Episode 723: Drawing from her family’s horticulture roots, Michigan-based farmer-florist Erin Webb of Florista of West Olive shares a farm tour and design demonstration

https://youtu.be/D2d_-D2HVK8?si=VMUallUaLM2SBsum Erin Webb grew up immersed in plants and horticulture, following three generations of Michigan ornamental nursey owners before her. For as long as she can remember, Erin was immersed in the business of plants. After studying business and Spanish in college, and after an initial career in corporate America, in 2019, Erin returned to the land. She founded Florista of West Olive, since it to farm specialty cut flowers, design weddings and everyday arrangements, teach workshops, manage a CSA, and bring her blooms to the farmers’ market in Holland, Michigan. And now, her six-year-old son is experiencing a childhood much like Erin and her sister had. Listen in and learn how this full-circle journey has given Erin the floral business that fits her family’s lifestyle and beautifies her community. Erin Webb of Florista of West Olive Erin Webb calls herself a Chief Flower Organizer, and that’s an appropriate title for the founder of Florista West Olive, a western Michigan-based micro farm and design studio. Here's the completed floral design demonstration that Erin Webb filmed for our episode Earlier this week, Erin and I recorded a fun conversation to share with you, as she reflects on the past six years of her foray into cut flower farming and its emphasis on garden-inspired floral design. As a bonus, Erin recorded a tour of Florista’s growing and production areas, followed by a floral design demonstration featuring her signature bowl arrangement. It’s a packed episode, for sure, so I’m going to jump right in and get started. Grown and designed by Florista of West Olive Thank you for joining me today! I’m so grateful to Erin for her support of the Slow Flowers Movement as a member, and I hope her story is an inspiring one to you. Michigan-grown tulips at Florista of West Olive Find and follow Erin Webb, Florista of West Olive on Instagram and on Facebook Thank you to our Sponsors This show is brought to you by slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 700 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers. Thank you to our lead sponsor, Flowerbulb.eu and their U.S. lily bulb vendors. One of the most recognizable flowers in the world, the lily is a top-selling cut flower, offering long-lasting blooms, year-round availability, and a dazzling petal palette. Flowerbulb.eu has partnered with Slow Flowers to provide beautiful lily inspiration and farming resources to help growers and florists connect their customers with more lilies. Learn more at Flowerbulb.eu. Thank you to A-ROO Company, your one-stop shop for in-stock floral packaging. From sleeves and wraps to labels and tags, visit www.a-roo.com for their full selection of eco-friendly items or to start the process of developing a look that is uniquely yours. Learn more at www.a-roo.com. Thank you to Charles Little & Company for supplying our industry with some of the most beautiful and sustainably-grown design ingredients, available nationwide through their website at charleslittleandcompany.com. Based in Eugene, Oregon, the farmers at Charles Little & Company have been growing and drying flowers since 1986. New products and dried flower collections are added to their website at the first of each month. Check it out at charleslittleandcompany.com. Thank you for joining me today! The Slow Flowers Podcast is a member-supported endeavor, downloaded more than 1.5 million times by listeners like you. Thank you for listening, commenting and sharing – it means so much. As our movement gains more supporters and more passionate participants who believe in the importance of our domestic cut flower industry, the momentum is contagious. I know you feel it, too. If you’re new to our weekly Show and our long-running Podcast,