Speaking Engagements
Amy Stewart travels the country talking to audiences at bookstores, botanical gardens, university and museum lecture series, and garden clubs and other community groups. Go here for a schedule of upcoming events, and check the Media page for video and radio clips.
Click here to read what audiences have said about Amy Stewart's speaking engagements, and click here to see a list of recent venues.
Following is a list of popular program topics, and Amy can also tailor a program to meet your group’s needs. Need more information to take to your committee? Click here to download a one-page summary of topics.
To book Amy as a speaker, contact Jacqueline Green Public Relations.
FLOWERS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Behind the Scenes in the Global Flower Market
A one-hour discussion and slide show with handouts (Depending on the setting, Amy can also bring a mixed bouquet and "deconstruct" it for the audience.)
Amy Stewart traveled around the world to learn more about the extraordinary business of flowers. At laboratories, greenhouses, airports, warehouses, and flower shops, she discovered a remarkable intersection of nature and technology, of sentiment and commerce. She told the story in her bestselling book, Flower Confidential—The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers.
What has been gained—and what has been lost—in the quest for the perfect flower? Does it matter if roses have lost their scent? How do we respond to a lily that has been bred for the convenience of the grower, not the desires of the customer? Are we better off with 209 varieties of daisies to choose from? In a global marketplace, is there such a thing as a socially responsible flower?
Join Stewart for an exploration of the individuals, the corporations, and the technology dedicated to the pursuit of the perfect flower. You’ll never look at a rose the same way again.
Special Topics on Sustainability
A 30-60 minute discussion and slide show with handouts
What does sustainability mean within the horticultural industry? How are garden clubs, conservation societies, and civic beautification groups taking on 'green' issues? How can individuals, businesses, and organizations adopt more environmentally-friendly practices--and get the word out about what they've done? Amy Stewart is an expert on organic gardening and industry-wide sustainability initiatives within the horticultural world. Ask for a sustainability topic customized to your audience.
The Greening of the Flower Business
A 30-60 minute discussion and slide show with handouts
With the advent of new agricultural chemicals and technology after World War II, and the revolution in air and rail transportation, the flower industry underwent a massive change worldwide. Now over three-quarters of the flowers Americans buy come from Latin America, and the industry gained a reputation for unsound environmental and labor practices.
A second revolution is underway as the industry matures and develops more sustainable practices. Now a new program markets those "green" flowers to consumers in the U.S. Amy Stewart, author of Flower Confidential, traces the history of these changes to the industry and explains the different “eco-label” strategies employed by growers and advocacy groups around the world.
The green revolution in the flower industry is a fascinating example of how even a luxury product must meet the test of sustainability in a competitive marketplace.
For the Floral Industry: What Your Customers Are Saying
A 30-60 minute discussion and slide show with handouts
Flower Confidential is making waves in the floral industry. One trade journal said, “Some will jeer, others will cheer, but everyone in the flower business will have an opinion...Stewart pulls no punches in reporting on the issues, especially the use of pesticides. On the whole, however, Flower Confidential is a sympathetic report, fair-minded and thoroughly researched.” Read more floral industry responses here. The book is also sparking conversations among consumers about their flower-buying habits, their experiences with flowers and florists, and what they’d like to see the flower industry deliver.
Amy Stewart approaches the subject not as a floral industry insider, but as an ordinary consumer who was curious about the inner workings of this fascinating business. To find out more about speaking engagements to industry and business groups, contact Jacqueline Green Public Relations.
Cut Flowers at Home and in the Garden
A 30-60 minute workshop with handouts and demonstration
Gardener and writer Amy Stewart traveled around the world to learn more about the extraordinary business of flowers. At laboratories, greenhouses, airports, warehouses, and flower shops, she discovered a remarkable intersection of nature and technology, of sentiment and commerce. She told the story in her bestselling book, Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers.
In this interactive workshop, Amy will teach you the secrets to great cut flowers that she learned from the pros. Find out what it takes to grow cut flowers organically in your garden and even how to plan your crop to bloom in time for a wedding or another special event. Learn a few easy tips for flower arranging, and discover the secrets for making flowers last longer—whether they come from your garden or the flower shop.
EARTHWORMS, ORGANIC GARDENING, AND MORE
The Surprising Secret Lives of Earthworms
A one-hour discussion, with handouts and slide show (and live worms and, for large audiences, the popular real-time Worm Cam!)
Join Amy Stewart, author of The Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms, for an entertaining and in-depth exploration of that tireless ploughman, the earthworm. She’ll discuss new book and demonstrate the fine qualities of the inveterate invertebrates that have captured her affections. But earthworms are just one part of soil ecology: Stewart will also bring incredibly detailed photographs, taken with a high-power microscope, of other soil-dwelling microbes that form complex and important relationships with earthworms. She’ll explain these interactions and their impact for gardeners and conservationists alike.
