the long read

Hi! I'm Chris, owner and seed sower at Bombus Botanics. My farming endeavors unfurled out of a deep appreciation for the natural world - its vast beauty, incredible diversity, and increasing fragility - balanced by a recognition of the need to urgently invest in our soil and our communities.

A degree in Environmental Law focused my attention on our flawed agricultural system and its enormously detrimental impact on the health of our ecosystems. While policy change became one of my core motivating concerns, I also witnessed firsthand the power of community to transform our broken systems from the ground up. My soil-centered work began with a handful of wonderful, food justice non-profits in Colorado. For six seasons, I helped manage urban farms and pay-what-you-can farm stands, worked closely with chefs to get more local food on menus, and grew thousands of pounds of produce for our public school lunch programs. 

Flowers naturally made their way into our fields and hearts as a haven for native pollinators and opportunity to share seasonally inspired artistic creations with others. Over the years I’ve refined my organic and natural style studying under renowned floral artists across the globe. When I am not working with my own clients, you’ll find me freelancing for designer friends and sharing local stems through a grower Collective we helped create.

2027 finds my partner and I (+our rescue pup Rufio!) in our fifth farming and design year on our little patch of Earth in Bozeman, Montana. We’ve planted over 200 peonies, native perennial gardens, plenty of trees and dozens of native shrubs on a once lifeless lawn. You’ll probably catch us in matching Carhartt jackets tidying the fields or installing florals at large events together. We’re beyond grateful for the opportunity to steward this vibrant space, to share blooms + elevated event designs with you all and for the chance to help to regenerate this land’s biodiversity, even in our small way. 

SUSTAINABLE FARMING & FLORISTRY PRACTICES

As growers in the semi-arid high desert of the West, my partner and I are constantly thinking about our places within, and impacts on, this rapidly changing environment. Adaptability is key--with water conservation, pollinator health, and soil regeneration serving as guiding principles as we continue to evolve our farming practices. Montana boasts over 450 species of native bees, so we strive to avoid all inputs that could be harmful to them, fellow humans or the larger ecosystems above and below the soil. In the field, we refrain from using any herbicides or pesticides, focusing instead on plant resiliency through proper soil care.

Within the realm of floral design, we want our blooms to not only delight the senses but to also inspire our clients to choose stunning local/sustainably grown stems over imported flowers. The massive chemical footprint of the global floral industry cannot be overstated. More than 80% of all cut flowers in the U.S. are imported from South American farms where labor and chemical usage laws are either lax or non-existent. These toxic preservatives have had devastating health effects on a predominantly female workforce and eventually find their way into florists' hands, our homes + event spaces. In our designs, we always prioritize our incredible flowers and blooms grown locally regionally, and organically. We avoid the use of preservatives and floral foam. Every vase and install mechanic is taken back our studio after an event and carefully disassembled for use in future designs, while tired flowers are composted to build up our farm’s soil for next season.