saltwater flora
Hi! I'm Erin. Flower farmer, floral designer,
ecologist & entrepreneur.
Saltwater Flora is a small regenerative flower farm nestled between the Salish sea and the Tantalus mountain range in beautiful Squamish, British Columbia.
I call it 'my little patch of pretty' and adore sharing this beautiful oasis with my community. Sitka Farms has been been so gracious to share their property and I can't thank them enough. Look them up!
For six years, my boutique floral design studio and flower farm has been known as 'a fox in the flowers'.
In a world turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic, my little operation was forced to evolve, refocus and settle into life as something new.
Last year, I obtained my Organic Master Gardener and Horticulture Specialist Certificate through Royal Roads University and dove deep into learning about no-till flower farming and concepts around regenerative and ecological farming. My other career as an ecologist and wildlife conservation biologist has always had me obsessed with sustainability so this was a natural evolution - and a step to more firmly solidify one of my primary business core values.
I've pressed pause on offering wedding and design services for now, but am elated to expand and continue with flower farming and workshop development
Saltwater Flora is a small regenerative flower farm nestled between the Salish sea and the Tantalus mountain range in beautiful Squamish, British Columbia.
I call it 'my little patch of pretty' and adore sharing this beautiful oasis with my community. Sitka Farms has been been so gracious to share their property and I can't thank them enough. Look them up!
Hi! I'm Erin. Flower farmer, floral designer,
ecologist & entrepreneur.
Hi! I'm Erin. Flower Farmer, florist, ecologist & entrepreneur.
Why Saltwater?
For six years, my boutique floral design studio and flower farm has been known as 'a fox in the flowers'.
In a world turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic, my little operation was forced to evolve, refocus and settle into life as something new.
So last year, I obtained my Organic Master Gardener and Horticulture Specialist Certificate through Royal Roads University and dove deep into learning about no-till flower farming and concepts around regenerative and ecological farming. My other career as an ecologist and wildlife conservation biologist has always had me obsessed with sustainability so this was a natural evolution - and a firmer solidification of one of my primary business core values.
Hi! I'm Erin. Flower farmer, floral designer,
ecologist & entrepreneur.
Why Saltwater?
"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." -Isak Dinesen
Amidst what seemed like endless travel restrictions, my partner and I spent more time by the sea than ever, exploring our beautiful local coastlines and finding so much peace there. On tough days and through teary moments, I lean on the sea and she kindly offers solace. Every time.
Further, I went from a mulit-plot urban growing model to building a new farm in the Squamish Valley. Let's just say sweat was the key component to pulling this off - tears, too, if we're being real!
Last, I recently discovered the power of sea minerals as a nutritive soil application. This, in addition to my super special kelp and liquid fish blends, undisputedly links my flowers to the salty sea.
Simply put, it feels right to pay homage to salt water. I'm loving how our new name looks and feels and I hope you do, too!
For six years, my boutique floral design studio and flower farm has been previously known as
In a world turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic, my little operation was forced to evolve, refocus and settle into life as something new.
So last year, I obtained my Organic Master Gardener and Horticulture Specialist Certificate through Royal Roads University and dove deep into learning about no-till flower farming and concepts around regenerative and ecological farming. My other career as an ecologist and wildlife conservation biologist has always had me obsessed with sustainability so this was a natural evolution - and a firmer solidification of one of my primary business core values.
IIn a nutshell, regenerative farming is an approach that uses organic, no-till and sustainable practices in order to maintain and restore local ecological systems.
Its main purpose is to increase soil organic matter and biodiversity. Healthy rich soils allow plants better access to and uptake of all the nutrients they need to thrive. Fungal networks (mycorrhizal fungi) then become vast and strong teeming with beneficial microorganisms. All of this micro-scale bio-activity unlocks nutrients held with the soil matrix. Mulching with straw and leaves, adding compost and manure, applying ferments to soil and foliage, all aid in supporting and building soil microbial and fungal systems.
Not only does this approach help the yield and quality of crops, the resultant healthy soil microbes sequester carbon from the atmosphere and hold it in the soil. One of the biggest sources of CO2 release comes from over-tilling and soil loss. By taking a no-till or even low-till approach to farming, sequestered carbon stays safely stored beneath our feet and is never released back into the air as CO2.
I love to imagine this little farm operating like a tiny carbon capture system doing its small but important part in slowing climate change.
What is 'Renenerative Farming'?
This quote is a favourite of mine and resonates deeply - now, more than ever...
Why Saltwater?
What is 'Regenerative Farming'?
Amidst what has felt like endless travel restrictions, my partner and I spent more time than ever by the sea exploring our beautiful local coastlines and finding so much peace there. On tough days and through teary moments, I lean on the sea and she kindly offers solace. Every time.
Further, I went from a mulit-plot urban growing model to building a new farm in the Squamish Valley. Let's just say sweat was the key component to pulling this off - tears, too, if we're being real!
Last, I recently discovered the power of sea minerals as a nutritive soil application. This, in addition to my super special kelp and liquid fish blends, undisputedly links my flowers to the salty sea.
Simply put, it feels right to pay homage to salt water. I'm loving how our new name looks and feels, and I hope you do, too!
"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea."
-Isak Dinesen
In a nutshell, regenerative farming is an approach that uses organic, no-till and sustainable practices in order to maintain and restore local ecological systems.
Its main purpose is to increase soil organic matter and biodiversity creating a healthy rich substrate that allows plants to better take up all the nutrients they need to thrive. Fungal networks (mycorrhizal fungi) become vast and strong teeming with beneficial microorganisms. All of this micro-scale bio-activity unlocks nutrients held with the soil matrix. Mulching with straw and leaves, adding compost and manure, applying ferments to soil and foliage, all aid in supporting and building soil microbial and fungal systems.
Not only does this approach help the yield and quality of crops, the resultant healthy soil microbes sequester carbon from the atmosphere and hold it in the soil. One of the biggest sources of CO2 release comes from over-tilling and soil loss. By taking a no-till or even low-till approach to farming, sequestered carbon stays safely stored beneath our feet and is never released back into the air as CO2.
I love to imagine this little farm operating like a tiny carbon capture system doing its small but important part in slowing climate change.
