Roses are red, violets are blue, conventional means pesticides, harmful for me and you. Conventional flowers are so last season. That's the new term for saying made with pesticides, which is the "normal" way of doing things, we guess.

The truth is, typical commercial flower production is a scary thing. Most flowers sold in the US come from countries like Ecuador, Columbia, and Mexico. Since it is not a food product, there really aren't limits to the amount of pesticides used, causing great harm to the environment and especially the workers in the field. Even worse, during peak season like Valentine's Day, many young women are forced to work 18 hour days at poverty wages.

You can make a difference with your pocketbook on this issue. Don't buy flowers that aren't certified organic. Instead, try a company like Organic Bouquet. Better yet, grow your own flowers, or give flower seeds - it's a gift from the heart!

Rebecca says: Don't feel like you have to always give the same ol' flowers and candy for Valentine's Day. We're running through the green options (ohh, I worked in the name!) on the traditional gifts for Valentine's Day, but feel free to get creative with it! Your special someone will appreciate the time you put into it.

Resources:

Pesticide Action Network article

Veriflora Certification

Unchain Your Heart