“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food, and medicine for the soul.” —Luther Burbank, botanist and plant breeder
Despite a few last gasps of colder weather, it finally feels like spring is here in the Berkshires. Trees are budding, grass is growing, and local farmers markets are opening up for the season. And, of course, flowers are blooming — in garden beds, in the wild, and in our local farmers’ fields and greenhouses.
When we say “buy local,” many people probably think first of food. You may be looking forward to seasonal delights such as fresh greens, strawberries, or snap peas. But what about the flowers on your dining room table, at your next event, or in the bouquet you buy to brighten a friend’s day? Flowers are a key part of the local farm economy, and our ecosystem. Flower farmer Georgia Barberi of First-Flower Farm in Great Barrington noted that, “the local flower movement has really lagged behind the local food movement,” even though flower farming can help preserve farmland, protect biodiversity, and provide meaningful work in the same way food farming can.
And all of that beloved local food, whether grown on farms or in gardens, depends on pollinators, and those pollinators, in turn, depend on flowers. So flowers aren’t just a just a colorful add-on to eating local — they’re a key part of the food and farm system. Local flower farms support the local economy, too — for many farmers, high-value flowers are a key part of their farm’s viability.
Do you need even more motivation to choose local blooms? “Non-organic, imported flowers … have just as much of a negative environmental impact as conventional, imported food,” said farmer Megan Bantle of Full Well Farm in Adams, Massachusetts “If it’s bad for your health, then it’s also bad for the health of the soil and the ecosystem, even if you don’t eat the product.” And just like you won’t find your favorite heirloom tomato variety at many supermarkets, you won’t find the most interesting flowers there either.
Asking a flower farmer about their favorite varieties feels like asking someone to choose a favorite child. Barberi, who runs First-Flower Farm, says that really she loves “whatever is coming into season next.” Right now that includes brightly colored tulips and the white, ruffled petals of ‘Festiva Maxima’ peonies. Christa Stosiek of Markristo Farm/BridleWood Blooms in Hillsdale, New York feels similarly: “My ‘favorite flower’ is almost impossible to name, because it changes with the season.” She’s partial to ‘Victoria’s Secret’ tulips and, later in the season, she looks forward to ‘Sahara’ rudbeckia and ‘Creme Brulee’ phlox. Full Well’s Megan Bantle loves ‘Purple Jean’ ranunculus, calling them “the croissants of flowers” with their many layers of petals.
Where can you find local blooms for your table or your next event? Farmstands, local co-ops, and farmers markets are all great places to shop for the freshest seasonal flowers. If you know you’ll want fresh bouquets weekly, a flower CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share is a great investment. Check out Berkshire Grown’s online Food & Farms Finder for a complete guide to your local options, or pick up its new 2021 Guide to Local Food & Farms at your grocery store or farmstand. If you’re looking for help with an event, many flower farmers are also expert floral designers. Local flowers from Berkshire farmers offer variety, seasonality, and another great way to support farmers while bringing beauty to your table.
The Link LonkMay 20, 2021 at 10:00PM
https://theberkshireedge.com/flower-farms-buy-local-for-flowers-too/
Flower farms: “Buy local” for flowers, too - theberkshireedge.com
https://news.google.com/search?q=Flower&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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