Features / florist
The flower farmer planting seeds of hope
Flowers have the ability not just to brighten up a room, but also your mind, believes flower farmer, Elsie Harp.
Elsie, who lives in Barton Hill, has been running her independent business, Divina Botanica, for almost one year, after leaving her previous job in a mental health charity.
The qualified mental health practitioner launched her business as an extension of ecotherapy projects she runs for young people. The 35-year-old is a true believer in the power nature can have on our mental wellbeing. She said: “Not only do flowers look beautiful but they have a powerful effect on our mood.
“Especially nowadays in the world we’re living in – having symbols of joy, hope and life around us in our homes has the power to act as fuel for hope.”
Flowers have the ability not just to lighten up a room, but also your mind, believes flower farmer, Elsie Harp – photo: Rachel Sutherland
For five years Elsie dreamed of creating a business and putting her green thumbs to work, the only thing she was missing was access to land.
The single mum, who moved from her home town in Gloucester to be closer to friends in Bristol in 2013, enrolled on a flower farming scholarship in 2021 which gave her the mentoring and tools she needed to kickstart her business.
Black South West Network also provided Elsie, who was named as one of the best Black-owned plant shops in the UK, lots of free practical support when it came to things like profit margining and marketing.
Determined to stay in the city to grow flowers and allow her business to flourish, Elsie discovered Bridge Farm in Stapleton and has been growing flowers and herbs on its soil ever since.
Divina Botanica sells a range of products from herbal teas, to flowers, herbal medicines and seeds. She added: “Having flowers in the home can be really beneficial for our well being and allow us to connect to the seasons.
“I think a lot of people, especially since the pandemic, are recognising nature connection as a cheap and effective way of supporting people’s mental health.
“Studies show that just by looking at picture of flower helps that person’s recovery time after experiencing psychological stress.
“I like to view nature connection as a social justice tool, as I know that individual healing enacts collective healing, because the more resourced we are, the more we can engage in the work of healing the planet.”
Elsie, who has “always loved being outdoors”, discovered her love for the botanical world when working in a herbal shop during her university studies. She took home any unsold leftover plants where she would nurture and grow them.
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In 2022, Elsie worked with Propyard to supply its venue with table flowers and hopes to connect to more local venues and restaurants which are on the lookout for local, fresh flowers.
Elsie dreams of branching out her botanical business and to one day open her own shop which would be incorporate a community clinic – selling fresh flowers and herbal medicine.
If you are interested in finding out more about Divina or if you’re interesting in volunteering, you can email: elsie@divinabotanica.com
Or visit her Instagram and Facebook pages.
Photos: Rachel Sutherland
Read next:
- ‘Nature gives me hope. That is something that I want to share with everyone through my work’
- New florist and event hire shop opens
- ‘Starting up my own business has helped me feel integrated within my community’
- A blooming wonderful flower business
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