Summary: https://youtu.be/80v_1Q_wX_0<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> With 2023 here, it's fitting to say goodbye to 2022 as we review the year's highlights. All I can say about 2022 is that after slogging through the pandemic in 2020 and its aftermath in 2021, this past year felt like a sprint, not a marathon. The year seemed to race by so quickly, week by week, month by month, and the march of time propelled our beautiful and inspiring Slow Flowers community through the year, as we sought fulfillment, prosperity and peace -- and balance in all things, right?! We lived our values, communicated our message, and supported one another in our shared mission. But wow, as much as the word *slow* is at the heart of all we do here, 2022 was anything but *slow*.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Yet, the annual ritual to pause, review, evaluate, and celebrate - as well as learn from -- the lessons and experiences from our past year are activities I wouldn't miss - and I want to share with you!<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> One personally meaningful major milestone was the 10-year anniversary of the book that started us off on the Slow Flowers journey -- The 50 Mile Bouquet. When it was published in 2012, The 50 Mile Bouquet was the first book to spotlight a major cultural shift and a transformation around how cut flowers are grown, designed and consumed, closely mirroring the culinary world's locavore/slow food revolution.<br> <br> <br> <br> "Brimming with Blooms" documents the origins of the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market in The 50 Mile Bouquet.<br> <br> <br> <br> One decade ago the floral industry was just beginning to ask for changes, seeking alternatives to imported, mass-produced and chemical-laden flowers. The 50 Mile Bouquet introduced 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 were increasingly asking, 'Where and how were my flowers grown, and who grew them?'<br> <br> <br> <br> Melissa and Tutta Bella appeared in The 50 Mile Bouquet<br> <br> <br> <br> The 50 Mile Bouquet included documentary-feature reporting and full color photography to bring readers into the farms and design studios of Slow Flowers practitioners. As the book that coined the phrase "Slow Flowers," its relevance today is more important than ever, considering issues around climate change, supply chain limitations, and equity and inclusion in the floral marketplace. <br> <br> <br> <br> Fast-forward, here we are wrapping up 2022, and the issues around flower sourcing are just as timely and more important than ever! From my original storytelling in the pages of The 50 Mile Bouquet, the Slow Flowers Movement emerged, with the launch of the Slow Flowers Society and so many meaningful conversations through the Slow Flowers Podcast interviews and our other programs, content, advocacy and outreach to floral professionals and flower lovers alike.<br> <br> <br> <br> Let's take a look at our Membership!<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> We know that joining Slow Flowers Society as a member takes a financial commitment, a modest one that I believe offers incredible value for anyone in the business of communicating their brand in alignment with slow, seasonal, local and sustainable.<br> <br> <br> <br> 2022, for some, was a challenging year, as flowers continued to be bought and sold in a marketplace that is often based on cheap and convenient. Against that backdrop, we are so grateful to welcome 75 new flower farmers and floral designers who joined Slow Flowers Society as members in 2022. One Hundred percent of our focus is to add value to your investment in this organization. Since launching Slow Flowers in 2013, all of our revenue from membership subscriptions and partner sponsorships are p...
