Farmer Brown's Organic Garden

Farmer Brown's Organic Garden Nonprofit CEO | Master Gardener, MGFKC Board Member & Educator | Published Author & Storyteller | Nurture Growth & Embrace Change.

WSU Extension Master Gardener, content writer & marketing, photographer & author. Dedicated to inspiring and uplifting life through creative and moving approaches.

The Art of Living #12 – Where Mothers GoFor a long stretch of my life, I believed I had lost my connection to my mother...
06/14/2026

The Art of Living #12 – Where Mothers Go
For a long stretch of my life, I believed I had lost my connection to my mother. Some of you know that when her health declined, my two younger brothers didn’t allow me to say goodbye. That moment — or the absence of it — carved out a hollow space I carried quietly.

But this morning, when I stepped out my front door, something shifted. I realized my mother is in my garden.

When she was still healthy, we had begun planning for her to move onto my property. She had already started imagining what she called her “park,” pointing out where paths might curve and where benches might rest. I didn’t know then how deeply those early sketches would root themselves in me. On December 4, 2022, at 3:47 p.m., Alec sent a text that simply read, “Mother passed away.” It took time — real time — to understand that she hadn’t truly left.

Her presence is woven into the landscape. Tony, the six‑foot driftwood horse head, stands tall in the garden. Tony was her favorite childhood horse, the one she spoke of with a softness that never faded. The bench Gavin and I built sits beneath the trees, a place where I sip my morning coffee or chat with families interested in Roxy’s Doxies.

Now I can speak not only to the joy of gardening, but to the quiet power of garden art. These small touches — these little things — carry the greatest meaning. They remind me that love doesn’t disappear; it simply takes new forms.

The Art of Living: Slowing Down There’s a rhythm in the garden that can’t be rushed. Seeds sprout when they’re ready, bl...
06/10/2026

The Art of Living: Slowing Down

There’s a rhythm in the garden that can’t be rushed. Seeds sprout when they’re ready, blossoms open in their own time, and even the soil rests between seasons. I’m learning that life asks the same of us, to slow down, to breathe, to grow at a pace that feels human.

This year brought changes that shifted my entire landscape. My son stepped into his own life, and for the first time, I stepped fully into mine. The house grew quieter, the days stretched differently, and I found myself adjusting to a new kind of stillness. At first it felt unfamiliar, like a freshly turned bed waiting for something to take root.

But slowing down has its gifts.

I’m cooking meals I love, wandering the garden because it calls to me, writing more, resting more, and discovering what it feels like to live on my own schedule. I’m learning that thriving doesn’t always look like doing more, sometimes it looks like doing less, but with intention.

The Art of Living, at least in this season, is simple: Slow down. Notice the good things. Let joy take up space. And allow yourself to grow in the quiet places.

If I had it my way, you’d walk through a garden bursting with color. If I had it my way, your table would always be ful...
06/05/2026

If I had it my way, you’d walk through a garden bursting with color.

If I had it my way, your table would always be full, and your heart always be fed.

If I had it my way, pain would never find its way to your doorstep.

If I had it my way… peace would settle over everything, like morning light after rain.

A hush before the morning light,then—flash of sky in sudden flight,a song so small, yet wide as spring,the world awakes ...
05/31/2026

A hush before the morning light,
then—flash of sky in sudden flight,
a song so small, yet wide as spring,
the world awakes beneath its wing.

I've not been able to identify this one yet. I will say that living in a Victorian birdcage is pretty classy. Hoping she stays the whole summer.

The Art of Living #22Every once in a while, we need to pause long enough to notice what we’ve accomplished. Not with pr...
05/29/2026

The Art of Living #22

Every once in a while, we need to pause long enough to notice what we’ve accomplished. Not with pride that shouts, but with gratitude that settles. Admire what your hands have shaped. Remember the vision you planted years ago. And let yourself enjoy the life that has quietly grown around you.

There’s something almost sacred after a hard rain, when the world feels rinsed clean and the trees seem to bow in gratit...
05/26/2026

There’s something almost sacred after a hard rain, when the world feels rinsed clean and the trees seem to bow in gratitude. This morning, I stepped outside my trees were leaning toward the earth, as if acknowledging Mother Nature with a quiet thank you. It stopped me in my tracks. A reminder that even in our own storms, there is beauty in pausing, softening, and recognizing the gifts around us. The garden always knows how to teach what the heart forgets, humility, renewal, and the simple grace of being present.

Take a moment and be grateful for what you have.

05/24/2026

Memorial Day originated after the Civil War as a day for Americans to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, formally established on May 30, 1868 by General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic. Its specific purpose was — and remains — to honor U.S. military members who died while serving.

For me, it was the Viet Nam War and the kids I grew up with. Those that went to war and never returned. Those that went and were forever changed as well as those who bravely performed their duties and returned to continue their life. Thank you for your service and everything that was done on our behalf. May your time be spent with loved ones and you realize that you are loved by many.

