Farm Aid Inc.
09/16/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/16/2024 14:58
Farmer Hero, Alexandra Norton on flowers and printing with them
Farmer Heroes| September 16, 2024
Farmer Hero, Alexandra Norton on flowers and printing with them
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Below is a Q+A with Hummingbird's Blooms owner and farmer-florist, Alexandra Norton. Alexandra is only our Farmer Hero, but also will lead a sun-printing demonstration in the Farm Aid 2024 HOMEGROWN Skills Tent. If you'll be joining us in Saratoga Springs, NY, this coming September, be sure to come watch this presentation.
KURN: Thanks for chatting with me. Can you introduce your farm and business?
NORTON: Our farm is a specialty cut flower farm. We farm on less than one acre of land in a suburban setting. Because of this, we use small space-high intensity methods to optimize our growing space. We primarily sell our blooms in two CSA's: Tulips and Daffodils in the spring and Dahlias & Sunflowers in the summer/fall. In addition to fresh flowers we also sell dried bouquets and wreaths throughout the fall and winter. Our blooms and greenery become part of our cyanotype art offerings as well.
KURN: How did you get into farming?
NORTON:I'm a first generation farmer. Shortly before 2020 I was starting to feel burnt out in the outdoor and customer service industries, I needed to be outside with my hands in the soil. I had always been interested in farming since I was a kid and it seemed like the right fit for me.
KURN: Why did you land on flowers?
NORTON: Flowers are something that most people love and they bring joy. I was also very much on board with the slow-flower and American-grown flower movements and I wanted to be a part of them.
KURN: I know farming isn't easy. What keeps you going and gets you up in the morning?
NORTON: The joy and excitement I see on my customers faces is really the motivation for me. Not to mention getting to enjoy some of the flowers myself!
KURN: Sun printing sounds really interesting. Can you explain cyanotype printing and how you got started?
NORTON:I started sun printing when I was five or six at a YMCA summer camp in the Catskills. I thought it was so interesting. I came back to it again when I was in high school and college, taking fine art photography classes and again loved the magic of the medium. About two or three years ago I started incorporating it into my work at Hummingbird's. I thought it was such a wonderful way to use any unsold flowers and turn them into art. Here I am a few years later and it has become a major part of my daily life on the farm.
KURN: You've promoted "Blooms for Good" on your social media accounts. What is this?
NORTON: "Blooms for Good" is our way of giving back to the community and beyond. We have our social media followers suggest local non-profits and mutual aid organizations and then they vote on who should be the beneficiary. We sell bouquets or do raffles to raise money for the selected beneficiary. It has been an absolute pleasure for us to do this.
KURN: Thank you so much for chatting with us. We can't wait to see your demonstration in the HOMEGROWN Skills Tent at Farm Aid 2024.