B5
THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2020
Photos by Aliya Hall/For the Capital Press
During the coronavirus pandemic, Pollinate Flowers was able to expand its dry fl ower off erings.
Oregon fl ower farm
grows sustainability
By ALIYA HALL
For the Capital Press
NEWBERG — When
John Peterson and Jeremi
Carroll fi rst moved to this
Willamette Valley town in
2012 to grow their farming
dream, they started with one
shovel.
Now, eight years later,
they have created a permacul-
ture oasis in their backyard.
“This has always been my
dream to have a crazy secret
fairy garden,” Peterson said.
“So there’s that part that’s
cool and turning that into a
business.”
They own Pollinate Flow-
ers, whose ethos hinges on
regenerative farming and
sustainable fl oral design.
Despite starting with pro-
duce, Pollinate rebranded in
2018 to concentrate on the
fresh and dry fl ower market,
with smaller amounts of their
produce also available for
purchase.
Carroll described Peter-
son as a “plant nerd” whose
focus is on the farming
aspect, while Carroll focuses
on the fl oral design. The bou-
quets are made using the
1,000 species of plants they
grow on their property.
Although the coronavi-
rus pandemic has heavily
impacted the fl oral industry,
where large producers out-
side the country have no mar-
ket, local fl orists have been
given a chance to shine.
“We’ve done better than
previously because people
and fl orists are looking to
us,” Peterson said. “They’re
more interested in local fl ow-
ers than in grocery store
fl owers.”
In June, Pollinate was able
to open its fi rst retail loca-
tion, although customers can
purchase online, too. Peter-
son said that last year most
of their income was coming
from wineries and other large
venues, but they’re still see-
ing an upward trend.
“We’re more profi table
this year than last year,”
Peterson said. “Growth is
happening, so despite every-
thing people still want
fl owers.”
He said that instead of
selling a couple hundred dol-
lars worth of fl owers they’re
selling closer to $50 at a time.
“Our business has grown
but we’ve worked a lot harder
for it,” Carroll explained.
COVID-19 has also
allowed them to give more
time to different aspects of
their business such as their
dry fl owers and wreath kits.
They were able to experi-
ment and set up the infra-
structure that will allow them
to extend their work season
into the holidays.
Pollinate uses plants at
different stages, like using
seed pods. Carroll said that
for arrangements there are
always certain elements that
are needed like big focal
fl owers, secondary fl owers
and fi llers.
When it comes to plant-
ing, they coordinate with the
trends in the fl ora industry
and plant the color schemes
they want for the upcoming
year.
“I accommodate that with
things I like,” Carroll said.
“I’m big on natural, organic
design and interesting green
foliage and textures.”
Beyond everything that’s
above ground, Peterson also
makes sure protecting and
amending the soil is import-
ant. They add limestone or
kelp meal as well as test
their soil every year so they
can make a custom blend for
their soil.
Pollinate is planning on
branching into making essen-
tial oils from their plants
as well as starting a fl ower
co-op. As the business con-
tinues to grow, Peterson said
it’s rewarding to be sustain-
able economically as well.
“You have to make
enough to not just keep it
going but pay yourself so
you have an income to have
a comfortable life, or you
won’t be able to do it very
long,” he explained. “It’s
rewarding to see it come to
fruition.”
John Peterson and Jerami Carroll are the owners of Pollinate Flowers in Newberg. Peterson
specializes in farming and Carroll focuses on fl oral design.
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