WillaBella Farm

We had so much fun with your kiddos at Farm Science Day Camp this summer that we have decided to extend Teaching Tuesdays into Fall again this year for 7-11 year olds!

There is definitely a need for this type of outdoor learning and we could not be happier to provide youth educational delivery outreach for our community! 🌱

We will be partnering with some of our local farmer friends to host the following after School Fall Camps this Sept & October!

**********************************************

CAMP 1: SEPT 15th Tuesday 4-6PM

🐝 HONEY EXTRACTION & HIVE CARE $60 (includes all supplies, goodie bags & sales tax)

Join us after school for all things Honey Bees! Your child will learn about this complex superorganism, lifecycles, pest management & winter preparation. We will also extract & taste seasonal honey, view pollen & varroa mites under the microscope!

——————————————————————-

CAMP 2: SEPT 22nd Tuesday 4-6PM

🐑 FIBER SPINNING & RUMINANTS $60 (includes all supplies, goodie bags & sales tax)

Join us after school for all things Fiber! During your camp your child will learn about wool spinning, crimping, lanolin, pellet making & yarn milling. We will also discuss ruminants and the benefits of caring for these beautiful creatures!

——————————————————————

CAMP 3: SEPT 29th Tuesday 4-6PM

🍎 CIDER PRESSING & ORCHARD CARE $60 (includes all supplies, goodie bags & sales tax)

Join us after school for all things Apple harvest! During this camp your child will learn orchard care clean up, integrated pest management, & plant fruit tree guilds. We will also be learning about fruit degradation and pressing cider by hand!

——————————————————————

CAMP 4: OCT 6th Tuesday 4-6pm

🍇 GRAPE CRUSHING & FERMENTATION $60 (includes all supplies, goodie bags & sales tax)

Join us after school for all things Island Belle Grape harvest! During this camp your child will harvest our heirloom grapes , learn about vineyard care, measuring brix, specific gravity, clean and crush grapes!

——————————————————————

CAMP 5: OCT 13th Tuesday 4-6pm

🎃 SQUASH HARVEST & SEED SAVING $60 (includes all supplies, goodie bags & sales tax)

Join us after school for all things Squash harvest! During this camp your child will gather varied squash cultivars, discuss seed saving, breeding, cleaning, testing, plan disease and decorate fall gourd botanicals!

—————————————————————-

CAMP 6: OCT 20th Tuesday 4-6pm

🥒FOOD DEHYDRATION & PICKLING $60 (includes all supplies, goodie bags & sales tax)

Join us after school for all things Food preservation! During this camp your child will learn about food dehydration techniques, safe pickling methods & preserving using farm fresh goodies!

—————————————————————

CAMP 7: OCT 27th Tuesday 4-6pm

🧀 CHEESEMAKING & ACIDIFICATION $60 (includes all supplies, goodies bags & sales tax)

Join us after school for all things cheese making! During this camp your child will learn about cows milk, whey denaturation, emulsion, processing, view fat under the microscope & make cheese!

—————————————————————-

CAMP 8: NOV 3rd

🥖SOURDOUGH RAISING & STARTER CARE $60 (includes all supplies, goodie bags & sales tax)

Join us after school for all things Sourdough raising! During this camp your child will learn about living cultures, symbiosis, wild yeasts, keeping starter fed and making fresh sourdough bread!

**********************************************

Please register via Venmo with the following info: Camp Date, Parent Name, Email address, Childs first name & Age.

Once Venmo registration is received, we will send email confirmation with additional info. Looking forward to all things Farming Food Fun this Fall with your kiddos!🐝

Watch for our Winter WildCrafting Schedule coming soon for more farmer collabs to include garlic planting, grapevine wreaths, plant dyes, salve making, lavender crafts and more!

Welcome Friends!

We are excited to expand our Youth Farm Science Program year round for 7-11 year olds located on our Historic Farm near the Narrows Bridge in Gig Harbor!

Please see below for schedule & registration. Looking forward to immersing ourselves in nature with your kiddos! 🌻

(NOTE: Our summer program is now Full, please scroll to the bottom for our Fall Schedule!)

——————————————————————-

THIS EXPERIENCE IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE FARM CAMP! Yes there are plenty of animals & crops, but our primary focus is hands on learning around Regenerative Agriculture & Watershed Ecosystems, deeply rooted in environmental science based curriculum!

Each camp builds on another, while tying science concepts together throughout the season. So dress accordingly and prepare to get those hands dirty, while creating some fun things from nature to bring home!

All activities will be held outside on our Heritage Farm in Gig Harbor rain or shine. All Curriculum is developed and taught by farmer & retired science nerd, Kathleen Rose (see bio here: https://willabellafarm.com/2020/07/25/by-request-the-bio/).

We host small groups drop off only, space is limited so be sure to register early! Prepayment via Venmo or check is required to secure your spot. Refunds are not available due to short season and inability to back fill preregistered spots. Registration for 5 camps comes with a free camp T-shirt!

