Jo has donated 200 food cans this season and 250 cans in her first season to the Christchurch City Mission.
For one flower can sold, one can of food is donated to the city mission and for one the larger can of flowers, three cans of food are donated. The smaller can is 15 dollars and the larger cans are 40 dollars.
But she does not have a background in horticulture or floristry. Jo was previously a photographer, capturing images of food and flowers which then led her to her passion for growing flowers. She turned her garden into raised flower beds, but once the flowers grew she realized she had "more flowers than people to give them too". Jo thought the 'Stems with benefits' project was a great balance of "selling flowers and doing some good along the way".
She firstly sold her flowers at The Foundation Cafe in Tūranga Library alongside her online website. Since then, this has expanded to other locations in Christchurch including Vic’s Cafe, Black Betty Cafe and Flo Yoga Studio.
Jo aims to expand into corperate tabel arrangements and gifts. She describes this as a great “low cost but community focused” option. Not only does this mean she can donate more cans but it also "looks very calming, colorful and brightens up [corporate] spaces.
Christchurch City Missions Food Bank Team Leader Kirsty Elstone is/says the city mission are supportive of the project. "I really love the idea that a can that we use in our night shelters could be repurposed with flowers and be sold". Canned food like beans, tomatoes, and spaghetti that Jo gives back is used in City Mission day and night shelters across Christchurch. These staples have been helpful for people who need them. This is the second year of Kirsty working with Jo and she hopes that it can continue. "It's been truly amazing to have someone like Jo who has an idea of how she can help other people while selling flowers that she grows".
Her flower garden is not huge but sure is colorful. Once lawn, it is now a colorful garden of flowers. Jo primarily grows annual flowers from seed like zinnia, dhalia’s, statice and more. She is considering growing more perennial flowers which have a longer lifespan. With the frost coming in her flowers will begin to wilt. Jo has been preparing her seedlings for next season.
Jo’s fascination has only grown since the beginning of her project. Not only does she sell flowers but she also has a second arm to her business, 'Stems with Wonder'. Through this half of her business Jo sells novelty plants with unique features. One plant Jo is currently growing is the Popcorn Cassia, also known as the 'popcorn plant'. These seeds are available for purchase through her website.
The flower season will end mid April, and begin again in Spring.
