Whit McClure at the Slow Flowers Summit 2019

In April 2019, I met up with today’s encore guest, flora artist Whit McClure of Los Angeles-based Whit Hazen. Studio floral designer Whit McClure moved to Los Angeles in 2015 and almost immediately dove into the floral community there.

Her introduction to flower farming and floral design is rooted in connections made through food justice and the local culinary community in Washington, D.C. Whit spent years after college working on farms, in community gardens, and in the nonprofit world, teaching folks of all ages and walks of life how to grow their own food.  Eventually she found floral design as the perfect blend of working with plants, crafting beauty, and collaborating with others, while remaining committed to social justice in her free time. Ever-inspired by nature’s abundant beauty and driven to respect and protect its resources, Whit Hazen is motivated to bring more beauty in the world for others.

I hosted an IG Live conversation with Whit today, September 13th, so check it out @slowflowerssociety -- and you'll find all of my Slow Flowers Podcast 10th anniversary Live Chats in the archives there.

Here are links to Whit's past Slow Flowers' appearances:

Florists' Review December 2018 article about Whit McClure of Whit Hazen

Whit McClure: Slow Flowers Journal in Florists' Review (December 2018)Download

Whit McClure, featured in Slow Flowers Journal Volume One (2020)

Whit-McClure_Slow Flowers Journal Volume One (2020)Download

https://vimeo.com/368091063
Watch: Whit McClure at the 2019 Slow Flowers Summit (Capstone Presentation)

Thank you to our Sponsors

This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers.

Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers. Farmgirl Flowers delivers iconic burlap-wrapped bouquets and lush, abundant arrangements to customers across the U.S., supporting U.S. flower farms by purchasing more than $10 million dollars of U.S.-grown fresh and seasonal flowers and foliage annually. Discover more at farmgirlflowers.com.

Thank you to CalFlowers, the leading floral trade association in California, providing valuable transportation and other benefits to flower growers and the entire floral supply chain in California and 48 other states. The Association is a leader in bringing fresh cut flowers to the U.S. market and in promoting the benefits of flowers to new generations of American consumers. Learn more at cafgs.org.

Thank you to Store It Cold, creators of the revolutionary CoolBot, a popular solution for flower farmers, studio florists and farmer-florists.  Save $1000s when you build your own walk-in cooler with the CoolBot and an air conditioner.  Don't have time to build your own?  They also have turnkey units available. Learn more at storeitcold.com   

Our next sponsor thank-you goes to Red Twig Farms. Based in Johnstown, Ohio, Red Twig Farms is a family-owned farm specializing in peonies, daffodils, tulips and branches, a popular peony-bouquet-by-mail program and their Spread the Hope Campaign where customers purchase 10 tulip stems for essential workers and others in their community. Learn more at redtwigfarms.com.

The celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Slow Flowers Podcast continues today as we look back at the sixth season! Our audio storytelling resonates with so many listeners -- people like you who love local, seasonal, and sustainable flowers and who are joining in the Slow Flowers Movement as members, supporters, and allies!

Today is the 6th Encore Episode of our retrospective to highlight one episode from each year of the past decade and bring the best of the Slow Flowers Podcast to you. If you're a longtime listener,