Daisy Chain CSA: Local Business Profile

By Janine Gates

To tour a flower garden on a wintry, rainy day in February is to take a leap of faith and hope that spring could be a possibility. Sue Lundy, now in her fifth year of business as owner of Daisy Chain CSA, was enthusiastically showing me her garden plots at the Common Ground Farm on 11th Avenue, on Olympia's Westside.

As I protected my notebook and camera against the rain, Sue assured me that although it doesn't look that impressive now, she will again produce a beautiful abundance of flowers for her weekly bouquet service of locally grown, chemical-free flowers with many satisfied customers.

Lundy believes in flower power to enhance health and emotional well-being and to foster deeper connections to the natural world.

"Many people are aware of the organic and local issues around food, but most don't think twice when they purchase imported floral products using toxic, intensive-production methods. The handling procedures, fuel costs, and worker conditions associated with the floral industry is not sustainable. Daisy Chain offers a local, seasonal alternative," says Lundy.

About the dark and commercial side of international flower production and harvesting practices, Lundy recommends the book, Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers, by Amy Stewart.

Daisy Chain's flowers are artfully arranged with a diversity of possibilities: Alstroemeria, Crocosmia, Gaillardia, peony, amaranth, sweet Annie, zinnia, larkspur, snapdragon, gladiola, yarrow, Echinacea, lavender, lily, Delphinium, black-eyed susan, aster - and of course, daisies - to name just a few.

"I like to use a lot in my bouquets - each one will have about 10 varieties. I also wildcraft native greenery and fillers such as salal, evergreen huckleberry, and Oregon-grape." Speaking with Lundy again in late March, she excitedly wanted me to know that she just sowed nine different varieties of sunflowers. "People love the sunflowers!"

During the harvest season, Daisy Chain members will receive 15 generous, weekly bouquets with a choice a pick-up times and locations. The cost is a sliding scale of $120 to $180 for the full 15 weeks, but Lundy also enjoys bartering for services, and does so with her chiropractor.

In efforts toward sustainable production methods, Daisy Chain's business is waste-free. Lundy purchases rubber bands to hold her bouquets together ("forgive me my sins," she says jokingly), but many of her clients bring her plastic bags from their local newspapers to carry home fresh bouquets. And to sanitize her harvest buckets, she uses grapefruit-seed extract instead of bleach.

Lundy says she produces enough flowers to accommodate the needs of about 40 clients on her 1,000 square-foot plot each season. Her business is also available to service special events such as weddings. With about 25 current Daisy Chain members, it wasn't hard to find thrilled clients.

Kristi Dohring of The Best of Budapest Catering is one enthusiastic client, and a fellow vendor with Lundy at the Tumwater Farmer's Market. "Sue's flowers always last a long time after I bring them home - I can tell the flowers are cut shortly before I buy them, nice and fresh. People know that she puts a lot of love and care into growing her flowers, so the quality is there," says Dohring.

Another Daisy Chain member, Robin Levin, says, "I've loved having a bouquet of flowers - always with such a beautiful variety - in my home, fresh every week. Sue Lundy is so knowledgeable and works hard to bring you a beautiful gathering of flowers. ... I still have some of her flowers that I've dried. I look forward to my third year as a very pleased member of Daisy Chain CSA."

Lundy also encourages giving bouquets as gifts that last all season long. Don Lewis, a volunteer with the Kiwanis Club, just signed up for a season's worth of service for his wife, Ann. Don says his wife will look forward to Tuesdays, from June to September.

Muriel Davis, another member, says, "Daisy Chain is a treat for my senses! I love that I can count on Daisy Chain to provide me with delicious weekly flowers. I love them at home, but they really help me at work, where they provide inspiration to make it through my week."

To become a link in Daisy Chain CSA, contact Sue Lundy at (360) 956-3380, daisychaincsa@gmail.com or http://daisychaincsa.blogspot.com/

Janine Gates is President of SPEECH. She can be reached at www.janinegatesphotography.com.