Author Archives: Roseorchards

Thank you Rylea Foehl photography & Pierce County Fresh for choosing us to help tell our farming story & support our regenerative outreach mission!…More of Rylea’s photos at https://ryleafoehl.com/🌻 Hello Friends, I am Kathleen, welcome to my small farming journey! This is not my life story, but rather a brief glimpse of my 50 somethingContinue reading “My Journey in Small Farming”

Springtime is for rebirth. Bulbs begin to emerge, fruit buds swell, my favorite time of year. As the days grow longer, I spend more time slogging around the muddy property with my two very dirty labradors in tow. I stop to marvel at plum tree blooms starting to open, soft yellow daffodils peeking through theContinue reading “Here Piggy Piggy”

The Holidays tend to bring out thoughts of home, family, warmth, traditions…That deep sense of gratefulness in all of us. Some of the very things that inspired me to write about the Hansen Family who homesteaded our property in 1912. Seventeen years ago, we were fortunate to befriend one of the two remaining descendants stillContinue reading “Mary’s Heritage Place”

Feeling a sense of peace, as I make the turn onto our street. Just 1/2 mile to go to embrace my littles, who I’ve missed so much. Pulling onto our road that leads to our farm, I see a disheveled looking rooster, taking cover under the salal that lines the gravel roadway. I squint throughContinue reading “Not Our Chicken”

We stood in the stillness of the winter night, calling out her name…”Did you hear that? Over there, did you here it?” Pointing across the dark ravine. We begin calling frantically, stopping every few seconds, listening intently. “That was her, that was her bark.” Minutes pass, then hours, it begins to rain. Nothing,..I lay awakeContinue reading “Kellee Dog’s Story”

Kathleen Rose is the owner/operator of one of the last remaining 100 year old heritage farms in Gig Harbor, WillaBella Farm, LLC. Kathleen is a small farmer, beekeeper & certified master gardener and operates her historic, regenerative farm as a community outreach model. She holds a BS clinical degree from the University of Washington andContinue reading “By Request, The Bio:”

Weeks of aligning schedules, gear planning, securing farm sitters & prepping for our annual backcountry trip into the rugged Montana Pioneer Mountains. This year we would be heading to the special place where my hubby spent his summers since he was 14yrs old, where he proposed to me atop a ridge at Mount Tahepia &Continue reading “Go away bear…”