BOYCOTT ROSES THIS VALENTINES
Lets Boycott Red Roses for Valentines day in 2023!!
Here’s why … A dozen long-stemmed Red Roses has been the cliché go to for Valentines for as long as I can remember, but this year I’m here hoping to encourage you to boycott the Roses and try something new for your Valentine.
Valentines is perhaps the biggest culprit when it comes to shopping flowers out of season here in the UK. British grown Roses don’t bloom in the UK until the early summer months (months after Valentine’s Day has passed), so instead Millions of Roses are imported from countries like Kenya and Ethiopia.
Let’s break down the journey of those Roses.
To produce a single Rose stem in Kenya 10 litres of water is needed to grow the ‘perfect’ flower (for a bouquet of a dozen roses that 120 litres of water!). In a country that is currently suffering one of its longest and most severe droughts this precious resource should be redirected to the Kenyan people instead of growing flowers for other countries just so we can have Roses in February, right? To add to this the workers are expected to use the harshest of spray chemicals on the plants, often without the correct PPE. Chemicals which are banned for use here in the U.K as they are too damaging (ironically these harsh chemicals are actually produced here, in the UK and then shipped to other countries for them to use). These chemicals and preservatives are used to keep the flowers ‘fresh’ as they transport them around the world, arriving to the consumer sometimes up to three weeks after they have been harvested. This doesn’t seem very ‘fresh’ to me?
The flowers are then flown into the UK and transported around the country in huge refrigerated vehicles, reach the retailer, become wrapped in single use plastic and sold to you the consumer! By the time your bouquet of Red Roses reaches you it has travelled thousands of airconditioned miles creating around 30kg of C02 emissions, is covered in nasty chemicals, preservatives and single use plastics. (It is also worth thinking about how those chemicals transfer on to your skin when you handle the flowers! *Remember these chemicals are banned for use in the UK because they are so dangerous for humans!*)
Sure Roses for Valentines might be a romantic gesture .. but they aren’t worth these costs. If you’re thinking now that the Roses aren’t smelling quite so sweet anymore then here are some lovely and imaginative alternatives that incur up to 95% less carbon footprint and remain equally, if not more, beautiful than your usual Valentines Bouquet that your Valentine will love!
Locally grown dried flowers
During the summer months we purposefully grow thousands of stems of specific crops just for drying. These flowers are beautiful, colourful, local, grown without a single nasty chemical or preservative, wrapped in recyclable paper and last for months! Guaranteed to be loved and admired by your Valentine all year round! Nothing says Everlasting Love like Everlasting flowers! (Click here to gift your Valentine Everlasting Dried Flowers this Valentines).
Subscription Flowers
Why not treat your Valentine to a Subscription flower service from a local Flower Farm. A pre-paid flower delivery, arriving to their doorstep monthly or fortnightly for a duration of your choosing. This is the gift that keeps on giving and will go down a treat! (click here to find out more about our Subscription services).
Our fresh field flowers are usually available from mid/end April until mid October and will change in style, shape, colour and design as the seasons naturally change through out the year. By choosing a local Flower Farmer you can reduce the C02 emissions of bouquet by up to 95%!
Our valentines bundle.
If you love the idea of gifting regular flowers throughout the summer but also want a physical present to gift for Valentines then why not choose one of our Valentines bundles.
We have curated a special Valentine’s package for you; a dried flower bouquet and a subscription all rolled into one. (for more information click here).
As consumers we often consider the origin of our food or skincare, choosing local, organic and chemical free where possible. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for most when it comes to flowers. I encourage you next time you see those imported supermarket bouquets, you chose to get to know your local flower farmer instead and enjoy seasonal flowers for months to come.