About
About
About Ducks & Daffodils
Ducks and Daffodils is a small scale flower-growing business based at Goodness Farm, just outside Strensall in York. I've been growing cut flowers for 8 years now, following a mid-life career change away from working in food retail. At the moment I'm a one person operation, simultaneously running my own business, parenting one at home child and one at university child and maintaining a pair of cats.
I believe that British flowers are fresher, better value and more sustainable than imported cut flowers. I use organic methods of production which respect wildlife and the soil itself. No harmful chemicals are used in fertilisers or pesticides, packaging is biodegradable, single use plastic is avoided and I try to always “Reduce, Recycle and Reuse”. My flowers are grown on Soil Association certified organic land.
I am not trying to compete with supermarkets or imported flowers. Ducks & Daffodils are part of the British Flowers movement which takes pride in offering something different from standard pre-made bouquets. The varieties I grow are not always available in shops or from florists; our traditional flowers have vivid colours and scents - qualities often lost through long term cold storage of imported blooms. In addition, flowers supplied by Ducks & Daffodils will be cut to order as required thus guaranteeing freshness. Every bucket and bouquet will be unique and individual to you.
I grow a variety of traditional annuals and perennials, along with foliage, herbs and grasses. Tulips, dahlias and sweet peas are probably my favourites to grow and use. I have fresh seasonal flowers, herbs and foliage available for 9 months of the year on average - generally March to early November. I have dried flowers, seedheads, grasses and evergreen foliage available over the winter months and can source fresh British grown flowers during this time.
I make up bouquets of seasonal flowers in a natural and informal 'garden gathered' style. I also provide DIY buckets of freshly picked mixed flowers and foliage to be arranged as required for weddings, funerals, parties and all other events. You are welcome to visit the site by prior appointment to discuss your needs and to see which types of flower are likely to be available for your event. I offer free delivery within the York area but can go further afield for an extra charge. Collection by yourself, a friend or family member is free!
Grower portrait photograph courtesy of Tessa Bunney
Contact
Contact
Ducks & Daffodils, c/o Goodness Farm, off Sheriff Hutton Road, York, YO32 5TP
Contact Rachel via email using the button at the foot of the page or fill in the contact form below.
Find me on social media using the icons at the foot of the page
Mobile phone: 07850 138899
Growing
Growing
Growing with Nature in Mind
‘Organic’ has become something of a buzzword over the last few years, particularly with regard to food growing. Buying ‘Organic’ is seen as nothing more than a fashionable trend encouraged by producers who just want to charge higher prices. In fact consumers who can choose to buy organic actually support the production of goods which are not treated with chemicals or contain artificial inputs. However it can easily be argued that this ‘trend’ is simply the re emergence of the traditional way of farming, growing and manufacturing goods.
Many small scale growers are trying to act in a more environmentally responsible manner by employing sustainable principles and practices throughout the whole process of growing and selling their goods. At its heart, organic growing is the care and protection of the soil and of the diversity of creatures which work together to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
Ducks & Daffodils is based at Goodness Farm, a vegetable grower who has Soil Association certified Organic status. This means that organic principles must be followed in order for the farm as a whole to keep this status. Where possible organic seed and stock plants are purchased but the range of suitable varieties is limited at present. When a particular type of flower is not available from organic sources we apply for a derogation, allowing the non-organic product to be introduced.
At Ducks & Daffodils we do not use any chemical sprays, fertilizers or growth enhancers. We do not use growing media containing peat. We try to use recycled and/or biodegradeable packaging. It goes without saying that we compost as much as possible, and that we try to encourage friendly wildlife of all kinds to maintain a balance of biodiversity. Plants are fed with organic compounds such as seaweed, nettle and comfrey. Weeds are painstakingly removed by hand, not by herbicides. Potting compost is organic peat free coir based: we use Fertile Fibre seed and potting mixes. Along with flowers for cutting we grow insect friendly poached egg plant, Californian poppy, borage, comfrey and phacelia. Flowers for sale are wrapped in unbleached paper, tied with natural raffia or twine. Organic growing can be hard work and challenging at times but we believe it is the only way to grow responsibly.
Our land is on a Soil Association certified farm so we don’t just pay lip service to the organic idea, we are bound to do as much as we can to uphold Soil Association principles.
