Gardening in a War Zone | A Floret Original Film

Watch the very first Floret Original documentary film, Gardening in a War Zone. This film features Alla Olkhovska, a gardener, writer, photographer, and clematis seed grower in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Unable to leave the country, Alla supports her family by selling the rare seeds she collects from her small garden. This story is rooted in beauty, inspiration, and hope.

In addition to this documentary film, you can read a full written interview with Alla here:

If you’d like to support Alla and her family, here’s how:

PURCHASE A COPY OF ALLA’S E-BOOK

DONATE VIA PAYPAL
List “humanitarian aid” in the payment field description

SUBSCRIBE TO PATREON

FOLLOW ALLA ON SOCIAL MEDIA

SPECIAL THANKS
To Alla Olkhovska and her family for their courage and contributions to the making of this film. Thank you for all your efforts to make this world more beautiful.

VIDEO CREDITS
Executive Producer: Erin Benzakein
Director: Rob Finch
Editor: Sarah Bourscheid
Producer: Rob Finch
Associate Producer: Sarah Bourscheid
Director of Photography: Oleh Halaidych
Additional Cinematography: Alla Olkhovska, Vitaliy Olkhovskyi
Color Correction and Sound Mix: Sarah Bourscheid
Production and Post Support: Chris Benzakein, Jill Jorgensen, Laura Davis, Melissa Reese, Angela Strand
Stock Footage: iStock, Adobe Stock, Pond 5
Music: Soundstripe

Copyright Floret LLC

@lindengrovegardens4570

#floret #floretoriginalfilm #flowers #clematis #flowerseeds #specialtyseeds #erinbenzakein

[dawnd]

This beautiful young woman did not get to choose where she was born. None of us do. She makes the best of everyday she has. She is kind, compassionate and strong. One more of the thousand reasons to support her and her country. Your story was inspiring Alla and just reminds us here in the US we don't have it that bad.

[michellepro]

What a sad but inspiring film. I will be ordering seeds from Alla to help support her family.

[Calistaismyheart]

As someone with Ukrainian heritage, this film made me cry. It’s heartbreaking to see this, but also so beautiful that it was produced so others can see the world through Alla’s eyes. Alla, your gardens are magic. I wish more people knew the struggles you face daily and that you find support through the making of this film. I can’t wait to order some seeds for my little farm. They will remind me of you and my Ukrainian lineage. Erin, the world needs more people like you. Thank you for producing such a wonderful film. Sending love 🤍

[stormypeterson]

Throughout this piece, Maya Angelou's last lines from her poem, Human Family, kept ringing in my ears: We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike...

I put off watching this until I could view it all in one sitting without the minor interruptions of the day pulling me away from a story that hits a little close to home. My sister-in-law was born and raised in Ukraine, and grew up gardening with her Granny who grew "eNorMoUs pOpPies!!!" (I've heard the stories many times, and my imagination devours her childhood recollections each, and every time), while my own family tree is made up, in part, of Black Sea Germans who migrated to, and took refuge in Southern Ukraine before ultimately settling in America. It took my breath away that the opening scene of this documentary was of Alla sitting at a small table the way I do at mine, wrapped up in the same bathrobe I wear to count and divide her seeds exactly the way I do, and yet by sheer accident of birth our circumstances are so different. I just hope you know, Alla, women like you have been, are, and will continue to be the backbone of society for millennia, and if my wishes for peace can not come true, then I will wish to be half the woman you are when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, because then I know I will be okay.

Some day, as humans, I hope we can understand our alikeness and once and for all stop dropping bombs on our brothers and sisters, but until then I am sending you and your loved ones my deepest love, and peace.

Слава Україні!


***

And to everyone involved with the production of this project, bravo! This story was delivered with the sincerity, grace, and beauty it deserved. Thank you.

