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SLOW FLOWERS NEWS for January 2019
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The BIG REVEAL!
We're Rebranding as the SLOW FLOWERS SOCIETY
The Slow Flowers™ Society is an inclusive community dedicated to the promotion of American-grown flowers and benefits of local, seasonal and sustainable sourcing. Our members are engaged in all facets of the U.S. flower industry. Our mission is to change the flower sourcing practices of consumers and professionals through outreach and education that highlights the benefits of local, seasonal and domestic floral agriculture.
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Amanda Maurmann: SUMMIT Speaker Q&A
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Here's the the third Q&A in our Slow Flowers Summit 2019 speaker series, conducted and written by journalist and Slow Flowers contributing writer Mackenzie Nichols. Meet farmer-florist Amanda Maurmann of Gnome Grown Flowers and the Michigan Flower Growers Cooperative! You can see Amanda, above left; and her flowers, above, right.
Arrive Early for Flower Farm Tours + our
Slow Flowers Dinner on the Farm
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Spend Sunday, June 30th
Exploring Minnesota's Flower Farming Community
You're Invited to Two Free Farm Tours on June 30th, 2019
Sunday Afternoon Tours of Two Local Flower Farms
On Sunday, June 30th those attending the Slow Flowers Summit are invited to attend two optional farm tours.
1:00-3:00 p.m. // Farm Tour at Blue Sky Flower Farm, Lakeville, MN (Free, pictured at top)
4:00-5:30 p.m. // Farm Tour at Green Earth Growers, Prior Lake, MN (Free, pictured above)
BONUS Event: Sunday Evening Slow Flowers Dinner on the Farm
6:00-8:00 p.m. // Dinner on the Farm at Green Earth Growers
(Tickets sold separately)
Read More about our First-Ever Slow Flowers Dinner on the Farm
New in the Slow Flowers Journal
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The December issue of Florists’ Review, which includes Issue No. 17 of Slow Flowers Journal, features four articles that introduce you to the designers, floral artists, farmer florists and makers whose work inspires and illuminates.
You'll learn about three up-and-coming florists who take an unconventional approach to their aesthetic.
You'll meet a Seattle ceramic artist whose handcrafted vases are the perfect vehicle for local flowers.
You'll meet a Baltimore, MD, retail florists who shares her year-round sourcing and Slow Flowers philosophy in our "How I Do It" series.
The Florist-Farmer
More florists are growing flowers for their design work
Two worlds — flower farming and floral design — are closer than they have been for decades as florists with access to a parcel of land are putting down roots and sowing flower seeds.
Some plant a few acres; others tend to a suburban backyard or even a city-sized lot.
And while the idea of a floral designer who raises flowers, foliages, herbs and ornamental shrubs to harvest and design arrangements isn’t yet mainstream, the florists we asked cite numerous reasons why they’re getting their hands in the dirt.
This piece profiles three retail florists from different corners of the country, who share their path from the studio to the field, and back to the studio.
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Read More Slow Flowers Journal Articles
Read "Trending Tropicals," and see photos from Debra's visit to Grace Flowers Hawaii, Slow Flowers members on the BIG Island
Read "A Winter Tapestry of Hellebores," about perennials that produce a bouquet of beauty at the most unexpected time of year.
Read "The Mum Maven," about Everyday Flowers' Vivian Larson, and my visit to her Stanwood, Wash., farm with photographer Missy Palacol
SLOW FLOWERS Members in Houzz.com
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Our December gallery for Houzz.com features Slow Flowers' Holiday Wreaths & Centerpiece Designs for 2018, including this exquisite wreath. Seattle floral designer Sandy Figel of Verbena Floral uses dried botanicals (globe thistle seed heads), Viburnum berries and two types of silvery conifer branches to design a colorful and nontraditional, nature-inspired holiday wreath.
PR Opportunities for
SLOW FLOWERS Members
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We've planned a full year of Slow Flowers Galleries for Houzz.com! Each Month's floral themes are noted below. SHARE YOUR Best Designs for
OUR NEXT Houzz.com Gallery!
