Meet Sidekick Flowers!

If you’ve visited us this year, some of you many have noticed a few more blooms out in our fields. We’re delighted that our farm manager—Seth Gowans—has started his own flower business, Sidekick Flowers, leasing half an acre right here on the Bees N Blooms property to grow organic flowers. Seth continues part-time here at Bees N Blooms, helping to plan and maintain our pollinator-friendly flower arcs just downhill from the labyrinth.

Seth has some amazing blooms this year, and you can find his beautiful bouquets available for sale at our Farm Stand on Fridays and Sundays through Labor Day weekend. He also sells wholesale through San Francisco Flower Mart, as well as direct to florists. If you need flowers for your special event, send him an email. And while visiting the farm, be sure to stop by his flower field to check out what he currently has blooming!

Caitlyn, our Operations Assistant, recently interviewed Seth about his business and vision. Excerpts from the interview are below.

Q: Where does your passion for farming come from?

When considering my initial passion for farming, I would say it stems from my deep desire to learn how to integrate agriculture within a sustainable boundary, between the land and human community. Agriculture will always be a necessity, and it’s how we practice agriculture that makes all the difference: it can either harm or enrich the land. I strive to be on the side of history that stewards and works within the landscape to regenerate and restore the environment, while providing people with organic, floral beauty. Many flowers sold in big box stores are imported and shipped from long distances, and are grown and treated with heavy amounts of pesticides and preservatives. This ultimately poses grave risks to people and planet alike. My ultimate goal is to provide organically grown flowers to the community, helping to increase awareness and access to healthier flowers for all to enjoy. I sell to Sonoma Flower Mart, local florists and those who share the vision of non-imported flowers.

Q: How does your vision meet the reality of running a successful business?

I realize the challenge of farming in a way that is both ecologically sustainable and financially viable; it’s a struggle when there’s a bottom-line. Changing the system will not occur overnight, nevertheless I am doing all that I can, in partnership with others, to make the world a healthier place one step at a time. There’s nothing better than a fresh, organic and local bouquet of seasonal flowers. To me, it represents that culmination of hundreds of hours of work, in the name of service to the change that I wish to see in the world.

Q: What’s the inspiration behind the name of your business, Sidekick Flowers?

The name of my business is two-fold: on one hand it represents my real-life sidekick pup, Mika, and on the other it represents my partnership with owner of Bees N Blooms, Susan Kegley. Susan has been my mentor since day one, helping to provide me with the foundation I needed to be able to create my own flower business. I couldn’t do it without her! It takes a village of symbiotic relationships to do this work of regenerative agriculture. I always knew I wanted to have my own business. When the opportunity presented itself at Bees N Blooms for me to take on the cut flower production, I felt ready and supported to take that next step forward.

Q: What do you love the most about flower farming?

I genuinely love this work and am delighted by the seasonal changes; each week there is something new to witness and work with. My absolute favorite part of this work is the entire process: witnessing the seed, flower, harvest, and delivery into grateful hands. Flowers are like poems; they can mean so many different things for all people – hope, joy, love, remembrance, gratitude, forgiveness, appreciation, and much more! I believe that flowers will never go out of season, as long as there is healthy habitat for them to grow, and people to appreciate them.

What I am most excited about right now is my heirloom Chrysanthemums! They are getting me through the stretch of summer, providing me with something to look forward to as the season comes to a wrap. To me, it is one of those flowers that represents the last hurrah of beauty for the season.

For more general information about Seth, please visit our About Staff page.