You’ll get a chance to learn about some of the thousands of species of earthworms that have been identified around the world, including the giant worms of the Pacific Northwest. She’ll bring several species of earthworms with her and explain each species’ unique role in the soil. Stewart will trace the ancient history of earthworms, describe their travels around the globe, and share some of the many secrets of earthworms’ lives that Charles Darwin uncovered. She’ll also share photographs and anecdotes about some of the most remarkable worms ever discovered, including a giant Australian worm and an indigo blue worm from the Philippines.
Worm Composting and Encouraging Worms in Garden Soil
A 30-60 minute workshop with handouts, live worms, and a demonstration bin
Thousands of earthworms can live in a small worm bin and consume all your kitchen scraps, creating earthworm castings that are rich in soil microbes and help produce healthy, disease-free plants. Worm composting is also a fun project for parents and kids to do together, allowing kids to learn firsthand about recycling and earth science.
Join Amy Stewart, author of The Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms, to find out all about the care and feeding of earthworms, and learn more about the extraordinary role that these creatures play in the soil. This hands-on course in worm composting will give you all the necessary information to get you and your worms started. Even better, you’ll hear the latest, up-to-the-minute science on the specific benefits of worm castings for your soil, and find out how to increase and support the worm populations that already live in your garden.
Backyard Chickens
A 30-60 minute workshop with slides and handout
One chilly day in early spring, gardening author Amy Stewart brought home four baby chicks from the feed store. Her life has never been the same. She chronicles her adventures raising chickens in her blog, and now she’ll introduce her chickens to you. This workshops covers the basics of raising hens for eggs and companionship. You’ll learn how to select a breed, how to provide them the shelter and care they need, and how to integrate them into your garden. She’ll also cover local city ordinances in your area about raising backyard chickens, and offer suggestions for keeping the neighbors happy.
A Chronicle of Gardening Adventures
A 30-60 minute discussion with slides and handout
Amy Stewart’s garden journal was the inspiration for her popular gardening memoir, From the Ground Up: The Story of a First Garden. Now she when she writes about her garden, she publishes the results online through her blog, “Dirt,” which lets her meet other gardeners around the world. In this talk, Stewart will discuss the challenges and rewards of keeping a seasonal garden journal. She’ll demonstrate techniques for keeping a journal online, on the computer, or in a simple sketchbook, and she’ll share her secrets for telling a great horticultural story.
From the Ground Up was chosen for the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers series. Kirkus Reviews called it “a rich feast of a book that celebrates the extraordinarily satisfying joys of making and keeping a garden.”
Organic Gardening Topics
Amy writes about organic gardening for several magazines and newspapers. Contact her to discuss specific topics related to organic gardening, soil health, natural pest and disease control, composting, and habitat gardening.
Writing Workshops
Amy also teaches half-day workshops on writing creative nonfiction and on garden and nature writing. Contact her for more information.
Amy's recent speaking engagements have included:
American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
United States Botanic Garden, Washington, DC
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
Missouri Botanic Garden, St. Louis, MO
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles Public Library ‘Aloud’ series
San Francisco Flower & Garden Show
Seattle Flower & Garden Show
Portland Home & Garden Show
Green Spring Botanical Garden, Fairfax, VA
Wave Hill Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY
Marin Art & Garden Center, Ross, CA
Bookstores and garden clubs nationwide
Testimonials
"Thanks so much for including the Arnold Arboretum in your speaking circuit. You gave a terrific lecture on Flower Confidential, communicating the subject with energy, clarity, and humor."
--Pam Thompson, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Boston, MA
"Amy Stewart’s recent appearance at Books & Books, in support of her newly released Flower Confidential, is still being talked about today. Her large audience made up of many prominent members of Miami’s flower industry was charmed by the disarming way she told the story of how flowers are brought to market. She’s funny, interesting, smart and not afraid to tackle any question head on; her audience ate it up. I can’t remember an event at the store when almost everyone who came bought a book. Every author should be that effective a speaker!"
--Mitchell Kaplan, Books & Books, Miami, FL
"Thank you for taking time out of your busy book tour to come to our library to do your excellent presentation on your book. You brought the audience with you on your journey to learn about the flower business from its beginning to the current stage. The people who came to the program all enjoyed your talk. It was a pleasure meeting you and hearing you talk about something you seem to be very passionate about. "
--Yvonne Wong, Los Angeles Public Library
"Wow! She is amazing...Provided great insights about writing; loved her presentation...Great presenter!"
--Participants at Redwood Writing Project retreat
"Amazing.... She spoke on an outsider's view of the floral industry and how complicated it really is. Stewart spent much of her time focusing on the sustainability of the industry and the need for more organic products in the floral industry... It was interesting to me to see [Stewart] offering recommendations on how to drastically change an industry. It was definitely an interesting talk to see."
"We enjoyed your presentation and have been talking about some of the things you mentioned now that we're back in the office."
"I loved your talk at TPIE...I read your book over the summer cover to cover and loved it."
--Audience members at Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition conference
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