photo by Bareroot Photography As the holiday season draws near, isn't it the perfect time to sprinkle a little extra kindness and joy into the world? We've found a delightful way to do just that with our little ones—through the magic of creating holiday floral arrangements. Picture this: a cozy family night, not a screen in sight. Christmas music plays in the background, the scent of evergreens fills your home as your entire family joyfully, creatives something beautiful to give back in your neighborhood or community. We know firsthand the incredible impact that simple acts of kindness can ha ..read more

Photo by Rylea Foehl Photography Whether you’re sadly surveying the a empty garden that has yet to have a seed planted in it, or mourning all the seedlings that lost their lives to slugs/bugs/the neighbor cat’s digging/extreme weather, it can feel defeating to arrive at the peak months of summer and not see any hope of bloom in your cut flower garden. BUT that does not mean all is lost: even in the middle of summer, it’s still possible to start your cut flower. It just comes down to two simple things: getting the timing right and choosing the right seeds to sow. Don’t give up on that dream of ..read more

Photo by Rylea Foehl Photography There is nothing quite like the joy of giving someone a bouquet of flowers for the simple purpose of sharing kindness. If you’ve ever given away flowers-you know exactly the overwhelming feeling of joy and warmth/contentment/satisfaction. And if you’ve ever grown a garden of any kind, yo'u’ve experienced first hand the rich rewards of getting outside, getting your hands in the soil, tending and nurturing and watching something grow and flourish. As an organization, our mission is to help people enter into more of the joy and benefits of both gardening and givi ..read more

There are times in life when your path crosses with another, and you are instantly, lastingly changed. We would venture to say that there are fewer times when such an experience happens collectively. When it does, though, the depth of goodness, grief, and reflection is profound. With our still broken hearts, we count ourselves incredibly lucky to be a group that got to cross paths with Amber Bell. In January 2021, when Amber Bell applied to be a Growing Kindness Ambassador, she wrote, "I want flowers and kindness to be part of what people remember about me when I am not here.” You see, when s ..read more

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead A few weeks ago, we had the immense pleasure of introducing you to our 2023 Ambassador scholarship recipients - the first members of this year’s Ambassador team, and today we are thrilled to share the whole team with you! You may recall, from the previous post, that some words that came to mind, as we reflected on that first group of applications we reviewed, were brave, generous, resilient, inspiring. Friends, these words soar as a banner over the ..read more

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead A few weeks ago, we had the immense pleasure of introducing you to our 2023 Ambassador scholarship recipients - the first members of this year’s Ambassador team, and today we are thrilled to share the whole team with you! You may recall, from the previous post, that some words that came to mind, as we reflected on that first group of applications we reviewed, were brave, generous, resilient, inspiring. Friends, these words soar as a banner over the ..read more

While oft over-looked as “landscaping plants”, perennials are hands-down one of our favorite plants to cultivate for beautiful blooms, unique textures and fragrant foliages to add to bouquets and arrangements. Not only do perennial plants add incredible diversity to your floral designs, unlike growing tender annuals from seed, perennials are both cost and labor efficient. Plants that produce unique foliages, blooms and fragrances AND take less work? There’s a reason why we love them! Actually there are many reasons why we love growing perennials so much… Perennials require less labor to gro ..read more

“…the most important things in life are your connections to other people.” — Tom Ford Each year, the end of January arrives and can feel a little…dreary. Holiday decorations are packed up and stored away. Days are still dark for longer than they are light. The cold somehow feels colder minus the twinkle lights. And then that day comes along. You catch the golden-pink glow of the sunrise on your way to work. Warm sunlight pours in as you wash dishes. The familiar sounds and sights of birds playfully flitting about and singing their songs fills the air. Without a thought, you breathe in a deep ..read more

What if we told you that you can successfully start seeds without:  A greenhouse Expensive grow lights and heat mats A dedicated, climate controlled space for rows of seed starting trays Investing in plug trays, liners or soil blocking tools? Hours spent adjusting lights, rotating racks, and watering? What if we told you that all you need is:  ? Basic soil mix ? Recycled plastic gallon jugs ? Duct Tape ? Small space in full sun to set your jugs ? 10-20 minutes to prepare and plant your jugs   Get ready to simplify every part of the seed starting process with WINTER S ..read more

Flower Gardening for Beginners, photo by Amy Barene If you’re new to growing cut flowers, are a beginning flower farmer, or are a floral designer expanding to growing, this is one book that you’ll certainly want to add to your library! We’ve found that most “beginning” flower growing books are either overwhelming advanced and complex or far too simple, leaving out important process and considerations. Amy Barene’s The Beginner Flower Gardener is the Goldilocks of beginning flower growing tomes: it doesn’t oversimplify, leaving you longing for needed processes and guidelines, nor does it leave ..read more