I love the florist who I work with locally in Savannah, so this post in no way is to try and take away business from them or point fingers at them as to why they buy flowers from outside the U.S. (they do get flowers sometimes from Florida or California though). I also have a great relationship with the local wholesale florist in Savannah and have bought from them plus many many flowers from Fresh Market and Publix grocery stores. So am I just as guilty. BUT I love to learn more about Eco-friendly businesses and share their information to my readers. Maybe you'll support some of them and buy from them or maybe you'll pass along their information to other people. Either way this post today is to inform you about 2 companies that are Made In America and family focused! Many people buy flowers throughout the year and not just for weddings, so maybe next time you or someone you know orders flowers, you'll consider these companies.
☛ Purchasing fresh cut flowers (and vegetables) from local growers helps to support local agriculture, good land stewardship, and the preservation of diminishing farmland and open spaces.
☛ The floral industry is currently a global trade. The vast majority {80%} of fresh cut flowers are produced in Latin America using harsh chemicals and poor wages/working conditions. These flowers are then shipped thousands of miles to reach consumers, burning fossil fuels all along the way.
☛ Locally grown flowers are produced more sustainably, provide good jobs, and bring the consumer in direct contact with the grower, allowing for a higher level of appreciation/inspiration. Buying your flowers locally supports a “fair trade” approach similar to coffee, chocolate, spices, etc.
☛ Research shows that flowers are indeed “food for the soul”. A study by Rutgers University found that fresh flowers trigger happy emotions, heighten feelings of life satisfaction and affect social behavior in a positive manner. If one bouquet can do that, imagine what a whole field of flowers can do!
☛ Getting to know a local flower farmer builds a sense of community and understanding of how these beautiful blooms are grown, ultimately reconnecting {Love ‘n Fresh’s urban} buyers to nature in some small way. It also builds a unique relationship where the flower farmer knows many customers birthdays, anniversaries and other special commemorations that deserve dashing floral designs to celebrate.
☛ Every dollar spent on locally grown flowers puts the purchasing power back in the hands of the consumers, demonstrating that there is concern for the environment, small farms, the local economy, and quality standards. It may seem like just a bunch of daisies to most people, but it means a great deal in terms of long term sustainability on every front.
Dried Flowers Direct
"For three generations our family has been involved in commercial flower production. We moved into the Finger Lakes region of Western New York in 1990, thus 2005 is our fifteenth flower growing season on our scenic Keuka Lake dried flower farm".
Straw
"We raise our dried flowers from seeds or cuttings and either sow directly into the fields or transplant by hand (using a converted old horse-drawn cabbage setter). The flowers grown (more than fifteen acres) are supplied fresh at local markets or air dried in our circa 1860 barns. The barns, containing over two miles of drying lines, offer ideal drying conditions: warm temperatures with cool updrafts; large, dry, open airy room; and darkness. Presently, we are offering over 40 varieties of wholesale and retail dried flowers and are continuously expanding with new and exciting selections".
Baby's Breath
Cat-tails Pencil
Dried Flowers Direct™
from Keuka Flower Farm
Penn Yan, NY
(315) 694-9021
www.driedflowersdirect.com
California Organic Flowers
"Our main reason for starting our online organic flower store was because the only flowers we could find online were the same old tired flowers shipped all the way from South America. Here we were living on our beautiful flower farm brimming with a huge variety of locally grown organic flowers and all we could find online was hybrid roses! Well we just couldn't sit back and and let the demand for real field grown, fresh organic flowers go unfilled. The next thing you know we launched our website and were up to our necks in online orders and had to expand our farm to meet the demand".
wedding party pack mixed variety
"A seed is planted. Carefully placed in the soil, lovingly watered and weeded, pruned and supported, a flower grows. Flowers are sent to people we love, because we wish to express joy for their new job, house, or baby. They are sent to show we care about their sickness, injury or loss of loved one. Flowers are sent to encourage a friend to carry on in times of turmoil and they are sent just because we remember how important that person is to us and we just want them to know that we think of them from time to time. When we choose individual flowers on our farm, we tell them (yes, we really talk to your flowers!), ‘this is an important mission you have, travel proudly and be your best upon arrival.” That is why it is important to us that our flowers we grown organically and they be grown on our farm where we can see every single bloom before it is packed for shipment. We are a small farm, we plant every seed ourselves, harvest every bloom by hand. We understand that personal messages of love and grief deserve personal attention".
White Anemone Bouquet
Remember! Flowers are perishable. Please make sure someone is available
to receive the delivery. For residential deliveries, Fed Ex will leave your
flowers at the door if no one is present.
Our freshly
harvested flowers arrive at their destination in our custom gift box.
Our flowers are always shipped with a water receptacle to ensure
freshness. In most cases, vases are not included, but can be added during
the ordering process.
Next Day Shipping Costs:
All of our products are shipped Fed Ex Priority
Overnight
Tuesday-Friday $14.95 (anywhere
in continental USA)
Saturday: $22.95 (Sat. delivery
may not be available in rural locations)
California
Organic Flowers
Chico,
CA
(530) 891-6265
