By Yetta Jager, Green Sanctuary Committee
Delivering a bouquet of Dutch roses requires 27 kg of CO2-equivalents. A Valentine’s Day editorial in the Guardian quipped, ‘There’s nothing romantic about flying pesticide-drenched blooms halfway around the world.’ The chemicals used to raise flowers in industrial farms contaminate the water supply and can harm the farmers who grow them. Because they aren’t edible, regulations on pesticides are weak. Aside from pesticides, greenhouse flowers are raised in a controlled environment that requires refrigeration. Because they are short lived, they must be shipped by air. Seventy-five percent of US flowers are imported, mostly from Columbia. Finally, flowers are often wrapped in single-use plastic sleeves that end up in landfills. This animation illustrates the problem.
At Westside, we are shifting from using store-bought flowers in the sanctuary to growing our own. Yes, it will require us to cultivate and water flowers that can be harvested over three seasons, but as the little boy in the Little Prince pointed out, they will mean more to us, and we will value them more. This year, we planted annuals (mostly zinnias) and black-eyed Susans on either side of our sign by Fretz Road. So far, they have done very well with minimal water and no chemicals. In fall, we hope to build raised beds near the entrance, funded by the Goldstein fund, established in honor Bob Goldstein, beloved brother of Shirley McGuire, who loved flowers.
Locally grown flowers are starting to be grown in our area. Some businesses include Parkridge Petals, Southern Oak Lavender Farm, Flourish Flowers, Little Mountain Flower Farm (in Maryville), and Clementine’s Flower Farm. You may find these at your local farmer’s market. Or consider growing your own cutting garden next season.
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