“ Many of the efflorescence we grow on our peak farms are the kinds you ’ll never see for sale in your conventional florist shop shop , the sorts that are far too delicate to be dipped in preservatives and bundled into refrigerated containers before being shipped huge distances from far - away countries . We are part of a powerful movement that ’s radically redefine the world cut - flower industry by farm topically - grown , seasonal , perfumed blooms for multitude who enjoy their flower to calculate and smell as if they were new pick from the garden that morning , ” says the team of the Flower Farmers of Ireland . The association promotes the work of Ireland ’s commercial-grade baseball swing - flower and foliage growers , at all levels . They rede and support member in matter of cultivation , selling , sales , and opportunity . “ We believe that blossom and foliation should be grown sustainably , with respect for the environment and people in the trade . ”Flicky Julia Ward Howe at work at her farm , Howe Hill Flower Farm . ( All exposure are take byAnna Groniecka)Supplying the domesticated marketThe Flower Farmers of Ireland believe a sustainable flower - grow time to come can not be base on import plants : “ Cultivating flowers at rest home is normally perceived as a sideline . It is our impression , however , that growing flower and foliage to supply the domesticated floristry manufacture with has awful potential drop . The perception that grow flowers is simply a pastime intend that there is little understanding of its potential drop as a commercial enterprise , and consequently piddling to no financial support or advice uncommitted to those wishing to establish themselves in the mart . The connection help by provide a forum where cultivator can exchange knowledge and experience about everything from growing to marketing , and eventual sale of flowers and leaf , ” says the association .
The organization is very keen on being as sustainable as potential . Not only do they do that , as name above , by growing locally and thus cutting out a big part of exile as well as waste material material , they also apply natural enemies to combat pestilence , rather than pesticides or weedkiller . “ Our member are extremely aware of the surround , and most go out of their way to dilute any negative impact their activities might have . ”A member ’s storyOf course , with such admirable goal , it is no surprisal that many agriculturalist settle to link the FFOI . One of them is Flicky Howe - Prior of Howe Hill Flower Farm . She guide a small flush studio and a flower farm of about half an Akko in West Cork , and has been a appendage of the FFOI since 2018 .
Flicky state us how she used to act upon as a retail flower store , and how her experience made her decide to become a local grower . “ I used to roil out nosegay of imported flowers , all enfold in credit card or stuck into floral froth . The plastic was the first matter that began to gall me – all that unnecessary waste ! – follow by the realization that all those peak were grown far away , and very probably very unsustainably . In the two or three years before I decide to depart my retail job , more and more customers were ask if there were any topically grow bloom usable – only a very small number , alas – and that arrest me thinking about what an opportunity that could be . I decided to give it a effort , to take off small , but of class , such things never stay on quite so small , do they ? ” she says . “It was very addictive , and the reactions were so positive and supporting , that I settle to take a Floret heyday husbandry course in 2019 , and by May , I made the decision to take a jump and become self - employed . ”
By now , Howe Hill Flower Farm has grown enough to sustain their studio needs , and it provide them to offer an substitute flower store serving in their locality . Flicky explains that they cater a local hotel with flowers , offer flowers for weddings , and that they also institute their peak to The English Market in Cork twice a workweek , where the locally develop flowers are unremarkably sell out quickly . “ The demand for homegrown is but huge . ”
Flicky is glad that she now has her own studio , without the floral foam and charge plate that bother her so much before . In the meantime , she has taken eco floristry courses to insure she is operating sustainably and , where possible , locally . “ Between March and September , the majority of the flowers we sell are from our own gardens , all grown without chemical substance . We also sell flowers and foliage develop by other Irish growing . ”
She adds that , for special occasion such as hymeneals , she sometimes does apply flowers imported from the Netherlands . Even then , she ensure she does not buy just any blossom : “ We do sometimes buy flowers from Holland , but only through Hoek . There , you’re able to apply a filter to check that you only see Fair Trade Flowers . ” In that fashion , Flicky ensures that she import in the most sustainable way potential . For more information : Flower Farmers of Ireland[email protected]www.flowerfarmersofireland.ie
Howe Hill Flower Farm[email protected]www.howehillflowerfarm.com
© FloralDaily.com/Elvira Oosterbaan
