| It seems no matter where you go now days you | | | | issue, it became apparent the reason no one was |
| can’t escape the fact that things are | | | | really making an effort is that a large chunk of |
| changing in the environment. A lot of people | | | | consumers simply weren’t aware of the |
| appear to be constantly talking about global | | | | issue! Importing has become common practice |
| warming and the damage we are doing to the | | | | among florists and it’s not always cheaper. |
| world by driving our cars or leaving a light on for | | | | So I thought about all this and came to the |
| longer than needed. For the most part, I agree. I | | | | conclusion that we should make consumers aware |
| personally haven’t done anywhere near | | | | and push locally grown flowers. This not only |
| enough research of my own to come to a solid | | | | means better quality and less pollution, but also |
| conclusion on where I stand on the issue. I | | | | supports the local economy a lot more. I |
| don’t completely understand some of the | | | | mentioned to my work the idea of ‘Flower |
| terms bounded around, and beside, science | | | | Miles’, a simple indicator to let customers |
| thought the world was flat not that long ago so I | | | | know that the flowers are local (or not local as |
| don’t want to rely to strongly on it. This is | | | | the case may be). Eventually Clowance Nurseries |
| complicated more by the amount of theories | | | | implemented my idea on their website, and guess |
| about the causes of global warming that seem to | | | | what? It was a success. They had a lot of good |
| rely on the earth being millions of years old, when | | | | feedback and I believe it’s still there to this |
| I personally believe in a young earth, but | | | | day. |
| that’s a whole other story. My lack of | | | | The reason I like telling people that story is the |
| knowledge put aside, I think anything | | | | employees at Clowance were a bit like me when |
| ‘greener’ or | | | | it came to knowledge on global warming. They |
| ‘pollution-free’ or | | | | didn’t know much, but knew that anything |
| ‘recyclable’ has got to be a good | | | | that supports the local community and reduces |
| thing. | | | | carbon emissions by cutting out a large chunk of |
| I got my first part time job when I was 16 at a | | | | transport has got to be a good thing, and their |
| place called Clowance Nurseries, a medium sized | | | | customers agree. |
| company that buy/sell flowers in all ways you can | | | | I really love Cornwall. It was where I was raised |
| imagine located in Cornwall. I still work there | | | | as a child and I have fond memories of going to |
| every so often when I’m not studying. I | | | | the beach, biking all over the local woods and just |
| remember a year or so back mentioning global | | | | generally enjoying the countryside around me. |
| warming to them and the fact that some of their | | | | The thought that I could be playing my small part |
| flowers were imported, via either aeroplane or | | | | in damaging this for future generations |
| ship, often from places like Holland. I | | | | doesn’t sit well with me, but it’s not |
| couldn’t understand all the reasons why. | | | | always easy to change things straight away. For |
| Surely customers would rather buy flowers that | | | | example, my house doesn’t have solar |
| are locally grown, freshly cut from the | | | | panels, we can’t afford them, so I |
| greenhouse for their order. Or would customers | | | | don’t feel bad about it. But I could ride my |
| rather have flowers that are mass-grown in a | | | | bike to more places rather driving a car, so I try |
| different country, bundled into a box, driven to | | | | to. |
| the dock, loaded into a container, shipped to the | | | | My message is simple really. A lot of people talk |
| UK, unloaded, driven to the dispatch point, then | | | | about global warming. No one really understands |
| moved into a small lorry and driven down to the | | | | what’s going on, but we can’t |
| nursery where they are unpacked and bundled up | | | | afford to be ignorant. Besides, even if global |
| ready for their order? I know what makes more | | | | warming turned out to be a myth, I don’t |
| sense to me. | | | | think anyone would regret the steps they took to |
| Haven spoken to some more florists about the | | | | making the world a healthier place. |