A budding enterprise

Taking the time to stop and smell the roses is an adage that feels particularly poignant in today’s world. At Rebecka Keeling’s Slow Blooms pick-your-own flower farm in Matakana, you can do just that.

The path to starting Rebecka Keeling’s pick-your-own-flower business was not exactly a bed of roses. A deal on a lifestyle block in Warkworth, which was supposed to be the start of a more slow-paced life, one where Keeling and her husband Reuben could spend more time with their kids, Ridley (11) and Rio (6), fell apart due to a rogue property developer. Originally from Sweden, Keeling had already long been thinking about sustainability and taking on more earth-friendly habits by the time the couple, who met in New Zealand some 15 years prior, decided to relocate back here from Stockholm. The excommunications manager had even taken a course in Sustainable Development at Stockholm University. And even while the property woes here were creating havoc in their lives, Keeling managed to complete a NZ Horticulture Certificate, followed by a Permaculture Design Certificate. “I did a lot of container growing in our rental, joined the local Greenswap [where locals exchange home grown produce], and got to know like-minded locals, learning a lot about growing and animal husbandry,” says the 38-year-old on how she kept her spirits up during this time.

All the setbacks righted themselves when the family eventually moved into their own home and she finally had the energy and financial stability to take on a long-awaited new project: a pick-your-own flower farm like the ones back in Stockholm. “My vision was to create a calming and healing space to enjoy flowers grown in their natural environment and season, without the use of harsh sprays; safe for everyone”, says Keeling. She also wanted a place where people who might not have their own garden – “like myself over the past few years” – could still wander around and get close to nature, taking the time to smell the flowers, and pick what they fancied, “whether it be a bucket full of bright blooms, or just a small sweet-smelling posy of sweetpeas, or some herbs for your cooking or herbal teas”. And so began Slow Blooms.

Permaculture is at the core of Rebecka’s business philosophy, the basic pillars being “care for the earth”, “care for people” and “fair share”. Practically, what that looks like are initiatives such as zero waste, value diversity and, all importantly, caring for the soil. “What we’re trying to achieve is to feed and look after the beneficial microorganisms and fungus that

Slow Blooms is part of Matakana Greenswap which meets to exchange homegrown produce including flowers.

Slow Blooms flower farm is a perfect spot to take some time out and smell the flowers.

A lifelong dream Rebecka Keeling had always wanted to start a pick-your-own flower farm like the ones in Stockholm.

Sustainability first Keeling is keen to educate people on the importance of seasonal picking and buying.

Closing the loop – this old sweetpea vine will help build a new life in its next stage as compost or mulch.

The open-centered dahlia hasn’t got the longest vase life but it still has a place at Slow Blooms due to its popularity with the bees and butterlies.

Cosmos is a wonderful flower for bouquets and reminds Keeling of her mum.

Keeling tries to avoid plastics and has found most of her baskets at secondhand stores.