The quest for sustainably grown, chemical free local flowers for our wedding was a long one, but once we found the wonderful Hazelfield Farm our search was over. A small-scale family farm tucked away in Wheatley, Kentucky, Hazelfield is paradis...e for a flower-loving couple like us. The farm is committed to raising their flowers naturally, using no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The results are stunning. In addition to flowers, Hazelfield Farm also grows vegetables and operates a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture.)
Working with Teresa at Hazelfield Farm for our August wedding was simply an incredible experience all around. We visited the farm, about a 45 minute drive from Louisville, and were completely blown away by the beauty of the flowers and by Teresa's commitment to sustainable farming. We loved the idea that all of our wedding flowers would be grown in Kentucky in an environmentally responsbile way. We both adore flowers but are opposed to the way in which mainstream flowers enter our markets, grocery stores, and florist shops. Not only do most flowers travel halfway around the world before reaching the consumer (racking up miles and miles of unneccessary fuel usage), but it is nearly impossible to find foreign-grown flowers that are farmed in a way that is ethical for laborers (just Google labor conditions for Colombian flower workers- the stories are haunting.) Choosing in-season flowers that are locally grown is a wonderful choice, and Hazelfield Farm was the perfect choice for us.
Sometimes making "green" choices equals a higher price tag, but Teresa worked with us on our budget and her quote was far less than most mainstream florists would charge for wedding florals. She was so accommodating and has lots of experience with weddings so she was able to give us advice on what we could pass up (costly planters to decorate the outdoor ceremony space- no one really notices them!) and what would make a big impact (hanging floral arrangements on our wedding arch.) She was right- we got so many compliments on the flowers! She also worked with us to minimize our spending on centerpieces by reusing our ceremony flowers as centerpieces (she created hanging baskets of ferns with fresh flowers mixed in and hung them on shepherds hooks for the ceremony aisle flowers; we took them inside and placed them on tables for the reception centerpieces.) My bouquet was the most wonderful menagerie of loveliness!! All of our flowers were absolutely gorgeous and, thanks to Teresa's careful treatment of the flowers pre-ceremony, they stayed fresh and beautiful throughout the evening (chemical-free flowers sometimes get too wilty) and we were able to send friends and families home with beautiful arrangements. We highly, HIGHLY recommend Hazelfield Farm to anyone looking to use organic, locally grown flowers for a wedding. We couldn't be more delighted with them!