When we think about Chicago, lots of things come to mind—but not always a vibrant floral industry. It wasn’t always so; in the early 20th century this was known as “The First City of Flowers”—a distinction made possible by a combination of factors, such as being located in the center of the country, having access to a railroad hub, and counting on plenty of labor and coal to fuel greenhouses. Even though things have changed since then, local flower farmers Quilen Blackwell and Cornelia McNamara believe we still have all it takes to reclaim that title. With two different ventures, they both share a love for repurposing, regenerating, and beautifying previously neglected lots. They also pivoted their businesses during the pandemic, since events were canceled and florists weren’t on demand. Despite that, thanks to new strategies such as CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) subscriptions, they found greater success now than in the previous years.
Chicago Eco House has been so successful that they already sold out their CSA membership for this year ($250 for six bouquets, paid in advance). They offer blooms such as tulips, daffodils, Persian lilies, hyacinths, China asters, zinnias, sunflowers, and peonies. By summer they intend to add more products to their online shop, featuring items made in their community—those include recycled greeting cards, ceramics made from broken glass bottles, and honey; Christmas wreaths will be available in the fall. “We can’t offer flowers year-round, but we always have something for sale to keep our youth employed,” says Blackwell. Besides having a high social impact, their flowers are produced without any pesticides or chemicals—an exception in the environmentally degrading flower industry.
chicagoecohouse.org
RSouthside Bloomssouthsideblooms.com
RCornelia McNamaracorneliamcnamara.com
