use for many materials that would otherwise land in the garbage or fill her recycling bin. You'll see a few of those tricks in our interview.
Seasonal everyday arrangements featuring locally-grown flowers, designed by Foxbound Flowers
I visited Kelsey when I was in Oregon last month, eager to hear her story. Born and raised in North Dakota, Kelsey says she moved to Eugene, with her family to explore the mountains and big trees, enjoy the Pacific coast, the culinary scene, and frankly, to seek a warmer climate.
You will hear in our conversation that Kelsey has worked in the floral industry since 2008, previously owning a full-service retail floral shop in Bismarck, North Dakota, which specialized in wedding and event work. Her wedding florals have been featured on popular blogs such as Wedding Sparrow, Magnolia Rouge, Style Me Pretty, Dainty Obsessions, and in Rock and Roll Bride Magazine.
Kelsey recycles old wood fencing into beautiful, organic-looking flower vessels
When not arranging flowers, Kelsey enjoys hiking, playing piano, painting, and baking. And, as you will learn from our conversation, she is a true maker, adding ceramics, pottery, and woodworking skills to enhance one-of-a-kind offerings for customers.
I hope you grab a few takeaway tips for your own floral enterprise - I know I have.
Find and Follow Foxbound Flowers:on Facebook and Instagram
Thank you to our Sponsors
This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers.
Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers. Farmgirl Flowers delivers iconic burlap-wrapped bouquets and lush, abundant arrangements to customers across the U.S., supporting U.S. flower farms by purchasing more than $10 million dollars of U.S.-grown fresh and seasonal flowers and foliage annually. Discover more at farmgirlflowers.com.
Thank you to Details Flowers Software, a platform specifically designed to help florists and designers do more and earn more. With an elegant and easy-to-use system--Details is here to improve profitability, productivity, and organization for floral businesses of all shapes and sizes. Grow your bottom line through professional proposals and confident pricing with Details' all-in-one platform. All friends of the Slow Flowers Podcast will receive a 7-day free trial of Details Flowers Software. Learn more at detailsflowers.com.
Thank you to Store It Cold, creators of the revolutionary CoolBot, a popular solution for flower farmers, studio florists and farmer-florists. Save $1000s when you build your own walk-in cooler with the CoolBot and an air conditioner. Don't have time to build your own? They also have turnkey units available. Learn more at storeitcold.com.
Thank you to CalFlowers, the leading floral trade association in California, providing valuable transportation and other benefits to flower growers and the entire floral supply chain in California and 48 other states. The Association is a leader in bringing fresh cut flowers to the U.S. market and in promoting the benefits of flowers to new generations of American consumers. Learn more at cafgs.org.
Thanks so much for joining us today!
Episode 570: A visit to Blossom & Branch, Briana Bosch’s Colorado Flower Farm
mercredi 10 août 2022 • Durée 44:44
https://youtu.be/jf71Jbh38e0
My guest today is Colorado-based flower farmer and educator Briana Bosch. We recently met in person when Briana attended the Slow Flowers Summit and I've been wanting to host her on the show - so we finally got this conversation on the calendar to share with you.
Just a little bit of background: Armed with an MBA from the University of California, Briana established Blossom & Branch in 2019 with her husband. As she writes on the Blossom & Branch website:
". . . cubicle life has just never been a fit for me. Farming runs in my blood: I am a fifth generation farmer, but I myself never thought I would get a chance to start up my own farm! We got lucky when we found 1.7 acres in the suburbs of Denver and moved to the farm in 2018."
Briana Bosch during our Slow Flowers Summit Floral Takeover (c) Alex Brooks
The farm name Blossom & Branch refers to the unique site, which is half field (home to field-grown flowers such as annuals, roses and peonies), and half woods--where Briana and her husband focus on providing habitat for wildlife and pollinators through native plants such as chokecherries, american plum, currants, and serviceberries.
Let's jump right in and meet Briana and learn about her farm, her focus on regenerative farming processes and carbon sequestration - and how she shares her flowers with her community of flower lovers and wedding clients.
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News for You
FREE Slow Flowers WebinarMadison Square Park Conservancy Lecture SeriesAugust 18, 2022
The Slow Flowers Movement is a response to the disconnect between humans and flowers in the modern era. Slow Flowers connects consumers with the source of their flowers, putting a human face of the flower farmer and floral designer behind each bouquet or centerpiece.
Join Slow Flowers Society founder Debra Prinzing and Slow Flowers member Janet Kramka, proprietor of Backyard Blooms for a free webinar 3-4 pm PT/6-7 pm ET on Thursday, August 18th. The conversation will focus on the importance of the Slow Flowers Movement, and how their work has both supported and been inspired by it. The Madison Square Park Conservancy Program is free and will be hosted on Zoom.
