Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christina Blodgett. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Christina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
I have chosen to view my business through lenses of sustainability. There’s this idea out there that flowers are “green” and the industry is as well. This is far from the truth. When I started my business, I wanted to assess all of the places where I could cut out single-use plastics. I also wanted to dive into the local flower community in Arizona. I truly feel the industry as a whole has been driven too far in the direction of convenience! We are out of balance! As a business owner in this industry, it is partly my responsibility to respect the Earth. I am selling a natural product. I am taking from the land. I want to show respect for the environment! I felt there’s no better way to show that than to become a Foam-Free Florist who specializes in Arizona Specialty Cut Flowers and plants native to the area.
It’s standard in the Flower Industry to have Floral Foam as a key tool in your tool belt. Floral Foam was a revolutionary invention for floral design in 1954. It is truly a product that changed floral design forever! It comes in various shapes and sizes, and can hold up to 50 times its weight in water. It allows for stem hydration and support within designs. However, it is truly a convenience product. It is a single-use plastic product that does not biodegrade. It breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces until it becomes a microplastic. Through published research, we now know that floral foam bits are being found in our freshwater organisms and ecosystems. There is no good way to dispose of floral foam. Because of this, I wanted to take it back “old school”. I create designs that use tried and true floral mechanics.
My sustainable florist tool belt includes products that can be repurposed and reused. Instead of floral foam I use chicken wire, flower frogs, vintage flower frogs, sticks, and rocks. Because I do not use floral foam, I get to be creative through the entirety of the floral piece. Plus, I just love the way a design looks when floral foam is taken out! The blooms get to breathe, and everything has a more natural feel. While I understand nothing is truly sustainable, I can definitely be intentional with the products I use and where I source my flowers.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello! My name is Christina Blodgett. I fell in love with the desert quickly despite moving to Phoenix, Arizona at the beginning of summer 2019. I was, and still am, fascinated by all of the plants that are able to grow here!
Once I learned that Specialty Cut Flowers grew here, I knew it was my calling to honor the gifts the desert gives. I started UDF with the mission to connect my clients to their local flower farmer, and highlight the amazing people who grow flowers in the desert! I have an incredible amount of respect for local farmers in Arizona, and strive to honor the fruits of their labor in the most sustainable way possible. The desert is truly a special place. My goal is to honor the beautiful blooms and foliage that can be grown in our unique climate. I have a responsibility to the land from which I take. I am thankful for the gifts the desert gives!
After working in the flower industry for a short period of time, it was apparent that what I thought was going to be a “green” industry was definitely far from it! This inspired the foundation for UDF. Using sustainable materials and cutting down my carbon footprint were the ‘no-brainer’ decisions. The global flower industry is a beast of its own kind. I simply want to educate/ advocate for positive changes within. Not only for the sake of the Earth, but for all of my fellow flower industry laborers. I truly feel it is time for a swift change in the global flower industry. It can and should be better!
I am your foam free florist! Foam Free Floral Design eliminates a big source of microplastic waste from my business. I conduct business in a way that allows me to be as waste-free as possible. No single-use plastics. All materials must be recyclable or reusable! I love scheming innovative ways to get the the same looks as foam heavy designs. I get to be intentional throughout the entire construction of an arrangement or installation. I really enjoy building things and working with my hands! Foam Free Floristry is incredibly fulfilling for me in that way.
My sourcing process is hands-on. Access to Specialty Cut Flowers in Arizona isn’t easy. I travel to local farms across the valley to source specifically for each event. Depending on the amount of blooms needed, it could take 2-3 full days of driving to acquire everything needed. Blooms from UDF are cut within 3-5 days of the event. This allows me to provide the freshest blooms possible. Flowers purchased from your standard wholesaler are 14-16 days old once they get to your florist’s hands. Not to mention that they could have traveled 2,000 – 3,000 miles to get here. That’s a huge carbon footprint! I am proud to say my blooms have the lowest carbon footprint that I can achieve. I greatly value the connections I have with local cut flower growers! More often than not, I am directly in the field cutting the blooms for each event. I am learning from each grower what it takes to grow in this environment, and about flowers in general! I strive to have a comprehensive knowledge of growing and flowering in Arizona to pass on to my clients.
The Arizona Cut Flower Season runs roughly from March – September each year with the most abundant blooms available in early spring and late summer. During our cut flower season, I strive to source 100% locally! Whenever we are out of season, I ensure my blooms have the lowest carbon footprint possible, and buy from vetted international flower farms. These are farms certified by the Rain Forest Alliance or are certified Fair Trade. Flowers are second to coffee in the most human labor intensive crops. It’s essential to buy from international farms that have established labor, wage, chemical, and environmental standards. I am able to buy many blooms in the off season from California, Oregon, Washington, Florida, and Wisconsin.
I am striving to provide a flower experience that you can truly feel good about by connecting you to your flower source, and providing information about the industry so you can make better floral purchases. My clients are pioneers in sustainable events in Arizona, and are making a huge impact in the local Specialty Cut Flower Community! Ultimately, I want you to feel excited and great about your event florals! Planning an event is a huge commitment that comes with many stressors. We are in this together! You should feel confident and like who you are choosing to bring into your event team.
Hiring Urban Desert Flora for your wedding or event means you are supporting:
1) Sustainable Floristry
2) Sustainable and Ethical Farming
3) People Directly in your Community
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
My business partner, CFO, and floral assistant is my husband. We’ve known each other since we were about 12 years old. We always had classes together throughout grade school and high school, but never had the same friends. I’d say we were mostly acquaintances growing up.
Our favorite story to tell is how in 9th grade we were instructed to stand in front of our Spanish 1 class and sing songs. This particular time I was instructed to stand there while Pierce serenaded me by singing Eres Tu by Luis Miguel. It’s a cheesy love song that we still put on from time to time for a laugh. Did our Spanish teacher see something we didn’t? I like to say we officially met in college at the University of Arkansas. We began dating our Junior year, and the rest is history. We’ve been inseparable ever since. Neither of us are directly working in our fields of study either, but I am thankful for his background in Accounting! I have a degree in biology, so when it comes to the financial side of the business I always turn to him with my questions. We truly make a great team. He calms my creative mind and grounds me in logic. I show him how to have fun!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Whenever I started my business, I had a strong desire to grow my own flowers to design with. I wanted to be a farmer florist! I wanted to do it all! However, I quickly learned that growing in the desert means I needed to throw almost everything I knew about growing out the window and start over! The investment that I needed to make in my soil, growing materials, seeds, and tools quickly became too costly for me. The time and dedication the plants need here was something I just had to be honest with myself about. I wasn’t willing to put in that kind of work. My heart wasn’t in it for growing. After talking to a few established growers in Arizona, I realized that my best chance of being successful was to use my skills as a florist to honor the blooms these growers were working so hard to produce! It was apparent that local specialty cut flowers weren’t being utilized by local florist, and I wanted to be the first in that space.
I am still trying to grow flowers, but I am growing so that I can make my Flora Fetti. It is eco-friendly confetti made from Zinnia and Sunflower Petals. Zinnias and Sunflowers are tried and true for any first time flower grower, especially in Arizona. I like that I get to experiment, but not have to worry about whether my blooms are perfect for an event! Someday, in a different state, I may be able to live that farmer florist dream. For now, I am comfortable designing and educating the community on local flowers!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://urbandesertflora.com/
- Instagram: @urbandesertflora
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urbandesertflora
- Other: https://theflowry.com/bloomlist/urban-desert-flora/