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The 50 Mile Bouquet: Seasonal, Local and Sustainable Flowers
Most flowers on the market today are imported, mass-produced and chemical-laden. The 50 Mile Bouquet introduces some of the innovative voices of the dynamic new Slow Flower movement: the organic flower farmers, the sustainably-motivated floral designers...and the flower enthusiasts who are increasingly asking, Where and how were my flowers grown, and who grew them?
With documentary-feature reporting and full color photographs, this visually elegant book takes us into the farms and design studios of these slow-flower folks to follow the green journey of the 50 mile bouquet. This is the first book to spotlight this major transformation in how cut flowers are grown, designed and consumed, which closely mirrors the locavore/slow food revolution in the culinary world.
The 50 Mile Bouquet is the slow flower guide to Organic Flower-Growing, Gathering and Design.
Foreword by Amy Stewart, author of Flower Confidential.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2012
3 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Debra Prinzing
16 books4 followersRecently transplanted from Seattle to Southern California, Debra Prinzing is a garden and design features writer. She previously served as "NW Style" columnist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Debra has a background in textiles, journalism, landscape design and horticulture. She is the author of four gardening books, including "The Abundant Garden" (2005) and the "Pacific Northwest Garden Survival Guide" (2004). Her articles have appeared in Fine Gardening, Cottage Living, Sunset, Better Homes & Gardens SIPs, Seattle Homes & Lifestyles and Romantic Homes magazines, among others. Her newest book project, Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways, will be published in 2008 by Clarkson-Potter. Her web site is: www.debraprinzing.com "
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 13, 2018
I must admit that this book had the potential to be of interest to me and failed at it somewhat miserably. I happen to know quite a few people who are involved in designing floral arrangements for our local church congregation, and at times I have even been involved in choosing some flowers for arrangements. In general, while I do not consider myself to be particularly knowledgeable when it comes to matters of gardening, I am at least somewhat interested in the subject [1]. That is to say, there is definitely a way, many ways in fact, for books about plants and flowers to be of interest to me. Yet this book somehow failed, and its failure is instructive. I enjoy books about gardening, but one thing I do not enjoy is books that are stridently political in their tone, especially when that tone is leftist. This book, as one might imagine, is definitely aimed at a leftist and progressive audience, and that is definitely not an audience I can be included in. There are even ways to cheer on localism that are not politically offensive, but this book fails, and can serve as an object lesson in what not to do.
In less than 150 pages, this book seeks to provide a great deal of example in how people have managed to find success in growing and using seasonal, local, and sustainable flowers. Perhaps it is the word sustainable that presents the most difficulty, in that it sets up the book's problem with political grandstanding. The book itself is made up of four chapters after a foreword and introduction that seek to encourage the reader to follow their flowers from the field to face. The first chapter gives a look at various flower farmers who are seeking to grow flowers for sale in the midst of tough and cheap international competition. After that there is a discussion on various eco designers, who take the locally sourced flowers they find and turn them into high-dollar designs for their clients. After that there is a discussion about the do-it-yourself bouquet and how people can make wedding bouquets (and other floral arrangements) from various local sources, including gathering in semi-wild places. After this comes a look at various celebrations and festivities that focuses on a wedding, before the author gets into an appendix that provides flower and foliage resources for the reader.
The author has some good points to make, but unfortunately politics and the author's mistaken belief that the reader will care for people that she cares about simply because she cares about them make this book less enjoyable to read than it would otherwise be. Among the good points to make is that it is a good thing to enjoy local flowers that grow in local conditions and that reflect the natural seasons. The author provides some worthwhile flowers that grow in the West Coast during different months of the year as well as local foliage that can expand a bouquet beyond flowers alone. While this is definitely a good thing, unfortunately the author wastes far too much time insulting foreign farmers, praising people on political grounds, and advocating some downright backwards ways of encouraging people to grow flowers, while bemoaning the fact that many growers have a hard time making a good deal of money. The author certainly does not romanticize being a small-o organic grower, but the author's political tone alienates as many people who appreciate creation and working with flowers right than it does encouraging fellow leftists to unite in taking care of the land.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
In less than 150 pages, this book seeks to provide a great deal of example in how people have managed to find success in growing and using seasonal, local, and sustainable flowers. Perhaps it is the word sustainable that presents the most difficulty, in that it sets up the book's problem with political grandstanding. The book itself is made up of four chapters after a foreword and introduction that seek to encourage the reader to follow their flowers from the field to face. The first chapter gives a look at various flower farmers who are seeking to grow flowers for sale in the midst of tough and cheap international competition. After that there is a discussion on various eco designers, who take the locally sourced flowers they find and turn them into high-dollar designs for their clients. After that there is a discussion about the do-it-yourself bouquet and how people can make wedding bouquets (and other floral arrangements) from various local sources, including gathering in semi-wild places. After this comes a look at various celebrations and festivities that focuses on a wedding, before the author gets into an appendix that provides flower and foliage resources for the reader.
