MEET SAMMY

The Sustainable Florist

Sammy started growing and designing with flowers to help with her anxiety and mental health. Sammy started The Sustainable Florist after learning about the reality of where most flowers come from and how harmful the modern cut-flower industry is to people, pollinators, and the planet. She is now a small-scale farmer-florist who grows her own blooms and designs with flowers from other local flower farmers.

Flowers are grown without the use of pesticides or other harmful chemicals. By using wooden containers, fabric grow bags, and pots in her rented backyard and deck in the Junction Triangle in Toronto, Sammy is able to create a mini urban flower farm. Her parent's backyard is also transformed into a larger, in-ground growing space with a small greenhouse so she can provide even more local flowers to her community.

Sammy does not use fresh or dried botanicals that have been altered with dye, bleach, or other chemicals to change the appearance of plant material. These trendy dyed and bleached dried flowers have made Sammy physically ill in the past when designing for other florists. The lack of transparency and regulations makes it difficult for her to work with this material safely, so altered botanicals will not be possible in her design work.

Sammy strives to be as low-waste as possible by sourcing flowers directly from the farmers without plastic sleeves. In her design work, she strives to reuse and recycle material creatively to prevent sourcing new and creating more waste. Floral-foam, whether bio-degradable or not, is never used in designs due to the harmful effects on the environment and wildlife. Sustainable design techniques that can be reused or recycled are used instead, such as chicken wire, floral pins, water tubes, and creative containers. A floral keepsake is provided to couples who return the supplies used on their wedding day to be reused for future weddings.

Imported flowers and greenery are not used in designs like traditional wedding floristry, which is reflected in the increased quality and cost of the designs. Flowers are grown and cut within 200km of the farm, as opposed to the lengthy and wasteful process most flowers take to get to our vases. This means Sammy is only available for weddings and events during the flower season in Ontario (May - September). She may be able to accommodate weddings using naturally-dried flowers and greenhouse-grown Ontario blooms on a case-by-case basis.

Sammy offers subscriptions in West Toronto and Clarington in the flower season and provides design services for weddings and events.

WEDDING PACKAGES

Crafted with flexibility in mind for the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The Elope, The Intimate, and The Custom wedding packages are all built to be inclusive of all types of love and expressions. Sammy has avoided the use of traditional wedding terms to include flexible options for anyone and everyone.

Designed to be environmentally and ethically responsible. Sammy handpicks the ideal vintage and secondhand supplies to keep waste low. We encourage couples to return these supplies after their wedding to receive a handmade keepsake. A portion of the profits will be donated.

THE ELOPE

Simple packages for two built for any type of love or expression:

- Bouquet + Boutonniere

- Bouquet + Bouquet

- Boutonniere + Boutonniere

Visit thesustainableflorist.ca/elope for more information.

THE INTIMATE

Couples have the option of selecting items to craft their desired package. Extra items can be added at an additional cost.

Visit thesustainableflorist.ca/intimate for more information.

THE CUSTOM

The Sustainable Florist works with each couple to create a unique package tailored to them and their wedding venue. By only taking on a limited amount of The Custom weddings each season, Sammy ensures every flower detail is elegantly attended to as well as environmentally and ethically responsible.

The Custom includes virtual consultations, inspiration boards and a design proposal. On the big day, Sammy will deliver and set-up the florals, install any large-scale designs, and style any candles or additional decor. This full-service wedding package requires a minimum investment of $1,000.

Visit thesustainableflorist.ca/custom for more information.

Thank you for considering sustainable floristry!