Click here to pre-register for the free webinar
Slow Flowers Member DiscountSustainable Flowers Project WorkshopSeptember 18-20, 2022
SUSTAINABLE FLOWERS PROJECT: Slow Flowers has signed on as a partner in the September workshop produced by two of our members, Becky Feasby and TJ McGrath — the Sustainable Flowers Project. The three-day intensive + creative workshop explores sustainability with some of the biggest leaders in sustainable floristry today. The location: Jardin de Buis, in Califon, New Jersey; the dates: September 18-20, 2022.You’ll learn from Ingrid Carozzi, Tin Can Studios; British Designer Shane Connolly, Shane Connolly + Co.; flower farmer and social justice activist Amber Tamm, as well as Andrea Fillippone and Eric Fleisher, environmental designers and owners of Jardin de Buis, as well as from Becky and TJ. They have created a special $150-off promo code for Slow Flowers members who sign up. Register here with SF150.
Click here to Register and Use the Promo Code
Thank you to our Sponsors
This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers.
Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers. Farmgirl Flowers delivers iconic burlap-wrapped bouquets and lush, abundant arrangements to customers across the U.S., supporting U.S. flower farms by purchasing more than $10 million dollars of U.S.-grown fresh and seasonal flowers and foliage a...
Episode 569: Flowers & Photography with Krista Rossow of O’Flora Flower Farm
mercredi 3 août 2022 • Durée 40:55
https://youtu.be/pQF-tZKk7d8
My guest today is Krista Rossow of O'Flora Flower Farm in Oregon's Southern Willamette Valley. The tagline for O'Flora Farm is: Small Farm, Big Blooms, Oregon-grown.
Flower farmer and professional photographer Krista Rossow of O'Flora Flower Farm (c) Krista Rossow
Krista Rossow (left) and the zinnia patch at O'Flora Flower Farm (right) (c) Krista Rossow
Krista and I met in person earlier this summer at the Slow Flowers Summit in New York, but we're just a few hours away from each other by car, and when I traveled to Eugene, Oregon two weeks ago, I invited myself over for a tour and to record today's interview. I know you'll enjoy it!
Glorious ranunculus from O'Flora Flower Farm (c) Krista Rossow
You'll hear Krista's fascinating story about her path to flowers, which involves a 15-year career as both a photography editor at National Geographic in Washington, D.C., and a freelance travel photographer whose work took her to all seven continents on the planet.
O'Flora Flower Farm: A dahlia still life and a vibrant palette for seasonal wrapped bouquets (c) Krista Rossow
Now, thanks in large part to being temporarily sidelined by the Coronavirus pandemic and the pause on traveling to teach, guide tours and take amazing photography, Krista is decidedly present, staying close to home on her Oregon cut flower farm. Let's jump right in and you'll hear the full, beautiful story!
A blue study (c) Krista Rossow
Dried flowers from O'Flora Flower Farm (c) Krista Rossow
Subscribe to updates about Krista's upcoming online floral photography course.
Follow O'Flora Flower Farm:On Instagram and Facebook
Thank you to our Sponsors
This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers.
Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers. Farmgirl Flowers delivers iconic burlap-wrapped bouquets and lush, abundant arrangements to customers across the U.S., supporting U.S. flower farms by purchasing more than $10 million dollars of U.S.-grown fresh and seasonal flowers and foliage annually. Discover more at farmgirlflowers.com.
Thank you to the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers. Formed in 1988, ASCFG was created to educate, unite, and support commercial cut flower growers. It mission is to help growers produce high-quality floral material, and to foster and promote the local availability of that product. Learn more at ascfg.org.
Thank you to Red Twig Farms. Based in Johnstown, Ohio, Red Twig Farms is a family-owned farm specializing in peonies, daffodils, tulips and branches, a popular peony-bouquet-by-mail program and their Spread the Hope Campaign where customers purchase 10 tulip stems for essential workers and others in their community. Learn more at redtwigfarms.com.
And thank you to the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market, a farmer-owned cooperative committed to providing the very best the Pacific Northwest has to offer in cut flowers, foliage and plants. The Growers Market’s mission is to foster a vibrant marketplace that sustains local flower farms and provides top-quality products and service to the local floral industry. Visit them at seattlewholesalegrowersmarket.com.
Thanks so much for joining us today! The Slow Flowers Podcast is a member-supported endeavor, downloaded more than 872,000 times by listeners like you. Thank you for listening, commenting and sharing – it means so much. As our movement gains more supporters and more passionate participants who believe in the importance of our domestic cut flower industry, the momentum is contagious. I know you feel it, too.
If you’re new to our weekly Show and our long-running Podcast, check out all of our resources at SlowFlowersSociety.
