Words by Rachel Unicomb
Photos by Kristi Sattlecker
In a world where people are increasingly conscious about buying local and minimising their environmental impact, there is one area we typically wouldn’t think about in these terms - the flower industry.
The fact is, nearly half the flowers used by the floral industry in Australia are imported; we import around 10 million stems for Valentine’s Day alone! It can also be really difficult to know where your flowers are actually coming from, as unlike other products (such as food), there are no country of origin labelling requirements for flowers.
Like any product that has travelled thousands of miles to get to your door, there will be implications for quality and the environment. Think of the carbon used to transport them; they will have been refrigerated throughout this process, and then sit in quarantine before they even hit the shelves of our wholesalers, let alone your kitchen table.
Australia also has incredibly strict biosecurity laws, so all flowers that are imported are sprayed with methyl bromide or placed into buckets of Roundup to kill any pests. The fungicides are terrible for the environment when initially sprayed, but can also be harmful to the florists who are handling the blooms every day.
While there is always going to be a place for imported flowers, we are fortunate that there has been a boom in small-scale growers in Australia, who focus on sustainable, environmentallyfriendly blooms with a field-to-vase mentality.
In and around Melbourne there are an increasing number of micro flower farms. Some supply direct to florists, others sell at farmers markets or in their own floristry shops.
Micro flower farms vary in size, but typically have a growing space of less than an acre. These are often started by people who already live on a farm, who have space and want to diversify their income. But you don’t have to own a farm to grow flowers; urban flower farms are also springing up, in smaller suburban properties.
Kristi Sattlecker is one such grower, who is running an urban flower farm right on our doorstep in Preston. Her growing space is only around 150 square metres, which is relatively tiny compared to many other farms, but it’s amazing how much can be grown in such a small area.
Her journey began as she and her partner were keen to buy an acreage. While researching potential sources of income, she came across an episode of Monty Don’s My Dream Farm, where he interviewed two ladies in the UK who started a micro flower farm. Kristi was hooked.
“I had been growing a few plants like dahlias for myself in my veggie patch, but made the jump to add four beds in our front yard to grow more varieties. This year I’ve expanded into my neighbour’s backyard, with an additional eight beds.
“I only grow annual flowers like ranunculus, anemones, tulips, larkspur, snapdragons in the spring, and zinnias, dahlias, sunflowers, gladiolus and lilies in the summer. I use intensive plant spacing, which means I can fit quite a bit into each bed. Each year I am learning from the previous year and getting better with my planning for each season,” she said.
Micro flower farmers generally also focus on the soil quality, not just the flowers they grow. By adding compost and manures, the biology within the soil is improved, which in turn helps ensure healthier and stronger plants, without the need for tilling or spraying chemicals. Natural remedies for pest management are also used, like using lady bugs to control aphids.
So, when you’re next looking to buy flowers, here are some thing to consider:
• Buy local wherever possible. Download the Grown not Flown app (an online platform developed to promote local and sustainable flower growers) to find a flower farm near you. And follow the #grownnotflown hashtag on Instagram.
• For those looking for wedding flowers, focus on a colour palette rather than particular flowers. Farmers and florists are working with Mother Nature, so it’s hard to guarantee that a particular flower will be available on your wedding date.
• Seasonality is important as well. You won’t get tulips in the height of summer, and if they are available it’s likely they’re imported so won’t last as long and will be incredibly expensive. Find a florist whose work you love, but be sure to ask where they source their flowers and be guided by their expertise to source the best of what’s in season to bring your vision to life.
• If you’re ordering a bouquet from a larger florist or shopfront, ask to use minimal packaging, or at the very least request no floral foam. Floral foam and single use plastic is another big issue in the floristry industry. Knowing that floral foam doesn’t break down and just sits in landfill is something to keep in mind. Many florists are now choosing to forgo plastic packaging, choosing biodegradable wrapping, and using foamfree mechanics like chicken wire or moss in their largescale wedding and event designs.
If you’d like any more info, feel free to contact Kristi at The Posy Yard. You will also find her on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/theposyyard/ and Instagram at https://www. instagram.com/theposyyard/
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