Episode 447: Farmer-florist April Vomfell of Flathead Farmworks in Kalispell, Montana; plus, Stories of Resilience guest Tammy Myers of LORA Bloom

April Vomfell of Flathead Farmworks in Kalispell, Montanta (c) Amy Messenger

I'm so excited this week to introduce you to April Vomfell of Flathead Farmworks in Kalispell, Montana. We recorded this interview in person on March 14th at Hitomi Gilliam's Trend Summit in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. At the time, I don't think April or I really understood that life as we knew it would come crashing to a halt when we both traveled home the following day. So it makes our interview all the more special. I'm glad you'll hear it and I hope you'll find our optimism contagious in these uncertain times.

But first, our bonus series here on the Slow Flowers Podcast continues with our next installment of Stories of Resilience. I believe that now, more than ever, the message of sustainability and seasonal and locally-available flowers is top of mind -- among consumers, flower farmers and florists.

I want the Slow Flowers Podcast to be a companion to those of you in isolation, away from your physical community of peers, neighbors, customers and friends. I don't have many answers, but I do want to keep the lines of communication open and accessible through this platform.

Tammy Myers of LORA Bloom (c) Missy Palacol Photography

About that Resilience. I invited Tammy Myers of LORA Bloom to share what she's experiencing as a floral entrepreneur. Based in Fall City, Washington, east of Seattle, Tammy is a past guest of this podcast. She first appeared in 2015 when I featured her studio First & Bloom and its All-American-grown branding. Later, in 2017, I spoke with Tammy and fellow designer Maura Whalen of Casablanca Floral as they discussed "Flower Power," a collective of local Seattle area florists and farmer-florists.

In the "About" page on her new LORA Bloom web site,

Tammy says she will never forget the first time she discovered the difference

between locally-sourced flowers and the alternative -- imported ones. 

"Very early in my first business, First & Bloom, I explored wholesale options in Seattle.  I walked into the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market and I thought I had died and gone to heaven.  I found buckets and buckets of freshly cut blooms in every color and shape. Blooms that were grown by flower farmers and cut from the fields just hours before.  All the textures, the rich colors and hues, the sweet fragrant smell of flowers, and the hardworking faces of the farmers themselves captured my heart. I do believe it was then in that moment, when I fell in love with the floral industry. It was there I found my people.  My tribe. It was incredible."

She soon learned the reason this uncommon wholesaler existed as a fresh alternative in the floral industry - thanks to its steady supply of local and seasonal flowers. A great deal has happened since that day six years ago. After years as a florist and a small business owner Tammy wanted to find a new way to connect with customers and increase her online presence.  Hearing the same frustrations from friends in the floral business, she set out to change how consumers purchase flowers online. With LORA Bloom, Tammy hopes to change the flower shopping experience to give consumers a way to experience local and sustainable choices. LORA Bloom is committed to sourcing primarily American grown florals and absolutely never uses floral foams in designs.   

Find and follow LORA Bloom at these social places:

LORA Bloom on Facebook

LORA Bloom on Instagram

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