5 Ways to Be More Sustainable this Valentine’s Day
“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk through my garden forever.” - Alfred Tennyson
Valentine’s Day is about celebrating love, but is buying those long-stemmed roses really the best way to say, “I love you” this Valentine’s Day?
The demand for flowers on Valentine’s Day is so high, and the supply of local flowers in the U.S. is so low in the middle of February (because most cut flowers are not in season here in the U.S.), that the result is an increase in imported flowers to satisfy the demand. As I shared in my blog post Slow Flowers: Why Locally Grown Flowers Are Better, nearly 80% of cut flowers sold in the United States and Canada are not actually grown in North America – most are imported on cargo planes from South America and Asia.
This high demand for fresh cut flowers on Valentine’s Day creates an enormous carbon footprint every year in the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day to celebrate that one, single day.
So, is it better to buy local flowers for Valentine’s Day? Well, yes and no. Locally grown flowers are certainly better, however, many flowers that are blooming in the U.S. in February must be grown in a heated greenhouse, which isn’t necessarily sustainable either. The best options are fall-planted, early blooming flowers, such as tulips.
Tulips thrive in cold weather and, here in California, fall-planted tulips grown in the field do sometimes bloom in time for Valentine’s Day! Ours didn’t go in the ground until the end of December, so we will not have tulips for Valentine’s Day this year, but there may be locally grown tulips and other flowers available at your local Farmer’s Market this week, so that’s a great place to look for local flowers for Valentine’s Day!
5 Sustainable Gift Ideas for Valentine’s Day:
Bouquet Subscription from a Local Farm: Give the gift of flowers with a Blooming Joy Subscription — the perfect way to tell that special someone that you love & appreciate them. Or, treat yourself! Receive a fresh bouquet weekly this spring, straight from our farm to your door. Get your subscription here!
Bare-root Roses: Give her roses in a different way! This is a great option because bare-root roses are readily available in February, as they are “in season”, you can support your local plant nursery this way, and your gift will have meaning. She’ll have roses that last all year long, and for years to come!
Bare-root Fruit/Citrus Trees: Another great option, because they are also “in season” in February and will produce “gifts” for years to come! Gifting a tree symbolizes taking root, growth, and life.
Flowering Plant in Ceramic Pot: Also available at many local nurseries are flowering plants that you can pair with a beautiful ceramic pot to put by the front door or in the backyard. She’ll love knowing you took the time to pick out the pot and arrange the plant just for her!
Dried/Everlasting Florals: Dried flowers can be so beautiful! A great way to be sustainable. They’re always “in season” and will last for years to come!
BONUS: Give a Handmade or Ethically-Sourced Cards & Fair Trade Chocolate: Some of my most cherished cards are those that were made for me by someone I love. Even if you don’t think you’re artistic or creative, give it a try. As a bonus, write a poem for that special someone! When you pair your handmade card with with Fair Trade chocolate, you know your chocolate has been ethically sourced and that it supports safe working conditions, no child labor, protects rainforests, and environmental sustainability.
Give your loved one a Valentine’s Day Blooming Joy Subscription Gift Set from our farm this Valentine’s Day!
Valentine's Day is meant to celebrate love. So let's show our love for Mother Earth this year by supporting local businesses who are committed to sustainability!