Please contact us for group rates or if your child has any special physical or dietary needs. You can reach us at: roseorchards@comcast.net

NOTE:

1. Every camp will include some interactions with our fur & feathered farm friends! 🐐

2. Every camp involves hands on individual & group activities. Some modifications can occur due to seasonality & weather 🌞

3. Every camp requires appropriate dress. We have 10 learning spaces throughout our ten acre farm, so mobility & good shoes is a must 👟

4. Every camp will include various freshly harvested crops & fruit, please notify us of any food allergies🥦

5. Every camp is based on scientific principle including discovery, gathering, observing, testing, sampling, creating & microscope viewing! 🔬

🥕 🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕

CAMP#1: TUES JUNE 23RD 🐛

*THIS SESSION IS NOW CLOSED

#1A: 9:00am-12pm OR #1B: 2:00-5pm $70/session includes sales tax & supplies

Soil Biology & Animal Husbandry – During this camp your child will learn about soil microbes, vermicomposting red worms, test ph, soil nutrients, spend time with animals, learn livestock & poultry facts and their roles in soil building, harvest & taste cool crops, plant hot crops and create a growing trellis from nature in our new Learning Labrynth garden space #3!

——————————————————————

CAMP#2: TUES JUNE 30TH🍄

*THIS SESSION IS NOW CLOSED

#2A: 9:00am-12pm OR #2B: 2:00-5pm $70/session includes sales tax & supplies

Hugeculture & Companion Plants – During this camp your child will build & learn about Hugeculture ecosystems, companion planting, innoculate mycelium, harvest mushrooms, perform spore prints, taste & dissect photoperiodic berries in our Papas Strawberry Patch space #4

——————————————————————

CAMP#3 TUES JULY 7TH 🐞

*THIS SESSION IS NOW CLOSED

#3A: 9:00am-12pm OR #3B: 2:00-5pm $70/session includes sales tax & supplies

Beneficial Insects & Pollination – During this camp your child will learn about beneficial bug lifecycles, metamorphosis, observe honeybee colonies, identify flower parts, make a bug hotel & puddling station, view insect parts under the microscope and make flower crafts around the new expanded Pollinator Apiary in space #3!

—————————————-—————————

CAMP#4 TUES JULY 14th 🫐

*THIS SESSION IS NOW CLOSED

#4A: 9:00-12pm OR #4B: 2:00-5pm $70/session includes sales tax & supplies

Propagation & Herbs – During this camp your child will learn about native & medicinal Herbs, gather and make herb smudges & salves, Microgreen stages, cambium grafting, and propagate various fruit, berries & herbs from Herb’s Garden in Space #6!

——————————————————————

CAMP #5 TUES JULY 21ST 🌻

*THIS SESSION IS NOW CLOSED

#5A: 9am-12pm OR #5B: 2:00-5pm $70/session includes sales tax & supplies

Seeds & Photosynthesis- During this camp your child will gather & dissect seeds both by hand and with white socks on their shoes, learn plant biology, plant life cycles, photosynthesis, view seeds under the microscope, make seed bombs and taste berries along the permaculture trail down Raspberry Hill space #7 & #8!

——————————————————————

CAMP #6 TUES JULY 28TH 🐸

*THIS SESSION IS NOW CLOSED

#6A: 9:00am – 12pm OR #6B: 2:00-5pm $70/session includes sales tax & supplies

Forest Understory & Habitats- During this camp your child will learn about our native habitats, explore and build eco-dens, avian, frog & amphibian lifecycles, metamorphosis, adaptation, native plants and create bird feeders from nature while exploring our native forest and Hedwigs Hollow space #10!

——————————————————————

CAMP #7 TUES AUG 4TH 🦉

*THIS SESSION IS NOW CLOSED

#7A: 9:00am-12pm OR #7B: 2:00-5pm $70/session includes sales tax & supplies

Forest Canopy & FoodSoilWeb – During this camp your child will search for and ID native trees, locate lichens, mosses, plants through various methods, learn about native pollinators and living organisms within the Food Soil Web, collect leaf samples and dissect owl pellets from our Historic Native Forest space #10!

—————————————————————

CAMP #8 TUES AUG 11TH 🐟

*THIS SESSION IS NOW CLOSED

#8A: 9:00am-12pm OR #7B: 2:00-5pm $70/session I ides sales tax & supplies

Watersheds & Rain Gardens – During this camp your child will learn about marine ecosystems, test water samples around the farm, view water organisms under a microscope, build a rain garden and imprint their creative mark in microbiology agar with lots of exploring around the our shallow Farm Water Feature Spaces #2-#10!

——————————————————————

CAMP #9 TUES AUG 18TH 🍐

#9A: 9:00am-12pm OR #9B: 2:00-5pm $70/session includes sales tax & supplies

Terrariums & Integrated Pest Management – During this camp your child will learn about regenerative agriculture and the role within a healthy ecosystem, living soil, bioswales, transpiration, integrated pest management techniques and build eco-terrariums and a fruit tree guild in the Rose Orchard Space #5!

——————————————————————-

CAMP #10 TUES AUG 25TH 🫜

#10A: 9:00am-12pmOR #10B:2:00-5pm $70/session includes sales tax & supplies

Fall Harvest & Cover Crops – During this camp your child will harvest late season fruit & veggies, view root systems under a microscope, turn soil with a broadfork, plant cover crops, & design creative fall botanicals. We will also take a special tour of Happy Kitchen Farm veggie fields located on our property Space #1!

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

OUR AFTER SCHOOL FALL FARMING FUN CAMP SCHEDULE IS NOW OPEN! ALL CAMPS ARE 4-6PM ON TUESDAYS. PLEASE REGISTER VIA VENMO: https://willabellafarm.com/2026/08/26/2026-fall-farm-food-fun-camps/

🍯9/15 Honey Extraction

🐑9/22 Fiber Spinning

🍎9/29 Cider Pressing

🍇10/6 Grape Crushing

🎃10/13 Squash Harvest

🍐10/20 Fruit Dehydrating

🧀10/27 Cheese Making

🥖11/1 Sourdough Raising

Please Pre-Register via Venmo Link Below. Be sure to include your child’s name & age. Along with your email address for confirmation. Your liability waiver & camp instructions will be emailed to you! See you on the farm this Fall!

FOLLOW US!!!

FACEBOOK: RoseOrchards/WillabellaFarm

INSTAGRAM: WillaBellaFarm, LLC

BLUESKY: Kathleen @WillaBellaFarm

All proceeds from our camps & fruit/flower/honey sales support our farm overhead, so we can continue to share this outreach mission with our community! 🐝🌱🌸

Any questions or special requests please contact us at: roseorchards@comcast.net or 253-355-0603

NOTE: Our Fall 2026 Schedule will be posted in August. Watch our social media pages for more!)

Hello Parents!

We had such a fun time with your kiddos at Farm Science Camp this Summer that due to popular demand…Teaching Tuesdays will return to our Historic Farm this Fall!🌻

Back to school we go BUT the work on a Regenerative Farm continues! Come join us after school for more learning, gathering, preserving and tasting of the seasonal farm bounty Kid Style!

We are offering the following Fall Youth Camps for kids 7-11yrs old:

*******************************************

🍇Camp #1 GRAPE CRUSHING (CAMP IS NOW FULL) – Sept 16th 3:30-5:30 $45 -During this camp your child will harvest the remaining historic Island Belle Grapes, learn about fermentation processes, testing brix, preservation, managing a healthy vineyard, destem, prep and crush grapes into juice!

🍎Camp#2 APPLE PRESSING (CAMP IS NOW FULL!) Sept 23rd 3:30-5:30 $45 -During this camp your child will harvest the last of the cider apple trees, taste the differences, learn about orchard integrated pest management, sugar density, and press apples into cider!

🍯Camp#3 HONEY HARVESTING (CAMP IS NOW FULL!) -Sept 30th 3:30-5:30 $45- During this camp your child will learn about winterizing honeybee colonies, observe varroa mite & pollen under the microscope, the science of honey storage, prepare frames and harvest honey!

🍐Camp#4 FRUIT DEHYDRATION -Oct 7th 3:30-5:30 $45 – During this camp your child will learn about the changing seasons in the orchard, discuss fall fruit tree care, gather remaining fruit, learn fruit pollination processes, chemistry of food denaturation & prep fruit for dehydration!

********************************************

Please register via the Venmo Link Below. Also be sure to include your child’s name, camp number and email in the comment section, so that we may email your confirmation with camp drop off logistics. Any questions please contact us at 253-355-0603 or roseorchards@comcast.net 🍁

🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

——————————————————

Hello Friends! 

My name is Will…I am a Senior in the Environmental Science program at UWT. I grew up on my small Gig Harbor heritage farm, hosting my own farm stand and teaching youth in the summer to earn money for college. Recently I learned how to grow healthy Microgreens as part of a student cohort with the Make a Difference Foundation. 

The program has now come to a close, so I decided to launch a small Ag business to help fund my final year of college….Introducing Willard’s Greens! 🥁

I offered these nutritious Microgreens at my family farm stand last summer AND now our loyal customers are asking for more!

So I will be taking orders for home delivery beginning this May AND all year long! 🚚 

You can choose a single 6oz tray of Nutritious Microgreens for $6 each: Starting with your choice of Radish, Sunflowers, Beets & Peas or mix and match! No minimum order required🫛 

These little morsels are delicious added to salads, pizza, sandwiches or to Jazz up your recipes! 

I will be delivering FREE of charge to the Point Fosdick, Fox Island, Gig Harbor and University Place areas on Mondays & Fridays. Simply click on the Venmo link below to order 1 or more…OR try a weekly CSA and get your greens the easy way! 

Thank you in advance for your support! Any questions please reach out at WillaBella@icloud.com 💚

PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFO IN COMMENT SECTION OF YOUR VENMO ORDER:

1. Microgreen: Radish, Sunflower, Beet or Pea
2. Quantity Each (One 6oz tray is enough for 3 sandwiches OR recipe topper will stay fresh in fridge for approx 5days)
3. Name/Address for Delivery
4. Email or Phone for order confirmation
5. Delivery day/time preferred
6. THANK YOU!🌱

KATHLEEN is the owner/operator of WillaBella Farm, LLC. She holds a Bachelor of Science clinical degree from the University of Washington & recently retired (along with her first responder husband) from a 16 year career in clinical diagnostics/medical research sales focused primarily on microbiology & immunochemistry.

She is a beekeeper & certified master gardener and operates her 100yr old historic, regenerative farm as a community outreach model. Kathleen has worked on many projects, serving on boards & supporting all things local food & healthy communities!