The author has some good points to make, but unfortunately politics and the author's mistaken belief that the reader will care for people that she cares about simply because she cares about them make this book less enjoyable to read than it would otherwise be. Among the good points to make is that it is a good thing to enjoy local flowers that grow in local conditions and that reflect the natural seasons. The author provides some worthwhile flowers that grow in the West Coast during different months of the year as well as local foliage that can expand a bouquet beyond flowers alone. While this is definitely a good thing, unfortunately the author wastes far too much time insulting foreign farmers, praising people on political grounds, and advocating some downright backwards ways of encouraging people to grow flowers, while bemoaning the fact that many growers have a hard time making a good deal of money. The author certainly does not romanticize being a small-o organic grower, but the author's political tone alienates as many people who appreciate creation and working with flowers right than it does encouraging fellow leftists to unite in taking care of the land.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
Read
May 2, 2012Reviewed by Ann
Most flowers on the market today are imported, mass-produced and chemical-laden. The 50 Mile Bouquet by Debra Prinzing introduces some of the innovative voices of the dynamic new Slow Flower movement: the organic flower farmers, the sustainably-motivated floral designers…and the flower enthusiasts who are increasingly asking, “where and how were my flowers grown, and who grew them?”
With documentary-feature reporting and full color photographs, this visually elegant book takes us into the farms and design studios of these slow-flower folks to follow the green journey of the 50 mile bouquet. This is the first book to spotlight this major transformation in how cut flowers are grown, designed and consumed, which closely mirrors the locavore/slow food revolution in the culinary world. The 50 Mile Bouquet is the slow flower guide to organic flower-growing, gathering and design. Foreword by Amy Stewart, author of Flower Confidential. (provided by publisher)
Most flowers on the market today are imported, mass-produced and chemical-laden. The 50 Mile Bouquet by Debra Prinzing introduces some of the innovative voices of the dynamic new Slow Flower movement: the organic flower farmers, the sustainably-motivated floral designers…and the flower enthusiasts who are increasingly asking, “where and how were my flowers grown, and who grew them?”
With documentary-feature reporting and full color photographs, this visually elegant book takes us into the farms and design studios of these slow-flower folks to follow the green journey of the 50 mile bouquet. This is the first book to spotlight this major transformation in how cut flowers are grown, designed and consumed, which closely mirrors the locavore/slow food revolution in the culinary world. The 50 Mile Bouquet is the slow flower guide to organic flower-growing, gathering and design. Foreword by Amy Stewart, author of Flower Confidential. (provided by publisher)
August 12, 2016
What a beautiful, inspiring read! Now I know those words are cliché, but stick with me here. When I started reading the foreword, I thought, gosh, this reminds me of Amy Stewart's Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers. Little surprise when I saw that she's the one who wrote it! It's also good to hear that the global flower industry has changed a great deal since she wrote Confidential, which changed the entire way I see the flower industry. I hoped that this book would give me hope that the indie, smaller growers haven't succumbed to the onslaught of cheap roses and artificially-dyed mums.
Which, some have. What Prinzing hopes to achieve is an illuminating of individuals and their practices who are still here and competing. First, the photography is high-quality and wonderfully reproduced. Fine details haven't been lost in that process. You can tell that every image was thoughtfully taken, so good job, David Perry. Second, the text really did inspire me to want to go outside and see what kind of bouquet I could create with whatever's growing out there. It might end up being a bunch of queen anne's lace, lady's thumb, and odd foliage, but it'll be my locally-grown bric-a-brak. And, I now really want to go to my local farmer's market for a small bouquet! I'm remembering this wonderful older gentleman who sold small snapdragon bunches. I wonder if he's still selling. I hope so.
If you found Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers intriguing, or have also looked into permaculture texts like Breaking Through Concrete: Building an Urban Farm Revival, you'll appreciate this text.
