Monday, April 27, 2015 | Rachel Bridgwood and Lauren Anderson of Sweet Root Village are frequent contributors on the Field to Vase, be sure to check out their other blog contributions: Five Things to Consider Regarding Flowers When Planning a Locally Sourced Wedding (May 2014), Creating Wedding Centerpieces with Local Blooms (September 2014), and Wreath Making with Foraged Seasonal Greens (December 2014). Today they are sharing some great tips on how to treat your flower farmer!
“We believe in being good stewards of what we’ve been given in every area of life. To promote a sustainable and responsible world, we try to do our part in our own community and business practices. We use almost exclusively recycled materials in our branding and packaging, and utilize reclaimed and sustainable materials in our studio and floral design. We greatly value our relationships with several local flower farmers and use as many of their flowers in our designs as possible! In support of local flower markets across the country, we are active members of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers. We also support other local green businesses by our membership in Eco-Op, a group of sustainably minded professionals in the Virginia/DC/Maryland area. We are constantly learning and growing and finding new ways to improve our stewardship and want to do that alongside new friends like you!”
– Rachel Bridgwood & Lauren Anderson of Sweet Root Village
How to Treat Your Farmer
by Rachel Bridgwood & Lauren Anderson of Sweet Root Village
Keeping up a wonderful relationship with your grower and their staff really makes a huge difference in the overall happiness of everyone involved. We have a few tips and tricks on things to consider when it comes to your relationship with your fabulous farmers!
1) Visit the Farm.
We all know how busy things can get and how easy it is to place an order over email. But if possible, make plans to visit the farm and see what’s new and how things are changing every once in a while. It shows a bit more of a hands-on approach to sourcing locally.
2) Know the Staff.
When the opportunities present themselves, get to know the people behind the computer screen, the staff delivering your flowers, the folks clipping and processing everything, and the farm owners!
3) Be Considerate.
Some clients can be quite demanding of us as designers, however it is our job to educate our clients about what sourcing locally can entail. For instance, availability can change depending on the weather, colors may be different than photos, etc. So treat your farmer as you want your client to treat you. Do your best to give advance notice and be flexible if things change—after all, it’s nature!
4) Work Together.
Sustainability is good for not only our environment, but for our businesses. Be considerate of your farmer’s resources! Return buckets and other hard goods, and even work with them on a composting routine. Something small such as paying by check rather than credit card is appreciated for the bottom line. When your farmer succeeds, you succeed!
5) Go Above and Beyond.
Unbeknownst to you, there are probably lots of ways that your farmer is going above and beyond to get you the perfect product at the perfect time at the perfect price. So think outside the bucket when it comes to thanking your farmer. Taking them to lunch or sending a handwritten thank you note goes a long way in expressing your appreciation!
RACHEL BRIDGWOOD & LAUREN ANDERSON
Co-owners of Sweet Root Village
Old Town Alexandria, VA
Serving all surrounding areas and states
Wedding/Event Designers
website: www.sweetrootblog.com
email: thevillage@sweetrootvillage.com
Instagram: @sweetrootvillage
Facebook: Sweet Root Village
Twitter: @SweetRootVill
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