Cherry Road Flower Farm

Few things in life can brighten a day like a bunch of freshly picked blooms.

Whilst floristry brings a sense of natural beauty into our homes; it's also an industry rife with plastic, pesticides and floral wastage. Cherry Road Flower Farm offers a sustainable alternative, with rambling seasonal bouquets that are locally grown and picked to order.

Claire Barnes, also known as Dash, spent their early twenties working on small-scale organic farms before enrolling in a horticulture course at uni. Dash was able to work part-time with a landscaper and a florist whilst studying, an opportunity that provided unique insight into the industry and a growing appreciation for floral design.

It was a truly eye-opening experience for Dash, who was shocked to discover just how wasteful the floral industry can be. Flowers are often chemically treated before being wrapped in layers of plastic and imported overseas. Growers don't have to comply with food-grade standards and regulations, meaning that they can cover their harvest with chemicals after cutting to stop them from ripening.

Determined to offer a natural alternative, Dash began studying regenerative agriculture and experimenting with cut flowers in their own veggie patch at home. In 2020, they leased a plot of land in Red Hill South and started Cherry Road with a sustainable farm-to-vase ethos.

Cherry Road flowers are fresh and nuanced, with unique and natural variations that result from being grown outdoors rather than in temperature-controlled hothouses. Dash runs the business solo, using organic and regenerative farming practices to create healthy soil and abundant ecosystems.

Locally grown produce naturally has a smaller carbon footprint, with reduced flower miles removing the need for treatment and refrigeration. Untreated florals maintain their scent and open naturally in the vase, allowing you to enjoy each bloom stage rather than the flower rotting and dying as a bud. They're naturally long-lasting and reflect the unique diversities of the land on which they're grown.

Depending on the season, Dash delivers delightful posies of dahlias, sunflowers, marigold, celosia, tulips, snapdragons, poppies, ranunculus, and daffodils. You can find Cherry Road bunches at Cellar and Pantry in Red Hill, Torello Farm in Dromana, or A Good Little Thing in Tootgarook. For those who prefer to shop online, you can purchase a bouquet via the website with free delivery on the Mornington Peninsula.

Looking forward, Dash is hoping to lease a small studio where they'll have more space to create their sustainable floral arrangements and produce a range of earthy ceramics to complement the offering.

Cherry Road acknowledges the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional owners and Custodians of the land on which the farm operates. They pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.