Organic Flower Farming
A while back, we planted some wildflowers here in our backyard and as they begin to bloom this season, it’s had me thinking about the importance of organic flower farming. Organic flower farming is not only fun, but it is a sustainable way to build and empower the local community. Sustainably farming flowers also has endless benefits for the biodiversity of local environments and local flower farms are hubs of life in our communities.
We often talk about where our food comes from, but we rarely talk about where our flowers come from! Many of the flowers sold by florists and supermarket floral departments are imported from other countries where the pesticide regulations are not nearly as stringent as they are in the United States and Canada.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 80 percent of all flowers sold in the U.S. are imported, mostly from South American industrial flower farms, most of which have a history of using harsh chemical fertilizers and even toxic pesticides in their farming. Some of these chemicals remain on the flowers till you buy them at the supermarket. Not to mention the massive carbon footprint that comes from global transportation and plastic packaging!