Ingrid Koivukangas of Alchemy Farm Flowers
Today's first guest has been on my "wish list" for a few years, basically since she joined Slow Flowers and I became familiar with her business Alchemy Farm Flowers. I'm so happy today to introduce you to Ingrid Koivukangas, environmental artist, flower farmer, floral designer, educator and innovator.
Alchemy Farm on Salt Spring Island, B.C.
As you will hear in our conversation, Alchemy Farm Flowers is based on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia, a destination that's sandwiched between Vancouver Island to the west and the U.S. San Juan Islands to the east. It's reached via car ferry or float plane and I am mesmerized by the videos and photographs I've seen on Salt Spring Tourism's web site. Meeting Ingrid "virtually" only makes me more eager to visit her in person.
Welcome to Alchemy Farm
Here's more about Alchemy Farm and its owner:
Alchemy Farm
is situated on ten acres in the beautiful Burgoyne Fulford Valley on Salt
Spring Island. The property was once part of the historic 200-acre George and
Kate Furness homestead, first settled in the 1880s.
Alchemy Farm is owned by award-winning environmental artist, Ingrid Koivukangas, and Robin Logan, a retired UK Homeopath and woodsmith. Both are creatives, healers and dreamers. The couple married on the Winter Solstice and they believe in love and magic – hence their chosen farm name: Alchemy Farm. Ingrid and Robin's stewardship of this magical property is rooted in their deep love for the Earth and Nature, of becoming self-sufficient, living in harmony with all beings and providing safe habitat for bees and pollinators.
The studio at Alchemy Farm where Ingrid hosts classes and workshops.
From the Alchemy Farm fields there is a spectacular view of Mount Maxwell towering over the Fulford Valley. Eagles circle overhead. Choruses of frogs serenade from the many ponds. The original hedgerows, planted by early settlers, still mark the boundaries of the property along the eastern and western edges. The orchard is rich with apple, pear, plum and cherry trees. Blackberries drape over decaying fences. The land is awake with potential as its stewards continue to create a sustainable flower farm, an oasis of healing.
The farm produces gorgeous flowers in tune with the seasons, grown without chemicals or pesticides to provide safe homes and food for pollinators—plus flowers for humans to enjoy.
Young visitors are enchanted by the Music Garden at Alchemy Farm, where they can listen to the bioenergy of flowers (note the earbuds!)
Ingrid teaches flower workshops to businesses, groups and private students, incorporating botanicals harvested directly from her gardens. She created the Alchemy Flower Music Garden Tour as an environmental art exhibit that connects visitors to the music created from the bioenergy of flowers! It's a magical experience. Those who visit the seasonal Farm Stand can shop for flowers, jams, fruits and veggies, from May to September. Alchemy Farm's online shop offers dahlia tubers, seeds and other products.
Florals grown and designed by Ingrid Koivukangas of Alchemy Farm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK6dL-cqiSM&feature=youtu.be
Enjoy this tour of Alchemy Farm's Sound & Music Garden
Find and follow Alchemy Farm at these social place:
Alchemy Farm Flowers on Facebook
Alchemy Farm Flowers on Instagram
Alchemy Farm Flowers' new Bee Garden School
Erin McMullen of Rain Drop Farms.
Next up, our first interview with one of seven regional directors who are part of the ASCFG leadership -- we'll be recording conversations with all of these folks throughout the coming year. I hope to record as many as possible in person, but we'll have to see how and where my travels in 2020 take me.
Please meet return guest Erin McMullen of Rain Drop Farms. Erin and her husband Aaron Gaskey are veteran flower farmers in Philomath, Oregon, near Corvallis.