Thank You

Why Bees Matter More Than Ever — National Bee Day Bees have always been essential to life on Earth, but today, on Nation...
05/20/2026

Why Bees Matter More Than Ever — National Bee Day

Bees have always been essential to life on Earth, but today, on National Bee Day, their importance feels more urgent than ever. These small, steady workers pollinate nearly one‑third of the food we eat, from berries and apples to squash, tomatoes, and countless garden favorites. Without them, our plates, our gardens, and our ecosystems would look very different.

But bees are facing real challenges. Habitat loss, pesticides, climate shifts, and reduced plant diversity have all contributed to declining bee populations. The good news is that every gardener, every homeowner, and every community can make a meaningful difference. And that’s where Master Gardeners shine.

Every time we teach someone to plant a pollinator‑friendly garden, avoid harmful chemicals, or create a simple water source, like the Backyard Bee Bath or Watering Hole many of you have shared with families, we’re helping bees survive. Every native plant we recommend, every child we show how to safely observe a bee, every conversation we have at a clinic or workshop … it all adds up.

Bees remind us that small actions matter. A single bee visits thousands of flowers a day. A single gardener can transform a yard. A single community can shift an entire landscape.

Today is a celebration, but it’s also a call to keep doing what we do best: teaching, planting, restoring, and inspiring. The bees need us, and we need them. And together, we can make our communities bloom.

Why now? Why this change? The good news is ... I’m still here. And as much as I adore the Dachshund breed, being a small...
05/08/2026

Why now? Why this change?

The good news is ... I’m still here. And as much as I adore the Dachshund breed, being a small hobby breeder means I’m a one‑woman shop. I get the joy of puppy kisses and the reality of puppy “accidents.” I’ve loved every moment - even the hard ones. There were nights when a mama didn’t have enough milk, and I slept on the couch rotating puppies every couple of hours just to keep everyone nourished and alive. One summer, I spent more time on that couch than in my own bed… and honestly, they were the cutest little critters ever.

I’ve always taken pride in finding extraordinary families who love these dogs as deeply as I do. You are the foundation of everything good that has come from Roxy’s Doxies. One rehoming in particular - Mad Max - still stirs emotion in me. His family is incredible and they adore him, but they don’t know the whole story. Maybe it’s time I share a little more about why I raise Miniature Dachshunds.

I’m a mother who carried three babies and lost three babies. There - I’ve said it. Susan Lynn lived for 3 years, 7 months, and 4 days. Most of her life was spent at the Beatrice State Home in Nebraska. Andrea Dawn lived for 18 hours. Our son lived only for moments. My son is adopted and is one of the greatest gifts of my life. And somewhere in that heartbreak, my dachshunds became my family. They helped me heal.

Now I’m maturing (I refuse to say “old”). I’ve made it this far, and I believe I still have more to offer. I’ve weathered the people yelling at me to “stop being a puppy mill,” and the ones who think my pricing is unfair - right up until I ask, “What’s your budget?” and the phone goes silent. I’ve adjusted pricing when I could, and I’ve gifted puppies when a family truly needed one. That’s who I am.

To my Repeat Offenders - I love you. One of you joked that getting a second dog from me made you a “repeat offender,” and the name stuck. You’ve been such a joy.

As many of you know, I’ve been reducing my girls. I’m not stopping - just shifting. In 2020, I became a WSU Extension Master Gardener, and in 2025 I was elected as a Director for the Master Gardener Foundation of King County. My role is to raise funds for our programs, especially our 13 demonstration gardens where we propagate, cultivate, harvest, and donate thousands of pounds of organic produce to community food banks. This work speaks to my soul.

Last year, 22 people visited my garden, picked their own produce, and left with full baskets and full hearts. That joy is right up there with Roxy’s Doxies. This year the garden will be full again with beans, peas, potatoes, garlic, onions, salad greens, blueberries, strawberries, figs, raspberries, rhubarb, and sweet pudding‑like persimmons.

If you’d like a personal garden tour or just want to catch up, reach out. Life is very, very good, and I’m grateful for every one of you who has come into my life through these little, long dogs.

As I step into this next chapter, I invite you to join the Roxy’s Doxies Community, a place for connection, learning, stories, and celebrating the breed we all love so much. And yes… when we go live, I’ll be doing something special to celebrate. Stay tuned.

To celebrate the launch of the new Roxy’s Doxies Community, I’m giving away a custom portrait to one of you, of your dog in watercolor or oil created by the talented Sketchy Evening.

This community has been built on love, healing, and connection, and I wanted a giveaway that reflects that. A portrait captures the heart of the dogs who have brought us together.

Details on how to enter will be posted when we go live. I can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter with you.

NEW GARDEN ART ... thoughts? Just having fun with the possibility of having Gavin visit later this summer with his BFF. ...
04/26/2026

NEW GARDEN ART ... thoughts? Just having fun with the possibility of having Gavin visit later this summer with his BFF. I upcycled a couple of boards from the original house that made it thru the fire in 2016 and add a doorknob and a small poem. Pretty Cool!

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