Flower Farmers

Another AWESOME weekend spent with flower farmers from Oregon, Washington and a couple from back East from Illinois and Maryland.  We enjoyed a tour of J. Foss Flower Farm.  Owner, flower farmer Janet Foss and she is a one woman show.  Janet has 5 or so high tunnels and 5 acres of cut woodies and flowers it was truly amazing to see the variety of stuff she had.  A huge selection of clematis and she makes these gorgeous wreaths from her pussy willow she grows several variety on the farm.  I know there was a flower farmer that had to stay home on the farm and missed this tour so here you go a few pictures.............

Janet Foss with freshly picked gorgeous tulips

 Janet's very cut "Honor System," flower stand

 Amaryllis she had several varieties

 Her special Callas she grows

 We visited another farm owned by Gonzalo his small walk-in cooler was Super Cool

One of several hoop houses this one was full of Bleeding Heart starts

Purple Bleeding Heart, hmmm.....would like to have

Field of thousands of Peonies, daylilies, iris, tulips and several other plants very impressive 

Selling Bouquets at the Astoria Co-op

Article in the April Astoria Co-op's Newsletter:

Fresh Local Flowers

We've been waiting for a flower grower to provide the Co-op with fresh cut, local flowers. Kathleen Barber, owner and operator of Erika's Fresh Flowers, has found a way to make it work for both her business and the Co-op. Kathleen has flower farming in her blood. She says, "My mother, father, aunt and daughter are all avid gardeners, flower collectors, overall flower pick'n crazy people. We will climb up steep hills or crawl into berry bushes if we think there is a flower worth smelling or picking." Kathleen specializes in naturally grown fresh-cut flowers. That's why they make a good fit for the Co-op. Not only are they local, but they are grown without toxic sprays. This is important to Kathleen too because she's witnessed friends in the flower industry who retired with heavy metal poisoning. Her loved-ones touch and smell these flowers, and so will her customers. Obviously, growing flowers on the North Coast isn't always easy. Wind and lack of heat limit the growing season. In response, Kathleen built a 20'X60' hoop house to keep her flowers under cover. This will facilitate a lengthening of the growing season, making Erika's Fresh Flowers available more regularly. Kathleen says it is her joy to be providing the community with safe, fresh, and local flowers.  We are proud to support her as well.  Look for her spectacular bouquets at the Co-op registers and the produce section. Check out Kathleen's blog aterikasfreshflowers.blogspot.com.

I tried to snap some photos before delivering today