[stevo]

"I would rather be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war"

[theresaokamoto]

Erin OMG I am awestruck by the beauty of Alla's garden and her tenacity!!! She is an amazing person!!! Thank you for bringing this to all of us!!! God willing, hundreds of thousands of people see this documentary!!! This shows how gardening is so vitally important!!!!

[cindyrust]

Alla, I would send you so much sunshine and peace! Thank you for being you. You are more beautiful than you will ever know. And thank you Erin for being you! Your generous heart is something this world needs so much more of. All three parts of this film are so important. Thank you all who contributed. 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

[dianequist]

Thank you, Alla! Praying God will keep you and your loved ones safe. I'm praying for an end to this horrendous war. Praying our government will continue giving aide. Praying you'll see your beautiful gardens growin in a few months. Thank you, Erin for sharing this story and documentary ❤

[luisdesousa]

Here in Amercia we live so comfortable that it can be hard to imagine living in a war zone or even in extreme poverty. It hurts my heart to see Alla's life and to know that there are so many others like her not only in Ukraine but elsewhere. I am embarrassed by the things I complain about they are petty in comparison. My wife and I will do our part to help her and others like her. Thank you Erin & everyone who brought her story to us. Luis & Carol deSousa Meadowsweet Flowers

[elainek]

Alla is a beautiful person inside and out, it must be so hard and such a struggle caring for loved ones, herself and then the gardens too. May her garden bloom again this coming spring, like it did in 2020 during times of peace. Never give up, even when surrounded by destruction remember the joy, love and beauty of your amazing garden. I hope peace returns soon to Ukraine, heart breaking what is happening… Slava Ukraine🇺🇦💙💛 Erin thank you for sharing Alla’s life and garden with us…..I hope peace returns soon 😢❤

[tinacruz]

Prayers to all who are affected by war, thank you for sharing one story, and that of a gardener, where there’s a garden, there is HOPE.

[cphtthi]

Wow! I’m blown away at how Alla has found beauty in the middle of a war she is a very special person. 💙

[juliel]

What a remarkable woman. Thank you for sharing her story and her beautiful book and seeds. My son married a woman from Ukraine so this is so close to my heart. I pray for an end to this terrible war

[gingerkuhn]

Prays for Alla and her family. Her story gives new perspectives about life and circumstances. Thank you floret flowers for making her story heard. ♥️♥️♥️

[louiseann_venusandneptune]

Oh my heart, oh my lungs. Here’s to all the flower lovers, garden growers and seed savers of the world - May you all be, the Life Force redeemers. | And just when you think Floret are at the top of their game, they find another way to bring more beauty to more of the world. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 The day I found Erin my life changed 100 fold for the better. ❤️ and peace from the U.K. 🇬🇧

[WhereTimeBegan]

Growing up, my grandmother would tell me of all the horrors she witnessed as a young girl living on the war front of World War II (Stalingrad). This film brings to the surface so many things we take for granted in this life. I am grateful for safety, heat, electricity, freedom, not having to live in constant fear, and alarms ringing.

When Alla said, "I am doing not enough in my life, " it was heart-wrenching to hear. You are doing enough! I pray that someday we'll live in a world without war. I hope Alla's story is heard and peace is restored.

Thank you for sharing this film with us. I cried more than once.

[lindengrovegardens]

Erin, thank you so much for this opportunity!❤

[Sylvie_M]

Alla, may you and your Baba and family find peace this year. You have so much courage. Good luck with your business. Your work is important for the reconstruction too. Stay safe. Slava Ukraini from Canada!

[hummingbirdforestgardens]

Thank you so much for sharing this story here on your platform. Inspirng. Raw. Human. Thank you.

[gardeningonthewestforkwith]

Alls has humbled all of us in so many ways. What we take for granted . Yet what all of us share is the live found in the beauty of nature. It restores our souls calms our nerves. Never have I walked in her shoes but my heart grew knowing that I will mentor her positive attitude when life becomes difficult. We must support Alla!!