Ireland: Organic grower compares edible flowers with slow food
And Mags Riordan and husband Steve Davies feel so passionate about what they do, and are so keen to share the health benefits of their ‘power flowers’ that they are also considering a cookbook, as well as welcoming group tours to their farm.
After a little research she found she was already growing lots of munchable options, including the humble dahlia, rose, Sweet William and common marigold.
A Women in Business course, run by the West Cork Enterprise Board, literally changed everything, says Mags, ramping things up a gear and turning their efforts into a viable operation.
Mags and Steve now grow their blooms from six tunnels, and outdoors on their two-and-a-half acre farm.
Huge numbers of bees feed off their crops, which gives the family great pleasure.
Mags compares their growing ethos to the slow food movement – which ironically had a slow take-up - and urges people to be as concerned about the provenance of flowers as they are with food.
Read more at The Southern Star
