Debbie Thornton is one of a growing number of people in this country that are doing something I think is very important. Debbie is the owner of Farm to Market Flowers (FM Flowers) and she is sustainably growing fresh cut flowers for the florists and farmer’s market in Tomball, Texas. A lot pf people don’t know this, but at least 80% of the cut flowers sold in the US are grown somewhere else. Each time you buy a bouquet from a grocery store (that is not Whole Foods or Central Market), you are buying products that have been sprayed with every chemical possible and shipped from places very far away.
Debbie Thronton is a local grower of fresh cut floral products. Look her up every Saturday at the Tomball Farmer’s Market
It doesn’t have to be this way. When asked if they had a choice between a product created or grown oversees and one grown or created in the US , 78% of respondents said they would buy American. Unfortunately it can often be difficult to find a local alternative; especially when it comes to fresh cut flowers. That is why farmers like Debbie, The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) and Debra Prinzing (Slow Flowers) are so important. These people are working very hard to promote locally and sustainably grown fresh cut flowers and let consumers know that they now have a choice.
How can you resist buying flowers from a booth this cute?
I learned about Debbie and her farm through one of the nicest and most touching comments I have ever received on my blog. Here’s the comment:
Thank you Jay. I am growing cut flowers as a result of your article in the Texas Gardener Magazine. I did just what you said and visited the Arnosky’s and met Kim with Billabong. I am in the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers and I have been growing for our local farmers market and florists here in Tomball for two years. I was a Master Gardener for several years and heard you speak at the Bear Creek Extension office.
A load of Debbie’s sustainably grown sunflowers is ready for Market
Luckily, the story of how Debbie became a flower farmer is becoming more common. After gardening for years, she decided to capitalize on her knowledge and love of growing flowers. She has now turned her hobby into a small business that provides fresh cut flowers to the Tomball, Texas local area.
It doesn’t take a lot of room to become a flower farmer. Debbie is currently growing on one fourth of her one acre property. However, by properly and intensively managing that quarter of an acre, she is able to supply fresh flowers to the weekly Tomball Farmer’s Market and a couple of local florists. This quarter acre farm has become so successful that she has been able to cut back on her hours at her “real job”.
It doesn’t take a lot of room to be a flower farmer. Debbie grows all of her flowers on 1/4 of an acre.
I asked Debbie if the hard, hard work of flower farming is worth it. Debbie said “I absolutely love it. It is hard work, but I love the joy it brings to people. I would definitely recommend it to others. It can be scary at times, but I just try to produce quality flowers and they sell themselves.”
My hat is off to Debbie Thornton and all of the other flower farmers out there that are making a living (or a least a part of their living) providing us with a very beautiful option to the imported, chemical drenched flowers that you find in most outlets. Debbie’s work ensures that the next time you are in the market for cut flowers, you have a choice. If you are like me (and Michele Obama who recently decreed that American grown flowers will be used in the White House), it is worth a little effort to “go local” and buy these American grown products.
If you are a flower lover in the Tomball area, head over to the Farmer’s Market and visit with Debbie. She loves growing these flowers and she loves telling you why they are so special. Once you buy a bunch of her beautiful, long lasting bouquets you will be hooked. If you live somewhere else, and would like to buy local flowers, go to the ASCFG website and find out if there is a local grower in your area. If not, you still have a choice. Please check out The Slow Flowers website. This new offering from Debra Prinzing (mother of the field to vase movement and author of “The Fifty Mile Boquet”) will allow you to buy and ship locally grown flowers regardless of where you live.
Slow Flowers is your source for locally grown fresh cut floral products. Check it out!
A step in the right direction, for sure! The one online source I have used is: http://www.oneworldflowers.org/ – But still, these flowers are far, far, far away. So glad that there are local farmers growing flowers and selling them here – though I wonder, with Debra and others – are these flowers grown conventionally with pesticides or organically?
I have asked her about this. She said that while many of the growers are 100% organic, most use “sustainable” practices. This can mean anything from the limited use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides. I do think most try and stay away from herbicides though. I have talked to many of these farmers and most tell me it is almost impossible to be 100% organic 100% of the time. Thanks for the comment! I checked out your blog and it is very nice! best of luck with all of your experiments!
Very true – I’m sure it’s difficult to involve any growing on a large scale without using some sorts of chemicals. Thanks for the great post, Jay!
great post, Jay!!! Here’s what I wrote on FB: I remember how we met – when you wrote that: “locally grown, fresh cut flowers are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. floral market,” in an article for Texas Gardener magazine (back in 2011~). What a trend-spotter and keen observer of cultural shifts you are!
Thanks Debra! Didn’t know I was a trend-spotter until I met you!
Wonderful post. Thank you for your hard work for the environment Debbie!
Enjoyed this post Jay! I go to Tomball fairly often, since I live in Cypress. I also didn’t realize that you were in Brenham.
I would enjoy visiting Debbie’s booth at the Tomball Farmer’s Market. Being an artist, I am better at creating pictures of flowers as opposed to growing them!
Glad you liked it Angie! Debbie grows some amazing flowers so I am sure they would inspire you. Sally and I had a weekend place in Brenham until a few years ago. Then MD Anderson instituted a work from home program so we moved there full time. Absolutely love small town living!
Jay, Great article!!! you are doing a great job with your blog.
Thanks Bart! That means a lot coming from you!
Enjoyed reading this post. I think Debbie is so incredibly sweet as I have been to her booth many times in Tomball. Her flowers are amazing. I’ve never seen cut flowers that look so healthy and vibrant.
So glad you are enjoying her flowers. I know I am a bit biased, but I truly believe that locally grown flowers are far superior to the imported flowers we are all used to getting from the florists and grocery stores. Thanks for the comment and thank you for supporting local growers!