Blooming with Purpose: District 2 Floral Studio's Journey to Eco-friendly Floristry
Meet Holly Lukasiewicz
Flowers have a way of brightening our lives, but what if they could also help heal the planet? That’s exactly what Holly is doing—one thoughtfully arranged, sustainably sourced bouquet at a time. From her roots as a public school art teacher to becoming a trailblazer in eco-friendly floral design, Holly has found the perfect way to merge creativity, education, and environmental responsibility.
I (Samantha!) had the absolute joy of sitting down with Holly to chat about how she’s redefining what it means to be a florist—ditching harmful industry norms like floral foam and synthetic dyes, championing local farmers, and proving that stunning arrangements don’t have to come at the expense of the Earth. Her approach isn’t just about flowers; it’s about reshaping an industry to be more ethical, regenerative, and in harmony with nature.
Get ready to dive into Holly’s world of sustainable floristry, where every bloom tells a story of care, consciousness, and creativity!
About the Business
What inspired you to start a sustainable florist business?
I shifted from a career as a public school art educator to floral design during the pandemic, driven by a desire for a meaningful intersection for my identities as an artist, educator, and environmentalist. I focus on sustainable, low-waste floral design practices, creating designs that return to the Earth as compost, supporting healthier environmental and social ecosystems through all decisions.
How do you define sustainability in the floral industry?
Sustainability in floristry addresses the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the commercial cut flower industry, particularly the environmental toll of international supply chains. By supporting local, seasonal flowers and reducing waste, we can create beauty while being kind to the Earth.
I align with Celine Semaan-Vernon's view that “all we create returns to the Earth as food or poison,” meaning everything we produce either nourishes or harms the environment. We can shift from harmful waste ("poison"/landfill) to practices that nourish ecosystems ("food"/compost).
Sustainable floristry practices include:
Supporting local and domestic farmers through the Slow Flower Movement, focusing on seasonal and nearby sourcing.
Reducing packaging waste by eliminating plastic picks, wraps, synthetic ribbons, and balloons.
Avoiding single-use floral foam/Oasis, which breaks down into toxic microplastics.
Composting excess stem and foliage with commercial composters like Hillside Solutions or OmaGrow (Note: Flora cannot be synthetically dyed, painted or glittered if it is to be composted at a commercial facility.).
Reusing post-event florals creatively, such as partnering with Second Chance Bouquets.
Reusing packaging, like flower boxes for storage, and sharing excess rubber bands with farm partners.
Recycling paper and plastic packaging through municipal services and using ReNew “orange” bags for hard-to-recycle plastics.
These practices also support climate resiliency.
What sets your shop apart from traditional florists when it comes to sustainability?
During Nebraska’s growing season, I source flora from local farmers, andAmerican/domestic growers during dormant seasons. The Slow Flower Movement, much like the Slow Food Movement, aims to connect us with our local seasons and their unique abundance. This approach:
Reduces the carbon footprint of transporting flowers.
Ensures safe and fair working conditions for those involved in the production process.
Supports the financial stability of local growers who practice more regenerative farming.
To minimize waste, I use pre-loved vessels, avoid single-use plastics, and refrain from altering flora with bleach, dye, or paint. Excess stem and foliage trimmings are composted through a local commercial compost facility, Hillside Solutions, to support local circular farming systems.
Each client receives an arrangement with an ingredient list of the flora in the design and the farm partners from whom they were sourced.
I also offer pressed flower services to commemorate special occasions and offer personalized workshops around Omaha and Lincoln.
In 2024 I established a social impact giving partnership as an act of reciprocity, with a portion of sales being shared as a voluntary land tax with the Honor Native Land Fund (HNLF).
Sourcing Practices
Where do you source your flowers and materials?
I source flowers from my garden and approximately 25 local farms within a 70-mile radius, many are part of the local flower collective, Flatland Floral Collective. In Winter, I use dried flora (pods, grasses). As needed, I source fresh-cut flora through a wholesaler and work closely with the sales team to purchase from American/domestic farmers.
How do you ensure the flowers you use are sustainably grown and harvested?
Supply chains can be rather opaque, so I try my best to understand where the flowers are grown and what their working conditions include. These strategies help support sustainable social equity and regenerative farming practices:
Plant a garden from which to harvest and include in your designs.