Which, some have. What Prinzing hopes to achieve is an illuminating of individuals and their practices who are still here and competing. First, the photography is high-quality and wonderfully reproduced. Fine details haven't been lost in that process. You can tell that every image was thoughtfully taken, so good job, David Perry. Second, the text really did inspire me to want to go outside and see what kind of bouquet I could create with whatever's growing out there. It might end up being a bunch of queen anne's lace, lady's thumb, and odd foliage, but it'll be my locally-grown bric-a-brak. And, I now really want to go to my local farmer's market for a small bouquet! I'm remembering this wonderful older gentleman who sold small snapdragon bunches. I wonder if he's still selling. I hope so.
If you found Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers intriguing, or have also looked into permaculture texts like Breaking Through Concrete: Building an Urban Farm Revival, you'll appreciate this text.
August 7, 2016
Meet some of the movers and shakers of the sustainable flower world.
Highlights several of the people responsible for the resurgent of the local cut-flower movement. Most she talks about are on the West Coast, in Seattle or Portland areas. A few are from other places. She does have a good range of people from various parts of the flower business, including flower farmers, floral designers, and savvy consumers.
* * * * * *
I'm glad I found this one at the library, rather than buying it. I expected more about the flower business itself, and there was a little bit of that, but for the most part it was all about the people. Interesting, but not one that I see myself coming back to.
For more book reviews--plus flowers!--visit my blog: www.ofbooksandblooms.com
Highlights several of the people responsible for the resurgent of the local cut-flower movement. Most she talks about are on the West Coast, in Seattle or Portland areas. A few are from other places. She does have a good range of people from various parts of the flower business, including flower farmers, floral designers, and savvy consumers.
* * * * * *
I'm glad I found this one at the library, rather than buying it. I expected more about the flower business itself, and there was a little bit of that, but for the most part it was all about the people. Interesting, but not one that I see myself coming back to.
For more book reviews--plus flowers!--visit my blog: www.ofbooksandblooms.com
May 22, 2012
I need a new goodreads shelf for books won. This book was an especially special win from the GardenRant blog, because it came signed by the photographer! "For Sara, whose baby hosta leaves, soft new catmint and bright springs of lime spirea captured our imagination. - David Perry" (They had asked for comments on what in our yard could be made into a bouquet, so I named the little bunch I had put into a blue and white mug that morning.)
A very pretty read. Focused mostly on flower growers/florists on the West Coast. Now I want to know more about East Coast flower farming! Makes me want to get out and plant some dalhias, foxgloves and roses.
Thank you, Garden Rant!
A very pretty read. Focused mostly on flower growers/florists on the West Coast. Now I want to know more about East Coast flower farming! Makes me want to get out and plant some dalhias, foxgloves and roses.
Thank you, Garden Rant!
Read
February 14, 2013Interesting portraits of local flower growers and the movement to buy local flowers just as we all try to buy local produce. Diane of Jello Mold Farm and founder of the Seattle Wholesale Growers Association is one featured. I am making an effort to either grow my own bouquets or use local suppliers if at all possible.
November 3, 2012
I recently took a photo workshop from David E Perry the photographer of this book; awesome! I also was not aware of how large the local and sustainable flower market is in our community. A good read to educate us all on this movement and why we should be more aware of where the flowers we purchase are coming from. I look at those displays in the grocery with a different eye now.
June 29, 2012
Prettiness side-barred with sustainable practice advocacy, featuring beautiful growers mostly from the west and northwest. Overall, Martha-ish, with that same uncomfortable aftertaste of envy and an awareness of your non-lushness.
July 9, 2013
Buying local applies to cut flowers, too. Debra Prinzing takes readers on a ride in search of the people who grow the flowers, designers who build the bouquets and the sellers who bring color to your life.
October 18, 2015
Loved the background on the various flower farmers (oh so envious I'm not in the Seattle area). A very subtle preaching on buying local but one that I completely agree with and try to do. Looking forward to reading some of her other books!
May 8, 2012
Simply delicious!
July 2, 2012
I skipped the chapter on florists and flower arranging. But the rest was excellent. I wish somebody would write a book like this about the Midwest though...
June 22, 2012
I did not find this book a useful reference for gardening, although it is my fault for not understanding its premise. If you want to read about florists instead of flowers this is the book for you.
August 10, 2015
This is a nice little book about flower farming which only serves to remind me what a terrible part of the world I live in.
February 10, 2015
A modern and infomitive book about growing and working with the freshest flowers possible with a truly green approach. Lots of insite into the changing floral industry.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews