how we got here part 1

In December 2005, we moved into a tiny house with a big yard in the Delridge neighborhood of West Seattle. We had moved from a little studio apartment and warehouse space on West Marginal. Before that, we lived in a loft overlooking the Secluded Alley Works Gallery space in the Central District and before that, a horse farm in Snohomish. We were used to unconventional living spaces.

We quickly fell in love with West Seattle: the water, feel the salt water nearby. It’s like a small town with a strong community feel. People who are active outdoors, they garden and take care of each other and the environment. That’s what inspired us to create an urban farm.

Katie had become a Master Gardener through Washington State University and Native Plant Steward through Washington State Native Plant Society.

Around, 2006 or 2007 Katie felt the pull to teach people to grow food. She was especially drawn to helping young women. She began volunteering in a couple of school gardens and with a grin, started to relate to Laura Ingalls Wilder (of note, Katie and her mother both share the first name of Laura:) She loved the idea of being self sufficient, but wasn’t interested in living in the country.

Fourteen years later, she achieved her goal.

It took about 14 years, on and off, stop/start, on. One bed done and then all weeds again and then start all over year after year. Spring after spring. Over that time, she learned a lot.