– Here there are 800 meters of sunflowers enjoying themselves along the road! Early this spring, farmer Anders Stenshorne in Øvre Eiker walked bent forward along the roadside with pockets and fists full of seeds. Thousands of seeds were carefully sown in the early summer temperate soil. A couple of months later, the result is almost glowing. Festively decorated stretch of road Tall and slender as sylphs with large, nodding flower hats, they stand swaying and elegant. The sunflowers. Impossible not to recognize with its heart-shaped leaves, brown disc crowns and the yellow rimmed crowns. Almost one kilometer of plant lampposts lights up, even on an ordinary gray weather day. – This road, it is the everyday landscape for approximately 1,000 cars that pass here every day, says Stenshorne, who reveals that the inspiration came from a colleague in Vestfossen. The flowers cast sunshine along the road from Stenshorne to Mjøndalen. Photo: Anders Haualand / news – He did a similar stunt last year. According to the sunflower manager, it is about the desire to beautify. The desire to make people aware of how great the area is. – Then we thought we would do as we do when we go to a party: decorate ourselves a little extra. Now we have decorated the cultural landscape here. Ukraine’s national flower Initially, Stenshorne’s basic idea was noble enough. To decorate and make people happy. Something the bouquet of pleasant feedback testifies to. – We have received so much positive response, beams Stenhorne. Then one afternoon a young man knocked on the flower farmer’s door and asked politely, while two roses bloomed faintly in the young man’s cheeks. Common sunflower, Helianthus annuus, is an annual and originates from Mexico. Some varieties can grow over 5 meters high, the baskets can be 30-40 centimeters wide, according to SNL. Photo: Anders Haualand / news “Can I buy a sunflower from you? It’s my girlfriend’s favorite flower.” Of course he got that. And the boy went home and became even more of a lover. Regardless. This planted a seed of an idea in Stenshorne’s head. Maybe others will also want to pick some brightly colored flowers, in exchange for the money going to a good cause. – It was only natural that the money should go to Save the Children’s Ukraine project. After all, the sunflower is Ukraine’s national flower – and this is an extra good symbol that we think of them, says Stenshorne as he looks out over the flower landscape with gentle eyes. – It makes me very happy to see them, and then it’s time to pick. This is the second time I’ve been here, says Live Løkken. Photo: Anders Haualand / news Selfies, sunflowers and the end of the season The “Sunflower Road” has become an ever-smaller attraction in the village. People stop here, they take selfies and they take a broom with them, it is said. Until now, NOK 22,450 has been tipped in, which goes to Ukraine in full. – It’s fun. Because it is otherwise a bit sad to be a farmer during the day, with drought and floods alternating, says the flower farmer. But in a few weeks, when the star lanterns are lit, the globe turns towards autumn, and there is definitely a sun (kind of) decline for this season. Does it stop there? The painter Vincent van Gogh might have been proud of Anders Stenshorne’s sunflower project. Live Løkken certainly appreciates it. Photo: Anders Haualand. / DKBU – No, it doesn’t. We have to create some expectations, “what will we do next year?”. We might have to talk together in the village, Stenshorne smiles slyly. The sunflower manager There are several people who collect money for Ukraine via sunflower sales. This spring, the Østfold farmers’ association started the “sunflower campaign”. By buying a bag of seeds or by encouraging others to buy flowers, you can contribute an amount of your choice. The money goes entirely to the Red Cross’ work in Ukraine. Otto Galleberg at the State Administrator in Oslo and Viken. Photo: The State Administrator in Oslo and Viken One of those the farmers’ team challenged was the State Administrator in Oslo and Viken. They absolutely did not sit on their hind legs. Section manager in the agricultural department, Otto Galleberg, says that the approximately 500 employees at the State Administrator took it as a joyful challenge. – From the sale of seed bags alone, NOK 50,000 has been received, of which NOK 16,000 is from the State Administrator. A total of NOK 400,000 has come in from the sale of sunflowers. So it’s gratifying, people pick and choose, concludes Galleberg.
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Farmer in Øvre Eiker planted sunflowers for Ukraine – collects money for Save the Children – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