You're invited to be part of this ongoing member-only editorial opportunity. Here are more details:
- Submit up to 3 images of your designs for each month's theme
- Designs should feature local, seasonal and domestic botanicals only (US and Canada)
- Include a brief list of ingredients (farm source list preferred)
- Deadline: 10th of each month
- Publication date: 15th of each month (Note: Holiday-sensitive deadlines are noted in schedule below)
- Send to debraprinzing@gmail.com
January 15th (1/10 deadline) Hellebores in floral arrangements
February 10th (2/8 deadline) American-grown roses for Valentine's Day
March 15 (3/10 deadline) Flowering Branches in floral design
April 15 (4/10 deadline) Tulips & Narcissus in floral arrangements
May 15 (5/10 deadline) Peonies in floral design
June 15 (6/10 deadline) Red-White-Blue floral designs for American Flowers Week
July 15 (7/10 deadline) Lisianthus floral designs
August 15 (8/10 deadline) Dahlias in floral design & bouquets
September 15 (9/10 deadline) Sunflowers & Rudbeckia floral design
October 15 (10/10 deadline) Pumpkins and gourds for tablescaping
November 15 (11/10 deadline) Heirloom mums in floral design
December 15 (12/10 deadline) Poinsettias in floral design and decor
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#2 -- SHARE YOUR STORY IN OUR NEXT Feature story for JOHNNY'S SEEDS NEWSLETTER!
Want to share your flower succession planting strategies?
We are planning a story that will appear in early spring on Johnny'sSeeds' web site and in its newsletter. The topic is on Cut Flower Succession Planting. The story will cover:
- Planning the Planting & Harvesting Calendar
- Best flower varieties for Succession Planting
- How Succession Planting benefits your bottom line
- More tips?
- Deadline: Tuesday, Jan. 15th
Get in touch with debraprinzing@gmail.com to be part of the story!
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#3 -- SUBMIT IDEAS FOR #SLOWFLOWERSJOURNAL IN FLORISTS' REVIEW
Each month, Slow Flowers produces the Slow Flowers Journal (Print Edition) in Florists' Review. From the first issue in August 2017, we've put a priority on publishing articles about our members and their projects, designs, news.
Check out the Editorial Topic Calendar above -- Slow Flowers Journal reflects many of those larger themes in monthly content. But we need to hear from you -- what suggestions, ideas and imagery would you like to suggest?
To see examples of our past coverage, check out the online Slow Flowers Journal. Each month's content is posted if you search "Slow Flowers Journal Print Edition."
Planning takes place several months in advance, so please suggest topics from April to December 2019. Send suggestions to: debraprinzing@gmail.com.
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#4 -- Local Flowers for Grocery Channels -- story ideas for SuperFloral Magazine
Each month, Slow Flowers produces a product-sourcing feature for SuperFloral, a sister publication of Florists' Review. The editorial focus is: From Seed to Consumer, covering breeders, growers, importers, distribution, wholesale, bouquet makers, marketers and mass market retailers. DO YOU sell your flowers through a grocery or supermarket channel? We'd love to hear more! Send your suggestions to: debraprinzing@gmail.com.
Upcoming SLOW FLOWERS Presentations
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SEATTLE WHOLESALE GROWERS MARKET
January 23, 2019
9:30-11 a.m.
"Slow Flowers Forecast & Idea Exchange" with Debra Prinzing and Lainie Kertesz of Johnny's Selected Seeds. Find More Details Here
POST IT! Mastering Social Media Storytelling with Photography & Creative Writing
January 31, 2019
12:45-5 p.m.
United Floral Growers, 4085 Marine Way, Burnaby, BC V5J 5E2, Canada
Take your Social Media Presence to an entirely new level with this 2-Part Workshop!
*Full Day Registration includes Lunch
PHOTOGRAPHY FOR SOCIAL MEDIA
W/ COLIN GILLIAM, 8:45AM TO 12:30PM
Improve your knowledge of the principles of photography, lighting techniques, and the importance of editing and post processing. Take your instagram game to a new level with tips and techniques that will generate new followers!
CREATIVE WRITING FOR SOCIAL MEDIA & BUSINESS BRANDING
W/ DEBRA PRINZING, 12:45PM TO 5:00PM
Learn to develop clear vision of your story on social media. Come up with effective storytelling language to support the marketing for your flower business. Search for words that best describe your passion, your vision, and your mission.
LISTEN: Slow Flowers Podcast Episodes for December
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Each week the Slow Flowers Podcast releases a new episode featuring timely interviews with flower farmers and floral designers whose wisdom and insights will inspire you!
