Why Bluma ?
Bluma means ‘flower’ in Yiddish. I wanted to name the farm after something related to my family’s history.
THE FARM & PHILOSOPHY
I am committed to sustainable, ecological and organic farming and growing quality flowers.
Bluma Farm works to protect the soil, support biological diversity, practice water conservation, and conservation tillage.
SUPPORT LOCAL SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE.
I am committed to helping revitalize local agriculture. I hope by moving my farm to the city I can invite more people to come visit and see what I do!
By growing flowers, Bluma is supporting vast numbers of pollinators and insects that come to feed on the nectar and pollen. Flowers are an integral part of our ecological system. Bluma is preserving biodiversity by growing over 60 varieties of plants. I also hope to preserve some of our seed heritage by growing flowers out to seed.
Photo by Alice Che
BLUMA FARM IS COMMITTED TO CREATING COMMUNITY AROUND LOCAL AGRICULTURE.
Bluma aspires to connect urban dwellers to our farm and to the wider Bay Area farming communities.
I want to share my love of plants and farming to encourage people to grow their own flowers and vegetables wherever they can- in boxes, windows, or in any nook and cranny city life has to offer. I hope my business and farm can be a model for other growers who wish to start their own farms or gardens.
I remember a teacher saying that in some traditions it is commonplace to gather flowers for the elder generation who can no longer go outside to experience them. I hope to continue this tradition and provide flowers to those who can no longer go out themselves and see them.
I helped take care of my Grandma Adele who lived to be 98. I would always bring her a bouquet of flowers either from my fields or something I found growing on the sidewalk outside her place in Oakland.
Photo by Alice Che
WHY BUY LOCAL, SUSTAINABLY GROWN
FLOWERS?
"Know your farmer, know your flowers!"
Most flowers bought from stores and florists come from other countries, using huge amounts of fossil fuels to get here. Many flowers are grown in places where there are no regulations on use of pesticides and herbicides harmful to farmworkers and to the land. To learn more about the flower industry check out Amy Stewarts book, "Flower Confidential."