You are reading

Weekly flower subscription in Western Queens supports small farms and builds community

Queens Perennial’s 2025 CSA season is in full bloom. Photo credit: Queens Perennial.

April 29, 2025 By Jessica Militello

Western Queens residents can bring home fresh, locally grown flowers each week through Queens Perennial’s 2025 Flower CSA, now underway across the borough.

The community-supported agriculture program, launched in 2020, offers weekly or biweekly flower pickups at participating local shops while supporting Luna Family Farm, a farmer-of-color-owned and operated farm in Central New Jersey.

Founded by Astoria resident Helen Ho, Queens Perennial aims to connect neighbors through fresh blooms while uplifting BIPOC farmers, who remain underrepresented in agriculture nationwide.

Subscribers who sign up for the 29-week season—or a 10-week special—can pick up hand-tied bouquets at shops in Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside and other locations across Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.

The Luna brothers of the family-owned Luna Family Farm. Photo credit: Luna Family Farm.

“Our partnership is just with the Luna Family Farm for a couple of reasons,” said Ho. “For one, they’re so sweet and nice, and we love working with them. Second, I think there are a lot of farm workers of color, but there aren’t a lot of farm owners of color. I think that’s something to highlight: who gets to own property and have a business? It’s a great question for us to look at and ask ourselves, especially when we’re buying local.”

The Flower CSA was inspired by Ho’s desire during the COVID-19 pandemic to find safe ways for community members to stay connected. What started as a small gathering has blossomed into a seasonal tradition, with dozens of subscribers supporting local agriculture while building neighborhood bonds.

Subscribers can enjoy a fresh bouquet of flowers every week through Queens Perennial’s Flower CSA. Photo credit: Queens Perennial.

Subscribers not only receive vibrant seasonal flowers each week but also have the opportunity to meet neighbors and local business owners and learn more about the farms behind the blooms.

“The primary reason people get flowers is just because they like them, so I think it’s great for all flower lovers,” said Ho. “The sneaky reason I would love for people to join is to get to know their neighbors, other folks in the area, and the store owners to build community. Especially now, since our federal government seems to be in flux, and many of our futures seem uncertain. During the pandemic, a lot of us started to look into our neighborhoods for community with mutual aid and other things, but now is another good time to start.”

Tulips for the Springtime through Queens Perennial’s CSA program. Photo credit: Queens Perennial.

Queens Perennial works with distribution partners such as Lockwood, Greats of Craft LIC, Astor Apiaries Honey House, and Lockwood Sunnyside in Queens, as well as several shops in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Subscribers can customize their pickup schedule, with flexible options available for those traveling during the season.

“I think community building is a really big thing,” said Ho. “There are so many wonderful people that I talk to and keep in touch with. Some of them have moved away or out of the country, and we’ve visited each other, so this is a great way to have people that you get to know in your neighborhood and make friends that you get to have for life.”

For more information or to sign up for Queens Perennial’s 2025 Flower CSA, visit their website.

 

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

FDNY investigates blaze at CALLAHEAD portable toilet headquarters in Broad Channel

FDNY fire marshals are still working to determine the cause of a stubborn 2-alarm fire at the CALLAHEAD headquarters in Broad Channel that injured a civilian and a firefighter on the night of Sunday, April 27.

The blaze broke out at 3-04 Cross Bay Blvd. just before 7 p.m. at New York’s largest portable sanitation company at the southern edge of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. The fire went to a second alarm, bringing 25 units and 106 firefighters and EMS personnel to the scene between East 3rd Street and East 4th Street. EMS transported the civilian to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center with minor injuries. EMS transported the firefighter to Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow with minor injuries.

NYC home prices rise 10% in early 2025, with Manhattan leading and Malba ranking highest in Queens: report

Apr. 29, 2025 By Ethan Marshall

The median sale price across New York City rose 10% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025, from around $698,000 last year to $768,000 this year, according to a report by the real estate database site PropertyShark. Several Manhattan neighborhoods had the most significant increases over this period of time among the boroughs included in the study (Staten Island is not included), from $999,000 in 2024 to $1.15 million in 2025.