Episode 8 - Valerie Crisostomo, Black Girl Florists - Finding Comfort In Community

There is an organization specifically focused on Black women who are in floristry. It provides space to grow their businesses, increase their skill set, and collaborate. Black Girl Florists, founded by Valerie Crisostomo, is based in Atlanta. The Board of Directors has members from around the country. This year, Black Girl Florists is hosting its first conference. March 25 - 27th the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel will provide a place for anyone who loves flowers and is interested in supporting Black women in floristry.

Black Flora has arrived. This book means so much to me. Long overdue, the complied stories of choices made, healing, and simply pivoting in place is a gift to my community. Seeing others who look like you and are enjoying what they do can be quite meaningful. As the journey continues, I have found many other Black entrepreneurs that are floral farmers, florists, events specialists, and more. It is not hard to take the additional step and seek out a small Black flower farmer and support them. Taking a longer look and identifying a Black florist to use at any event would help sustain a small budding business. Black Flora has opened my eyes as an author and future flower farmer, to simply imagine the possibilities and allow nothing to get in my way.

You can order Black Flora here. I am proud of the diverse communities that will benefit from this book, as well as the other books that enlighten all of us to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion in all walks of life.

I also co-authored another book, The Urban Garden - 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City. Kathy Jentz and I compiled the concepts we have seen or experienced in our collective years of gardening in urban settings. We are grateful to offer tips to inspire or at least cause you to think about the possibilities of beautifying your space. The garden is ever-evolving, which keeps it interesting. As we celebrate Women's History month, consider supporting two local women who love to share the joys of gardening. As a native Washingtonian, I am happy that most of these ideas can be utilized from the inner city to the suburban areas. Urban gardens are everywhere, this book is a great tool for any gardener. To order, click here

Interested in a journey to see small urban gardens? Consider meeting me and Mrs. Know It All in Buffalo! We are planning a garden experience in Buffalo, New York for the 2022 Buffalo Garden Walk. If you are in the DMV - Meet me there! We have a talented tour guide, Sally Cunningham who is taking care of all the details for this small group garden experience. To get on the list for more details, send an email to teri@cottageinthecourt.com with Shuffle to Buffalo in the subject line. To find out more about the Buffalo Garden Walk, click here

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Stay Tuned the best is yet to come. I want to say THANK YOU for being patient and continuing to follow me: Https://www.cottageinthecourt.com...Instagram and Twitter: @cottageincourt...Facebook: CottageInTheCourt, and sometimes on Medium: Cottage In The Court

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Dance in the garden and celebrate as if no one is watching!! Teri, Cottage In The Court #gardencomm #playoutside