Source direct from local farmers and/or through the local flower collective, Flatland Floral Collective. Growing relationships with farmers allows for open dialogue about their growing practices.
Request American/domestic grown options from your wholesale representative.
Look for the “Certified American Grown” insignia on floral packaging to ensure flowers were domestically grown.
Look for the “Rainforest Alliance Certified” insignia on floral packaging. This designation means an international farm is working to fight deforestation and climate change while addressing poor working conditions and promoting higher wages and gender equality.
Do you prioritize local or seasonal flowers? Why is this important?
To minimize my carbon footprint, I first source from our personal garden and local farm partners, supplementing with flowers from American/domestic farmers. My goal is to co-create with what nature offers each season, aligning with the Slow Flowers Movement. This movement counters the past 30 years of U.S. policies that fostered dependency on foreign-grown flowers, promoting transparency about where flowers are grown, who grows them, and their environmental and ethical practices.
The Andean Trade Preference Act of 1991 incentivized South American farmers to grow flowers instead of coca, creating an industry reliant on imports. Today, only 20% of cut flowers sold in the U.S. are grown domestically, with the majority grown as commodity crops from factory farms in Ecuador, Colombia, and Kenya. These flowers are often grown with harmful chemicals, under poor working conditions, and with a significant carbon footprint due to transportation and refrigeration. Investigative journalist Amy Stewart's book, "Flower Confidential" explores these practices.
Prioritizing local, seasonal flowers recognizes the impact of commercial farming on land, ecosystems, and workers, and promotes supporting healthier, sustainable practices with our dollars.
Sustainable Techniques
What are some eco-friendly techniques you use in your arrangements?
I avoid floral foam and synthetic materials, opting for natural, reusable structures like “grass burritos” made of chicken wire, grass and moss. I use natural fibers for ribbons and plant-based paper for cards. I also avoid flowers that have been bleached, dyed, or painted since artificially altering an organic item (compostable) with a synthetic substance (paint), makes it landfill-bound.
How do you handle waste, such as floral scraps or unused materials?
I use a 5-bin waste disposal for landfill diversion:
Compost Bin: Excess stem trimmings and foliage are placed in a compost bin. As a subscriber to Hillside Solutions’ Compost Club, this offers me access to empty my compost bin at any of the community drop-sites available around Omaha, which are then regularly gathered by Hillside Solutions and taken to their commercial compost site.
Reuse Bin: This bin is for paper or plastic packaging that I can reuse, such as plastic flower bouquet wraps, bags, rubber bands, or twisty ties.
Recycle Bin: I place plastic and paper that can be recycled as part of Omaha’s municipal curbside recycling services.
ReNew “orange” Bag: I purchase the ReNew “orange” bags at HyVee and place hard-to-recycle flimsy plastics in this bag, such as torn bouquet wraps and plastic flower box banding.
Landfill: Any waste items that don’t apply to any of the above mentioned bins go in the landfill bin, which after all is said and done, is the bin that gets the least!
Do you use alternatives to floral foam, plastics, or other non-biodegradable materials?
Yes, I avoid floral foam, plastic packaging, and synthetic ribbons. I also avoid flora that has been synthetically altered with paint, dye or bleach. I use paper wraps, plant-dyed natural fiber ribbons, and repurposed materials like grass stems for card picks.
Some natural alternatives to floral foam that are gaining in popularity include Oshun Pouch, Agra Wool and bio-based PHOAM.
Challenges and Solutions
What challenges have you faced in maintaining sustainable practices?
Sourcing fresh flowers during our dormant growing season can be challenging, but I view it as a creative opportunity to design with what’s available through a more sustainable lens.
I also don’t offer design aesthetics that might be considered trendy, such as spray painting flowers to match a palette, or using synthetically bleach foliage. Sometimes I may not be the best fit for clients who are looking for a specific image that doesn’t align with the sustainable design services I offer, and that’s okay!
How do you educate customers about the importance of sustainable flowers?
I promote my sustainability values on my website, social media, and through informational cards included with each arrangement. I also teach workshops and share resources to help others understand the importance of eco-friendly floral practices.
What do you wish more people understood about the effort behind sustainable floristry?