Kathleen grew up the youngest of 8 kids in rural Montana and found solace in nature, fishing, backpacking and anything outdoors. She enjoys sharing her organically grown, nutrient dense food via a Sunday youth farm stand, teaching kids about healthy ecosystems, supporting female farmers, writing short stories & spending time in our beautiful diverse Pacific Northwest nature with her family! 🌱

DIANE holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources Management from Cal Poly and a masters of science degree in Forest Ecology from University of Washington. Throughout her 25 year career, she has worked in various roles including with rare and endangered plants, forest land use and agriculture resource management. Most recently, with Pierce County focusing on farm land preservation. In her retirement she enjoys nature, hiking, mushroom hunting with her trained pup & spending time with her family & grandkids. Growing up she was a member of 4-H and Future Farmers of America raising sheep, goats and horses; & worked on a lemon & grapefruit farm!

JENNY holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture and is a certified Master Gardener. She grew up on her family’s self-sustainable, 60-cow dairy farm in the Midwest. As a family of seven, they processed all their own home-raised meats and wild game, foraged for wild currants, berries, and apples, and grew a large vegetable garden, all to provide through the winter. Jenny is a homeschool mom to three, teaches botany and entomology classes for kids, and is passionate about engaging kids in the community with the wonder of plant physiology, the importance and diversity of insect life, and excitement about growing organic foods!

IZZIE is a Senior in the Running Start Program. She has spent her farm life immersed in nature and her love for animals and wildlife. An honor student, she enjoys reading, science and biology. She and her brother have managed their Youth Sunday Farm Stand since the age of 7 to save for college. She has also taught youth on our farm and spent a full summer volunteering & teaching kids at the Tacoma Nature Center. She is a Jazz & Wind symphony musician in both clarinet and piano and enjoys playing on the varsity golf team at her highschool. She plans to pursue a degree in criminal Justice and forensics after graduation!

Thankfully the rainy days of Fall lend themselves to rest and regeneration. So here I sit compelled to write, coffee & fingertips at hand.

I turned 57 during election week. Like many older ladies my age, I have lived a full complex life with many experiences. When you reach this stage of life, most of us have held various vocations & advocations and have put up with a lot of Bullsh—💩

Experiences shape us into the multidimensional humans that we are, which impacts the way that each of us Vote. So goes my rant if you have the time…

I was raised Irish Catholic in a small Democratic mining town in southwest Montana🍀 The youngest of 8 in a single parent home, my Mom a hardworking elementary school teacher. My absentee Dad, a used car salesman. My home town is literally the birthplace of one of the first organized labor Unions founded June 1878!

After those tumultuous teenage years, I loaded my car and moved to Seattle at 19yrs old. Putting myself through College in the big city. Eating Ramen, studying science and eventually graduating with a BS from the University of Washington. For the first time, this shy rural girl found my voice. My mind blown by a big beautiful diverse world.

After college, I struggled to find work, spending more money on grad school and finally struck pay dirt. Spending the better part of sixteen years working in a mostly conservative-minded, male led global Fortune 500 medical sales environment….While also happily married 25 years to a proud Union Firefighter 🧑‍🚒 

With both of us having stressful careers and a desire to be home with my kids, I took some time off. Those were my healthiest years, both mentally and physically. Constantly immersed in nature, helping at school & learning how to care for our 100yr old farm organically. Seeing first hand the effects of a broken food system on public health, I chose to give my time over the next 8 years to support local food system projects in mostly liberal minded circles. Once again experiencing a wide range of beautifully diverse views & cultures. With kids in tow, I had found my passion. It was political and not an easy road to navigate, but I loved every minute!

Eventually forced to return to corporate sales, finding space in medical diagnostics research this time around. Working once again in a toxic stressful career. One that never loved me, but one that lucratively helped me get my worn out first responder hubby to retirement. For that I am grateful. Both of us beyond happy to have achieved that milestone earlier this year. As I reflect on my life experiences, the following is why I vote the way that I do….

1. Myself, like many others have experienced both sides of the isle over a lifetime of living. As a result, people like me have no tribe. I have always been a somewhat feisty, non conformist. Likely from fending off a gang of Type A older siblings, always telling me what to do. I have never truly felt like I fit in anywhere, not in my career, not in my volunteer work, not even in my own family. A black sheep, a perpetual outsider. A keeper of bees, I rarely follow the hive mind. Which leads me to ask…What ever happened to celebrating the free thinkers?🐝 

2. This is a challenge for people like me, because we Americans are now forced to pick the red or blue tribe period. There is no middle ground anymore. If we vote on a split ballot, we are somehow bad people, unloyal. Our family has a wide range of friends that are both Republican and Democrat. In today’s polarized climate, I only trust my closest friends with my deepest self, because they know my heart. Complete strangers do not know who we are deep down and therefore are less tolerant of our choices. Following social media is superficial and not the same as really knowing someone. As I learned in sales 101, always seek to understand. Which leads me to ask…What happened to choosing leaders based on their experience & merit, not their religion or party?☮️

3. In my late 40s, having spent time in almost every denomination in town, our family gave up organized religion altogether. Primarily because we became saddened by the ongoing political narrative infiltrating christianity over the last decade. I simply no longer felt that my children were safe there. The horrible rhetoric that my fellow Christian’s were supporting was beyond shocking. We gave our children a foundation with as many experiences as possible, so that they can choose their own path, true to their own individuality. We need no man or woman to stand between our deepest self and our spiritual beliefs. And there is absolutely no place for politics in that sacred space. Our farm is now our church. Which leads me to ask…Whatever happened to God wanting spiritual fruits, not religious nuts?🐓

4. As a high energy, deep feeling person, I tend to overreact. So I have worked hard through years of therapy to temper my emotions when making decisions. Having done my share of campaigning and embarrassing myself in front of powerful people over the years, I am deeply afraid to speak up anymore. Despite years of sales training and the gift of gab, my days of going before council and serving on community boards are over. Speaking on importance of healthy ecosystems, humane animal husbandry and the biology of soil should not be polarizing topics, but sadly everything seems to be these days. Having been screamed at, degraded and bad mouthed by all sides. I now chose to hide behind my gate and no longer put myself out there. Sharing your inner self is a dangerous game. If the self righteous happen to hear you, it could cost you in devastating ways. Which leads me to ask…What ever happened to the days of tolerating each other and celebrating diverse viewpoints? 💕

Bottom line, although we need them, I believe that most politicians, religious leaders and powerful people in our communities are full of crap and the very inspiration behind my stinky vote sign. I have gotten acquainted with several of them with my local outreach work and have learned that most (not all) are in it for themselves. So let’s stop fighting over these fools. The loss of friends and family over the last decade still haunts me.

So what does this all mean and why bother writing about it? Well after spending this election week traveling to/from Montana spending time with my elderly mother & with my bestie, both amazing educated women with opposite political viewpoints. Two female educators coming from their own set of life experiences. I finally realized that my personal views over the last few years now fall somewhere in the middle of this spectrum. Our reciprocal, female relationships run deeper than any political narrative and those are worth preserving.

I returned home to my family, reviewing candidates & initiatives one by one. Having long thoughtful discussions with our children as we filled out our ballots. My twenty something college age son making his own informed decisions, choosing to lean one direction while also voting a split ticket. An environmental science major, we love this young man for all of his inner goodness, regardless of how he marks his ballot. Resist the temptation to indoctrinate your kids to religion or politics…We desperately need the next generation to think on their own!

A Message To My Children:

Voting is your right even if the outcome is not what you had hoped for. Political figures are not who any of us should be looking up to. Especially polarizing figures who seek to divide us. You are surrounded by decent men & women who are good role models. Be they a teacher, a firefighter, a public servant, a friend..Always look for the helpers!

Learning to keep a safe distance from humans who we deem unsafe for our mental well being is a lesson best learned when young. Never develop an opinion about someone based on another persons view. Gossip is very damaging. Seek to always understand others through your own eyes.

Finding your own spiritual path that speaks to your soul is important. Never let anyone tell you how to think or feel. Diversity is beautiful in all living things, the world was never meant to look the same.

Always plant seeds for the future, be intentional, & stand up for the vulnerable. But most of all…Turn off the noise, respect thy neighbor and be true to yourself. 🇺🇸🌸🌎

#takecareteam #democracy #godblessamerica #unity #kindness #loveoneanother #peace #respectwomen #celebratediversity #separatechurchfromstate #betheexample #forourkids #forourfuture

(ARCHIVED: As our kids are off to college, Our 15 year old youth farm stand will be sunsetted in 2026. You can now find our fresh fruit & honey at the Artondale Farm Store!)

——————————————————————-

Welcome to our Farm! We are excited to announce our official new licensed name WillaBella Farm, LLC. We will be extending our season this year from June through Fall! 🌸

Now that Scott & Kathleen are happily retired Yay! He, 32 years as a Captain & first responder. She, 16 years in clinical laboratory sales. We are getting our historic farm back in shape, while busily planting & growing nutrient dense food for YOU! 

Over the years, we have used our historic farm mostly for outreach, helping with local food system projects & youth science programs. As our kids are now mostly grown and we quickly approach 60yrs..Yipes! Life is all about staying in shape at our outdoor farm gym, building healthy ecosystems & sharing our organically grown bounty with our community!

We are relaunching with improved offerings and if all goes as planned, we will stay open thru squash & kiwi season to Fall 🥝

1. FARM STAND SUNDAYS- We are happy to announce that our Farm Stand will return June 22nd with organically grown produce every Sunday from NOON – 5PM. We will launch with early spring crops, flowers, honey and fresh eggs. Our berries, veggies, flowers & abundant fruit trees will be ready for harvest in July, so be sure to watch our pages for what is in season every Sunday..AND for all those anxiously awaiting, the Figs arrive in early August!

2. YOUTH TEACHING TUESDAYS- We are also bringing back our Farm Science Camps this summer for 7-11 year olds. Watch our site for curriculum & registration opening June 1st. https://willabellafarm.com/2025/02/09/farm-science-camps-summer-2025/🐝

3. FARM HISTORY TOURS – Finally, for all the folks who have inquired about really “seeing” the farm, but we never have the time! You can sign up for a guided tour on Sunday afternoons during our Farm Stand hours. Enjoy a 45 minute farm tour for $20. This is a rare opportunity to see behind the scenes of the last remaining working, historic farm in the Point Fosdick area, homesteaded in 1912. Tour eight different regenerative growing spaces, ask all your food growing questions, while learning about the Hansen family farm legacy: https://willabellafarm.com/2020/12/10/marys-heritage-place/

🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃

Like the original homesteaders, we do not grow food in traditional row cropping at our farm. Rather we use permaculture & hugeculture methods to work with nature, growing nutrient dense food intermixed throughout the property for healthier ecosystems. We consider our farm as our outdoor nature laboratory!

