Local Has Always Been Better

Local Has Always Been Better

Kalyx Flower Co

Like many of us, I grew up before eating local was cool. Farming was just what we did. It did not feel chic to be cutting sweet corn off the cob, shelling peas or snapping green beans as the sun was rising on the summer days of my childhood. Being asked to hoe a row of tomatoes felt like a judicial sentencing as my mother directed me out the door to our family garden on humid afternoons. Loading our steers onto the trailer to be taken for processing felt like another Sunday chore. I was (mostly) a locavore before it was cool. I didn’t know the difference, so I didn’t realize what a treasure I was beholding - the harvest planted by my parents and grandparents right there in my hands, and later my mouth.

 

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Local has always been better. Self sufficiency and knowing where our food comes from are some of the best gifts that we can give ourselves and our families. Corn, peas, beans, beef - these are common products people consider when thinking about local farmers, but flowers and floral products are another important element of the locavore movement that is vital to consider amongst our communities’ other sustainable ag practices.

You probably know that American farmers and producers grow about 85% of our food. For flowers and flower products, almost the exact opposite is true! Nearly 80% of flowers purchased by Americans are grown overseas and flown (often more than once!) to reach your local florist or supermarket (Slow Flower Society, Certified American Grown).

 

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My grandmothers tended flower gardens with gladioluses, peonies, daylilies and irises. They grew rows of zinnias and marigolds amongst their vegetables to ward off pests and to bring the occasional posey to the kitchen table. They saw the changing of the seasons in what was in bloom in their hedgerows of sweet shrub and flowering quince. However, I never even considered that the flowers from the florists in my hometown might (or even should) be grown locally like the seasonal fruits and vegetables that we toiled over. 

Local flower farmers are working to close the gaps between farmer and consumer created by cheaper imported products that don’t have our traditional seasonal restrictions. In 2021, I started my farm Kalyx Flower Co to bring locally grown flowers to my community at prices that move flowers from a rare luxury to an everyday beauty that everyone can enjoy. With growing practices that make my customers feel good about bringing my blooms into their homes, I am building a community of flower lovers who value slow and local. 

Locally grown flowers, even those grown in heated green houses or unheated high tunnels have a lower environmental impact because of their sustainability, freshness and proximity to their consumer.

 

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I work toward sustainable growing practices that allow my farm to produce blooms that are minimally treated by chemical pesticides or herbicides. We prioritize freshness by growing flowers wholesalers can’t stock because of their short cooler life - dahlias, zinnias and celosia. And of course, we cultivate relationships with our local customers by offering pop-ups, being a member of our Walker County Farmers market, and opening our weekly farm stand. We also love hosting events on the farm: u-picks, classes and private events all bring our community together in agricultural spaces to educate and connect with our customers. 

There are farmers all over the state who are looking to fill the local gaps created by imported blooms. Find your farmer and support her. I’m proud to know them, and I know you will be, too.

 

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The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Sweet Grown Alabama.