Why Buy Local?

Imported, machine-cultivated, chemically sprayed flowers carry an environmental cost that many people don’t understand.

When you support a local flower farmer, you can be confident your blooms are grown with less impact on our environment. I grow my blooms without chemicals or pesticides, and I work with other flower growers who follow the same principles to bring you the healthiest local blooms.

Many people don’t realize that flowers you buy at a grocery store or florist are often shipped from abroad. (How else can you buy roses in Maine in February?) Additionally, they’re often planted and harvested with gas- or diesel-powered machines that over time destroy what’s called the soil’s tilth—its ability to hold a porous structure.

Grocery store blooms also often are sprayed with chemicals to make them grow faster and bigger. They also can be laced with pesticides that have eliminated not just destructive insects, but also our beneficial pollinators. Unfortunately, these chemicals also can negatively affect the health of field workers.

Keep in mind that when you buy from a local flower farmer, your spending dollars go right into the pockets of people who care for the land. Local farmers need income for rent and food all year long, and for farming costs like supplies, insurance, natural pest control methods, and seeds. The high startup cost in farming often means that your local farm may just break even the first few years.

My hope is that, as customers become more aware of the environmental impact of their spending choices, buying locally grown flowers will become an informed, conscious choice for ecologically aware folks. For more information, you can search the hashtag #slowflowers. And please help spread the word to your friends!

For your gift-giving needs, please consider a gift card or CSA subscription from a local flower farmer. It’s a gift to the environment!