We grow “a little of a lot of things” for you! Cherries, Apples, Pears, Plums, Figs, Italian Prunes, Grapes, Quince, Kiwis, Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Thornless Blackberries, Mixed Native Berries…Also wide array of seasonal Vegetables, Squash, Flowers, Raw Honey & Fresh Eggs. Looking forward to seeing you at the Farm this summer! 🍓

In Good Health, The Rose Family

Follow us: @willabellafarm on Instagram, @roseorchards/willabellafarm on Facebook Kathleen WillaBellaFarm@bluesky

When you live on ten acres, farmhouse set back off the road, surrounded by woods, you don’t see a lot of action. Both of us with public health careers, the gated entrance & peaceful solace is a therapeutic necessity. Never in a million years expecting this…

“Grab Kellee hurry..get her inside..hurry!” A calm but urgent tone radiating from my captain hubby’s commanding voice.

I have learned from living with this man for 22 years, never to second guess his sense of urgency. Not a sound I hear very often coming from my very reserved first responder. One to never overreact OR react in general. I turn on my heels, grabbing my elderly yellow laborador by the collar, rushing her inside the enclosed farm house porch.

Closing the door behind me, I return to the scene to see a very stout brown animal scurry past the people standing outside. The animal pushes through the door of our smaller guest house. A former wood shop transformed into a family gathering place on our historic farm.

Screams radiating from inside. I rush inside to confront what appears to be a very large Bull Mastiff. Having never seen this animal in our neighborhood before, I gently reach my hand out to him. My elderly in-laws huddled behind the couch. Our young daughter standing on top clutching a pillow, overcome in fear. I call to the dog, “Here Boy, Good Boy…Come..Come!”

A self proclaimed dog whisperer, I am surprised at this animals lack of response. Emptiness fills it’s eyes. A predatory dog on a mission. Shivers run down my spine. No connection to the humans surrounding him whatsoever.

“Show no fear”, I calmly say to the terror filled human eyes surrounding me, while my own body trembles. Having had dogs my entire life, I have never seen a canine look quite like that.

While my hubby & I work together to try to coherce the beefy animal back outside. My sister-in-law scurries along the driveway to rush her toddler grandson to her truck, parked a few feet away. They were visiting the farm, so little Wyatt could play with our 2 young goats. Oh no the goats!

I had them out of their pen for a short time with the toddler. The dog pushes his way past my hubby, knocking into my legs and exits the building, while I quickly rush out behind him to gather the goats.

One of the young wethers, Nubs, aptly named for his uneven horns from botched disbudding. My daughters first goat, rescued from a overcrowded hobby farm. He looks at the dog and turns to bolt, as any prey animal would. The raging wolf-like canine quickly takes chase, it’s not long before he has little Nubsie in his grasp, chomping down on his skinny neck. The sweet innocent goat screeching in pain, paralyzed in fear.

In seconds, but what feels like ages playing out in slow motion, I am on top of the dog, desperately punching the animal in the head. Grasping the upper jaw, a proven technique, working to get the animal to release my daughter’s beloved goat. Screams, both animal and human, radiate from everywhere. I have never felt such a powerful animal under my grasp. None of my efforts work, but I will not let this goat die in front of my daughter today.

My elderly father-in-law, yelling from the guest house begging me to get out of there. From the corner of my eye, I see my young son exiting the doorway. Concerned that he’s coming to my aid, he takes off running in the opposite direction. My kindergartner still screeching from inside. I thrust everything I have into my attempt to tackle this powerful animal, jaws literally locked shut. He does not budge. I repeatedly punch him in the head over and over again. Goat hollering a gut wrenching, ear piercing, bleating scream.

My hubby, fearful of dogs, having been brutally attacked by a pack of dogs as a child, runs to get his gun. My brother-in-law grabbing a tire iron from the back of his truck. Launching numerous blows to the dogs back. Miraculously, and after what felt like an eternity, the unwelcome monster let’s go of the goat.

The animal teeth bared in rage, turns and runs straight at my husband. Still grappling with the bullet box, spilling them all over the garage floor. We all scream. One shot echoes out, as the dog staggers around the corner, dropping dead instantly in our grape orchard. The whole scene happened so fast. We all stand in shock.

Still holding on tightly to Nubs, feeling his trembling body, blood literally spouting straight out of his neck, screaming in pain. With all my might, I heft this 80 pound animal into the canopy of my Toyota farm truck, before the stunned men can even blink an eye. Speeding in desperation out of the driveway, fully expecting my daughter’s sweet goat to perish a painful death in the bed of a dusty old truck. Overwhelmed in panic, I rush off to my large animal vet, dialing the clinic as I exit our gate.

In the clinic atbay, the veterinarians work to stabilize Nubs with an IV, while plugging the gaping holes in his neck. I watch his trembling little limp body in shock, his sweet slanted eyes pleading to me. Goats are literally the kindest farm animals that ever lived. I am overcome with sadness for the little guy. The vet says his jugular vein has been punctured, but thankfully all neck bones appear intact. He has lost alot of blood and may not make it. How will my daughter ever recover from losing her first ever baby goat? They treat him with heavy antibiotics for his wounds. He will need to stay the night at the hospital for monitoring, as infection is likely to follow.

Meanwhile at the farm, some neighbors heard all the screaming and called 911. Officers arrive, along with animal control quickly behind. Apparently, this is the second bull mastiff on a killing spree this day. One had been killing chickens at a farm down the road and was also shot by the farm owner. The officer working to find out if there is a connection between this dog and the other, as she takes the body away in her van.

Leaving Nubsie in good care, I return back to the farm. As I pull in, I see the animal control van driving away down our road. Grateful not to be home to witness all of that, this was someone’s dog. An extreme animal lover, my heart can not bear to think about that right now.

We gather together with grandparents in the guest house, hugging and recapping what in the hell just happened. Our little one wrapped around my legs, traumatized & shaken. Reassuring her that little Nubsy will be okay and we can go visit him in the hospital tomorrow. My hubby stands broken, feeling terrible about having taken down the animal in defense. The other men reassuring him that it was a dangerous animal and could have seriously injured or killed any one of us. Thank goodness it didn’t grab a child or the little visiting toddler cousin. My gut aches reflecting on what could have happened if a child had started running, triggering a chase. Nubs literally was the sacrificial goat. We are all immensely grateful.

My sweet strong husband explains how he saw the animal coming. Watching him crawl under the fence, entering our field. He grew concerned when the animal blew past the chickens, heading straight for the house. It was a beautiful sunny spring day, family gathered outside with the kids playing in the sunshine with our animals. He didn’t want to disrupt the moment, but his instincts were spot on. It was as if this animal was on a mission, seeking out something specific. “That’s when I yelled for you to grab our dog”. As we recap the experience, everyone’s nerves begin to calm. Tears and shock remain in my young daughters eyes.

“Where is Will?” My mother-in-law interrupts. A true grandmas boy, she notices that he is missing before his own mother does. I’ll never deserve an award for the most endearing mother, that is for sure. That title belongs to Grandma Rose.

I rush out of the guest house and around the building, to find my brave 4th grader still huttled in the underground, cement room of the guest house. I take him by the hand and lead him back inside. We all chuckle..Thats our brave boy, making sure to save himself first!

A little guy of few words..he wraps his arms around his Amma expressing his relief with those big brown eyes. My little introvert, always deep in thought, asking if there will be cake & returning to his video game. This kid always associating cake during any family event.

Night falls. Everything seems to return to normal. Kids tucked away to bed. The singular goat, Wilson crying out in the distance for his friend. If you’ve ever had goats, then you know that a lone goat is a very noisy goat. The vet calls with an update on Nubs. Still sedated, radiography shows nothing broken, tough little dude hanging strong. She will know more in the morning.

I head outside to lock up the chickens and comfort Wilson. I hear a man’s voice in the distance calling for his dog. I rush inside asking my husband to join me outside, wondering if there is a connection. A gut wrenching sound in the darkness, I have been there before. We decide to leave a message for the animal control officer, asking that she contact us in the morning.

Sunrise on the farm, roosters crowing, scrambling to get kids fed and off to school. We hear a car pulling up the driveway. The animal control officer has returned with some bad news. Turns out there is no connection to the other Bull Mastiff that she took in. The one that attacked us actually belonged to our neighbor, just two doors down. My heart sinks. I don’t know the man well, but I do recall him as one of our kind neighbors that helped look for our lost dog. (See https://willabellafarm.com/2020/08/24/kellee-dogs-story/).

Feeling physically ill, and thankful for a recent promotion to Corporate accounts, affords me the ability to cancel all conference calls and take the day off to begin to process the magnitude of this random event.

The kind officer gently explains that the neighbor was out of town, leaving the dog in his estranged wife’s care. She apparently neglected the dog and hence he broke out of his enclosure. There is always more than meets the eye in the unique behavior of animals, especially dogs. The officer further tells us that the animal had been required to be contained, because it had attacked a jogger with a small dog a few months ago. I felt sad for my neighbor, but realized that a dog that size with an aggressive history could have killed someone. We had to give away a herding dog many years ago, due to some aggressive behavior toward humans, so I get it.

Days passed, I felt a lump in my throat knowing that we would eventually need to contact the dog owner. Not to mention the $3k in emergency vet bills I needed to discuss with him.

That evening, I peer out the window to see the dog owner standing in our driveway. My hubby emerging from the guest house to confront him. I quickly stop doing dishes and rush outside. My hubby taking a strong stance, thankfully the dog owner appears humble. Softening his posture, my hubs explains that he had no choice, but to protect his family. Sadness fills the neighbors eyes. He seems like a good guy. We exchange information and he leaves the driveway.

A few days later he appears again. Quietly approaching me out working in the front field. He reaches out to hand me $200 cash. I thank him. Pointing to the injured goat in the barn, on my way to give him his daily subcutaneous antibiotic injection and clean his wounds. I ask if he’d like to meet the goat, looking timid, he declines. We discuss the cost of his care and he asks that I leave the invoice in his mailbox. I explain that we are willing to split the bill to make amends for his perished pet.

He talks about getting another dog, as he has just gone through a painful divorce, divulging his personal challenges with me. I empathize for a bit, but honestly the mental wounds are still raw, as I help my kids recover from the trauma & the daily care and expense of an injured goat. As he departs, I jokingly holler “If you get another Bull anything I will kick your arse!”

He laughs and all is well among neighbors.

