Edible Valentines Bouquet

Edible Valentines Bouquet

I love the look of fresh cut flowers. However I don’t like them enough to buy them, or ask for them for Valentines day. I feel like the fresh cut flower industry is a bit extreme. Shipping cooled flowers all over the world is incredibly energy intensive. Not to mention the pesticides that generally go into growing them. And floral foam? What a nightmare. You can’t do anything with it but throw it out, since it has usually crumbled away after you remove the flowers from it. All this for flowers that only last a week on your table, if you take care of them. So what other options are there?

This Valentines Day I still wanted a bouquet – but one I could eat! I figured I would hint to my husband that he should buy me one, since there are edible arrangement companies out there. Then I looked at the price. Good gravy! He would spend $100 on about $15 in fruit and chocolate. And they often come with disposable foam and packaging, just like cut floral arrangements. Well that wouldn’t do.

How does one get a zero-waste edible arrangement then? Well, like most things I like – we have to make it ourselves. And by ourselves, I mean me. Asking my husband to get super crafty, on short notice, on a project he’s never attempted before would not fly. I have learned that much about him. Me, on the other hand? I’m always game for a challenge. 

I saw a picture online that gave me the inspiration. I decided to use a flowerpot that I already owned and a butternut squash that I had in the pantry instead of floral foam. I picked up some kale and strawberries during my weekly grocery shopping, and melted some chocolate chips for dipping.

Voila! A completely edible boquet. We will enjoy the strawberries on Valentines Day, and the squash and kale in a soup the day after that. The flowerpot will return to the potting bench to use in the summer. 

This was my first foray into doing an edible/reusable arrangement. I think next year I will try and go with more local produce and do carved beet flowers! What do you think? Would you try making an edible arrangement instead of buying flowers?