I’m excited to share with you a a little project the Floret team and I have been working on for a while now: Floret’s Farmer-Florist Collective. The Collective is a global, publicly-available map and directory of many of the flower farmers and floral designers who have participated in one of our workshops (Floret & Seasonal Bouquet Project) and currently grow flowers and/or offer floral design services. Although separated by many miles, we are all kindred spirits, united in our love of local, seasonal flowers.
The Farmer-Florist Collective Directory is viewable here and can also be found under the FIND FLOWERS tab and features an interactive map and photos of each member.
We created this directory so that flower growers and designers who have participated in one of Floret’s many workshops can connect with one another. We also want it to serve as resource for consumers seeking seasonal flower designers, farmers and growers in their area.
With a sold-out series of Floret workshops lined up for this season, I’m excited to add many new flowers to the map by the end of the year!
Here’s a little of the backstory: At one point, I had considered greatly expanding our farm and production area in order to meet the huge demand from designers, wholesalers, grocers and flower lovers across the country eager to buy our blooms. Chris and I spent years searching for the perfect farm on which to expand Floret. We agonized over all the details, from the finances and the footprint of the operation, to what it would mean to uproot our family and how it would impact our other long-term personal and professional goals.
After a lot hand-wringing and some serious soul searching, Chris and I finally decided to put the brakes on that plan and instead grow Floret in other, more meaningful and personally fulfilling ways. We are now focused on expanding Floret Seeds and deepening our dedication to providing tools, resources and training in small-scale high-intensity flower production and natural floral design to other flower lovers across the country and around the globe.
It’s a great fit for us as a business and a family, and–quite simply–it just feels right.
Over the years, we’ve built up an incredible waiting list of customers across the country eager to buy our blooms. Without land to expand our growing operation “sorry, but we’re sold out,” and “sorry, we don’t ship,” has been on repeat. I’m thrilled to finally be able to easily refer these inquiries to the many amazing growers and designers that are in our little Farmer-Florist Collective.
UPDATE: The Farmer-Florist Collective has been expanded beyond workshop alumni! We invite farmers, farmer-florists and floral designers specializing in seasonal blooms to complete our form to be featured on the map.
It’s an exciting time to be a part of the seasonal flower movement!
marie on
I have a picture I want to share with you and the Floret team of a drawing I made right around this time frame, but before I had ever known about you guys. What is the best way to send it to you? After reading this blog post, it’s beginning to make sense why I may have created it.