Fast forward many months, we never see any more money from the neighbor. But we are much more grateful for the opportunity to live in peace with him. Years pass quickly, kids grow like weeds. No longer letting goats out of the pasture to forage anymore. The entire front of the property surrounded by predator proof fencing now. Nubs, along with his brother Wilson, eventually move onto our Nanny’s farm, during what became a very crazy busy time in our lives. Working corporate accounts, traveling all the time, kids busy with school & endless activities, the little critters just weren’t getting the attention they deserved.

The Red Shed Barn transformed as housing hogs for our family freezer (see https://willabellafarm.com/2021/03/14/here-piggy-piggy/). My farming experiments expand exponentially as I learn to raise my own pastured pork, butcher chickens, grow better fruit, raise bees etc. I begin to spend countless volunteer hours immersed in food system outreach, pining to offer something more meaningful to society than simply earning myself a living.

Retired from corporate life now as a result of the Pandemic, my codependent brain still always in overdrive. Shifting gears toward teaching youth about healthy ecosystems. I leverage my daughters magic with her father to adopt Nigerian dwarf goats & Julianna pigs as pets to help teach farm camp kiddos about regenerative food production.

My sales pitch includes detailed scientific justification. Preaching that livestock serve multiple purposes to rehabilitate our fallow fields, provide compost for the orchards, helping educate community kids, while earning extra money to offset my expensive farm addiction. He begrudgingly relents…Happy happy farmy fetish day!

New pet farm animals installed, my daughter in love with her fur babies, I begin to dream of breeding my own animal one day. Learning to milk along with my kids. Maybe even making our own cheese & goat milk soap. Every step in this small farming journey carefully calculated around my tired first responder hubby’s mood.

Leaving my sales career, during a never ending global pandemic to focus on keeping our family mentally & physically healthy, I challenge myself to learn something new each farming year. I begin to make a few secret calls to some farmy goat pals, while always including my daughter in on my plans. Covert girl stuff, no time for boring boy nonsense.

Fall arrives, our now middle schooler showing some strange physical symptoms, I take her to my Naturopath and we learn that she is allergic to literally everything farmy, including the dreaded dairy & eggs….NOW there is no question that goat milk is a necessity on our small farm! Supporting my argument even further with the skeptical hubs.

Welcome the arrival of a registered Nigerian Dwarf buck to romance my daughter’s 4H diary goat. She & Cookie girl never making it to the fair for “quaranteen” reasons already explained. Sir Hope Hollow Cocoa The Buck joins our herd, with the excitement of bouncing kids by June!

He is a smelly, raunchy dude ready to party. Upon delivery by my very knowledgeable livestock friend Sherie, of whose farm our Cookie girl and her brother Dusty Bun were bottle raised. The buck enters the first pasture and immediately gets to work separating the wethers from our single doe. Squeeling in delight, foaming from the mouth and flemming like crazy.

Cookie begins to flirt with the little buck pretending to play hard to get. Weeks follow, observing the bizarre goat mating rituals, including the not so rare Bucky behavior of peeing on his own beard. Apparently an attractive cologne for the ladies.

Always pushing myself to take on more than one farmer can handle, I convince the hubs to let me adopt a Great Pyranees puppy to protect our livestock. Experiencing an increase in wildlife predators this past year as well. Having lost our young cat Maple, many many chickens and my beloved mamma Muskovie duck taken in broad daylight, right before my eyes. The coyotes and raccoons literally taking over our farm. Our sweet Kellee girl passing away from old age last spring, leaving our chocolate lab Roxie to manage things on her own.

I am “Groot” joins our farm family. A giant puppy towering over our five year old lab will take at least a year to train properly. This breed is prone to roam, having protected large flocks of sheep covering expansive lands for thousands of years. More hog panels, with T-post welded wire fencing, will be in order to avoid another lost dog adventure. Draining our savings once again. Every action typically has a more expensive reaction in small sustainable farming.

Wired like no other, and in complete contrast to a Labrador Retriever. Those lovable Labs, with tail up, head down, eager to chase a ball or capture small rodents for you. Labs are often tricked by sly coyotes, which I have observed first hand myself. One predator distracts the dog away, while another slips in from the side to steal your sweet momma Muskovie Duck. Running too fast to catch up to, sneaking away under the blackberry bushes, never to be seen again.

It wasn’t the beheaded chickens or even the lost cat. This was the defining moment for me right there, scratched and bloody, standing helpless in the middle of the thick brambles. It is time to take on the challenge of training a Livestock Guardian Dog.

Great Pyranees, equally loving if socialized properly, with head up, tail down, keenly aware of their surroundings, are never to be tricked. These dogs will literally tear a coyote to bits to protect whoever he deems is his flock. Our hope is this majestic guy, wired with GPS, will not break out of fencing, like many other independent thinkers. He will be a working LGD with many important jobs to do, including protecting our farm, Momma Cookie and her babies. While also teaching me some important lessons on slowing down and being more patient…AND so continues the beautiful struggle of small farm animal life.

Thank you for following along on the next phase of our farming journey..We hope to share good news of goat kids coming this June and sharing our experience with our Farm Camp Kiddos! 🌱

*Please visit our social media pages RoseOrchards-WillaBellaFarm on Facebook, @willabellafarm on Instagram, and our blog at http://www.WillaBellaFarm.com for 2022 Farm Science Camp registration to be announced in April.