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Farm Yarns

Luen's Flowers

Growing flowers that are good for you, on Bundjalung Country

It’s nice to now that the flowers we have here are good for you - not bad for you - which you’d think would be all flowers but it’s not true!

– Luen

Floristry is an industry synonymous with joy and beauty, playing a central role in celebrating life’s most cherished moments. Yet, beneath this vibrant surface, the cut flower industry mirrors the challenges we’ve come to recognise in industrial agriculture. Hidden within those petals lies a story of heavy chemical use—fertilisers, herbicides, and pesticides that sustain large-scale production. Here in Australia, the demand outstrips local supply, pushing us to import over $70 million worth of cut flowers. These imports, however, come at an unseen cost—drenched in chemicals, shipped under strict biosecurity protocols, and prioritised for ‘quality’ that favours longevity over true sustainability.

Even when locally grown, the story remains much the same. Large-scale flower farms often depend on controlled environments, costly infrastructure, and the same cocktail of chemicals, driven by a relentless focus on productivity and profit. Biodiversity and soil health are sidelined, much like in conventional agriculture, as we chase out-of-season blooms for convenience.

But then there’s Luen.

Luen farms her flowers differently. Following permaculture principles, she works with the land and the seasons, growing her bee-friendly blooms without relying on heavy inputs or chemicals. She’s not just supplying beauty to her community; she’s doing it in a way that supports healthy soils, encourages biodiversity, conserves water, and even captures carbon. These practices fall under the umbrella of regenerative agriculture – a way of growing flowers (and food!) that is better for humans and better for the planet.

And as for Luen herself—well, she’s as bright as the blooms she tends to. Ambitious, thoughtful, and effervescent, she brings joy and vitality to all the spaces she inhabits. By day, she brings beauty to her community through her flowers. By night, she transforms spaces as a beloved DJ, lighting up dance floors with the same vibrancy she brings to her fields.

Luen’s story is a reminder that when we put the land first, beauty follows naturally. Watch Now.

The first thing you do when you get flowers is smell them, and with my flowers, you can do that! But when you smell flowers grown with chemicals, you’re putting your face into a pile full of chemicals! It’s just so counterintuitive.

Luen

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This Farm Yarn is brought to you by Alsahwa Estate, an eco-lifestyle destination on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, inspired by nature and dedicated to fostering a thriving and regenerative future.

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