Listeners have downloaded more than 393,000 episodes to date!
Check out the wide range of guests introduced to you last month and join the thousands of listeners we educate and inform each week:
Episode 378 (December 5): Rachael Ackerman introduces Blue Sky Flower Farm in Minnesota, site of the Slow Flowers Summit pre-conference farm tour
Episode 379 (December 12): How Creatives can Be Authentic in the Digital Age, a conversation with Robin Avni of Bricolage*
Episode 380 (December 19): Slow Flowers’ Holiday Music Special with Nathan Leach and Eva Leach of Nathan and Eva
Episode 381 (December 26): A Year in Review – Slow Flowers’ Highlights for 2018
Program Notes: Be Part of Our
2019 Slow Flowers Podcast
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We're excited about a new weekly feature in the Slow Flowers Podcast that will debut on January 16, 2019. It's called "50 States of Slow Flowers," and that means for each of 50 consecutive weeks on the Slow Flowers Podcast, we'll focus on what's happening in the Slow Flowers Movement, state-by-state -- from Alabama (Jan 16th) through Wyoming (Dec. 25th).
There will be lots of love for Canadian Slow Flowers members, too -- We'll also feature Slow Flowers news from each Canadian Province during the course of 2019!
Get in touch if you have news to share about locally-grown flowers and regional design in your State or Province! Email: debraprinzing@gmail.com.
Welcome to our New Slow Flowers Members
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December 2018 New & Renewing Members
What a month! We welcome 31 new and renewing members from 14 states across the U.S.
Bloom & Bee Flower Farm (formerly Kate's Fresh Flowers), Barneveld, WI
Bloom Hill Farm, Uniontown, OH
Blush Flowers on the Vine, Ft. Collins, CO
*Bonny Doon Garden Co., Santa Cruz, CA
*Butterkup Florals, Takoma Park, MD
Divisions Cut Flower Farm, Darlington, WI
Durand Design & Landscape, Watertown, MN
Erin's Acre, Faribault, MN
Farm to Fist, Hammond, WI
Flora Farm & Design Studio, Ashland, OR
*Flowerwell, Brockport, NY
Foxtail Farm, Chicago, IL
*Green Earth Growers, Prior Lake, MN
*Hidden Villa Flowers, Los Altos Hills, CA
Honey Smiles Flower Farm, Boulder, CO
Jodi Kennedy Floral, Anchorage, AK
Laine Moire Floral Design, Minnetonka, MN
*Laughing Goat Flower Farm, Enumclaw, WA
Liberty Hill Harvest, Kalamazoo, MI
*Lila B. Design, San Francisco, CA
*Margaret Joan Florals, Santa Barbara, CA
Northerly Flora, Minneapolis, MN
Petal Wagon, Bend, OR
Pluck Flowers, Milaca, MN
Roots in Bloom, Marion, IA
Sonnenblume Flowers, Brainerd, MN
*Studio Z Flowers, Paeonia, CO
The Faraway Gardens, Franklinton, NC
Three Oaks Farmstead, River Falls, WI
Wild Lark Farm, Claremore, OK
*Denotes Renewing Members
Meet the Slow Flowers Team
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SOCIAL MEDIA MAVEN Niesha Blancas of Fetching Social Media.
If we feature you on Instagram or Facebook, it's Niesha you have to thank!
She loves giving shout-outs to Slow Flowers members, our Podcast guests, our Event Partners and our Summit speakers. Niesha has more than doubled the followers on @myslowflowers since we teamed up last fall.
You can learn more about Niesha and her consulting packages for creatives here. Follow her @fetchingsocial or @nieshamonay
Karen Thornton is the talent behind the Slow Flowers Summit and I'm so grateful for her counsel, her organizational genius, her strategic planning and her generally chill approach to anything that makes me panic.
We've worked together on two previous events for creativepreneurs and I have to say, Karen's involvement in any event is the *secret sauce* to success! If you attend the Summit, you'll meet both Karen AND Niesha!
Follow Karen at @avenue22events.
Slow Flowers Sponsorship Menu 2019
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Slow Flowers is so grateful for the organizations and companies that we have partnered with in the past year. If you're interested in learning more about joining our Strategic Partnership Program, follow the link below and contact Debra Prinzing. We'd love to talk!
Slow Flowers Sponsor Thanks for 2018
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