I wish more people understood that sustainable floristry is about progress, not perfection. Small choices, like avoiding floral foam (Oasis) or single-use plastics and composting, can have a big impact.
By supporting the Slow Flowers movement and making mindful purchasing decisions, consumers can help drive change. It’s important to recognize that adopting eco-conscious practices is a journey, and we should allow grace as we work together towards a more sustainable future.
Broader Impact
How do your practices benefit the environment or your local community?
Environmental sustainability: Locally-grown cut flowers require fewer resources, less fossil fuel, and less packaging, reducing transport time, chemicals, and plastic. Many local farms practice regenerative methods, including no-till, no-spray, and organic techniques inspired by Indigenous land stewardship. District 2 Floral Studio diverts 90% of its waste from local landfills.
Social sustainability: Sourcing locally allows me to build relationships with farmers who deeply care about sustainable practices and the challenges of growing in the Midwest. As a floral designer, I aim to reconnect people with nature and the seasons. A portion of sales is donated to the Honor Native Land Fund (HNLF) to support Indigenous land restoration.
Economic sustainability: Supporting local, often femme-run farms keeps money in the community, fostering economic sustainability for small farmers.
Have you partnered with any local growers, businesses, or organizations to further sustainability?
I’ve partnered with Benson Bounty to offer floral design workshops, including a tour of their circular farming practices, highlighting environmental, social, and economic impacts in design. Similar experiences have been provided to groups like Girl Scouts, Duchesne Academy, Lauritzen Gardens, and Yoga Together.
I collected over 60 signatures urging the Cathedral Flower Festival planning committee to adopt foam-free and landfill-diversion practices.
As a member of the Slow Flowers Society, I engage in online conferences and meet-ups to connect with global professionals integrating sustainability into farming and floral design.
What advice would you give to other florists or small business owners looking to adopt sustainable practices?
Consider a “progress over perfection” mindset while implementing new sustainability routines.
Connect with a Hillside Solutions Sustainability Consultant to explore landfill diversion strategies to put in place at your workplace.
Register for the Sustainable Floristry Network’s introductory course.
Join Slow Flowers Society.
Read Amy Stewart’s book, “Flower Confidential” for an in depth overview of the global floral industry.
Read the writings of Becky Feasby of Prairie Girl Flowers for a scientific approach to understanding the harm imposed by commonly accepted floral industry practices.
Read “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer for a self-reflective study about one’s relationship with the natural world through a lens of Indigenous wisdom.
Looking Forward
How do you see the floral industry evolving in terms of sustainability?
There’s a growing movement towards sustainable floristry, with more florists adopting eco-friendly practices. Networks like the Slow Flowers Society and Sustainable Floristry Network are helping the industry transition to support the United Nations sustainability goals.
Are there any innovations or trends in eco-friendly floristry that excite you?
I notice there are more designers discussing their design processes with foam alternatives in mind. I’m hoping this trend becomes more commonplace and ultimately the preferred design mentality.
What are your goals for your business in the next few years regarding sustainability?
I look forward to completing the foundational coursework with the Sustainable Floristry Network and continuing my learning through their offerings. I also aim to conduct a waste audit to measure how much waste District 2 Floral Studio diverts from landfills.
I’m interested in exploring landfill diversion systems for florals at weddings and events, and potentially for other types of waste.
I hope to cultivate a community of like-minded individuals committed to low-waste design as a core practice.
Working with nature’s gifts is a privilege, and it’s a reminder that we are part of the natural world, not separate from it. While I still have much to learn on my journey toward an ecologically sensitive design practice, I’m grateful for the mentors who have guided me.
Conclusion
Holly’s work is a powerful reminder that sustainability isn’t about sacrifice—it’s about reimagining what’s possible. Through her commitment to local sourcing, waste reduction, and community partnerships, she’s not just creating breathtaking floral designs; she’s leading a movement toward a more ethical and environmentally responsible industry.
If there’s one thing to take away from this conversation, it’s that small, intentional choices—whether it’s skipping floral foam, choosing locally grown flowers, or supporting florists who prioritize sustainability—can add up to a big impact.
So the next time you admire a bouquet, take a moment to ask: where did these flowers come from? How were they grown? Who do they support? Holly is proving that when we make mindful decisions, we can cultivate beauty and a better future, one petal at a time.