Embracing the Slow Flower Movement: Cultivating Sustainable Beauty
At The Wild Remedy we believe in the power of nature to heal, inspire, and bring beauty into our lives. As the founder, I'm passionate about promoting practices that not only enhance our well-being but also honour and protect our planet. One such practice that has captured our hearts is the "slow flower" movement.
The slow flower movement encourages us to choose locally grown, seasonal flowers over mass-produced, imported ones. This conscious choice supports local farmers, reduces our carbon footprint, and ensures that our floral arrangements are as fresh and vibrant as possible. Unlike conventionally grown flowers, which are often treated with harmful pesticides and transported long distances, slow flowers are cultivated with care, often using organic methods that are gentle on the earth.
The Hidden Cost of Conventional Floristry
The floristry and wedding industries are notorious for their significant environmental impact. Most cut flowers available in supermarkets and florists are flown in from far-off countries, contributing to high carbon emissions. The extensive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides not only harms the soil and water but also poses health risks to farmworkers. Additionally, the energy-intensive processes required to keep these flowers fresh during transportation and storage further exacerbate their environmental footprint.
By choosing slow flowers, we can help mitigate these negative impacts. Supporting local flower growers not only fosters biodiversity but also encourages sustainable farming practices. This shift towards mindful consumption is essential for a healthier planet and a more sustainable future.
Cultivating Your Own Eco-Friendly Cut Flower Garden
Creating your own cut flower garden is a delightful way to immerse yourself in the slow flower movement. It's a rewarding endeavour that offers year-round blooms, regardless of your garden's size. Plus, growing your own flowers provides therapeutic benefits, from the joy of nurturing plants to the satisfaction of harvesting your own blooms. It also plays a vital role in supporting local bumblebees and other pollinators, which are crucial for a thriving ecosystem.
Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create an eco-friendly cut flower garden in the UK:
1. Plan Your Garden
Assess Your Space: Whether you have a small balcony, a modest garden plot, or an expansive space, you can design a cut flower garden. Measure your space and consider sunlight, wind exposure, and soil quality.
Choose Your Flowers: Select a variety of flowers that bloom at different times of the year. This ensures a continuous supply of blooms. Consider hardy perennials, annuals, and biennials that thrive in the UK climate. Popular choices include roses, dahlias, sunflowers, sweet peas, and lavender, Hydrangea, Peony Lisianthus, Herb based plants, a selection of green foliage types and more…………….
2. Prepare the Soil
Test and Amend the Soil: Check the pH and nutrient levels of your soil. Most cut flowers prefer well-drained, fertile soil. Amend with organic compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil structure and fertility. You can purchase a home soil testing kit simple and easy to use!
Mulch: Apply a layer of organic mulch to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and improve soil health.
3. Planting
Start from Seeds or Transplants: Depending on your chosen flowers, you can start from seeds or purchase young plants from a local nursery. Follow the planting instructions for each species regarding depth and spacing.
Succession Planting: To ensure a steady supply of blooms, practice succession planting. Sow new seeds every few weeks during the growing season.
4. Care and Maintenance
Water Wisely: Water your garden early in the morning to minimise evaporation. Use a soaker hose or drip irrigation to deliver water directly to the roots.
Fertilise Naturally: Feed your flowers with organic fertilisers or compost tea. Avoid synthetic chemicals that can harm beneficial insects and microorganisms.
Pest Management: Encourage natural predators like ladybirds and lacewings to control pests. Use companion planting to deter harmful insects.
5. Harvesting
Cut at the Right Time: Harvest flowers in the early morning or late afternoon when they are well-hydrated. Use sharp, clean scissors or pruners to make clean cuts.
Conditioning: Immediately place cut flowers in a bucket of water. Remove any foliage that will be submerged to prevent bacterial growth.
6. Enjoy and Share
Arrange Mindfully: Create beautiful arrangements to enjoy in your home or share with friends and family. Remember, each bouquet is a testament to your care and commitment to the environment.
Support Biodiversity: Leave some flowers to go to seed to support local wildlife and ensure a continuous cycle of growth.
The Therapeutic Benefits of Flowers
Engaging with your cut flower garden offers more than just aesthetic pleasure. Gardening has been proven to reduce stress, boost mood, and improve overall mental health. The act of tending to plants can be meditative, providing a sense of accomplishment and connection to nature. Additionally, flowers attract bumblebees and other pollinators, which are essential for a healthy ecosystem. By creating a habitat for these vital creatures, you're contributing to biodiversity and the well-being of our planet.
At The Wild Remedy we believe in the healing power of nature and the importance of sustainable living. By embracing the slow flower movement and cultivating your own eco-friendly cut flower garden, you can enjoy beautiful, homegrown blooms all year round while making a positive impact on the environment. Let's grow together for a greener, healthier world.
Find out more about our seasonal themed workshops for groups, special occasions or corporate well-being.
Note to reader
Conscious Flower Buying and supply chain: Making Sustainable Choices
For those of us in the UK, the most sustainable choice for flowers is often to pick British blooms. However, it’s not always possible to gather flowers from your own garden or source them locally. When local flowers aren’t an option, the journey to more sustainable flower buying begins with substitution.
If you find yourself needing to purchase imported flowers, look for two key labels: Fairtrade and Florverde Sustainable Flowers. These certifications ensure that the flowers are grown under fair working conditions and sustainable practices. This is particularly significant as the cut flower industry plays a crucial role in providing employment in countries like Kenya, where it supports up to two million people and stands as the second largest agricultural export after tea, generating $635 million annually.
Fairtrade, representing over 73,000 workers across six countries, includes 74 certified flower producer organisations. This certification guarantees that the flowers are produced in conditions that uphold workers’ rights and fair labor practices. You can learn more about these Fairtrade certified flower farms to understand their impact.
Florverde Sustainable Flowers (FSF) is another important certification to look for. FSF certified farms adhere to strict labour standards, avoid using banned chemicals, and are encouraged to adopt sustainable farming practices. Additionally, these farms engage in reforestation efforts using native species to further support environmental sustainability.
While the cut flower industry does not legally require a country of origin label like food products do, being mindful of these certifications can help you make more informed and ethical choices. By opting for Fairtrade and Florverde flowers, you contribute to a fairer, more sustainable flower industry.