If Kay isn’t growing something, it’s very likely she’s making something. And if she’s not quite sure how, she certainly does not hesitate to figure it out.
“I make everything I possibly can with my own two hands; artist, farmer, horticulturist, soap maker, cook…” reads her IG bio. And it’s pretty evident that Kay is one of those highly creative people who has a definite passion for life. “I’ve always been like this. Kids used to call me Betty Crocker,” she fondly recalls.
Originally from the Bay area, Kay began gardening when she was young, tending to her own tiny gardens and helping care for her grandparents’ perennial garden. These days, she especially enjoys growing vegetables, and also has more than 200 houseplants at home, with a special love for orchids. ”It’s a little ridiculous,” she admits, laughing.
Also an accomplished artist, Kay studied fine art in college, earning a degree from San Francisco State College. But after several years of selling her art and crafts at music festivals, beer and wine festivals, and local farmers markets, she was ready to make a change, relocating to Oregon four years ago.
Now in her second season with Farmington Gardens, Kay has quickly become an integral part of the FG team. From customer service and custom containers and plantings, to product knowledge and maintaining the houseplants–Kay wears many hats (literally).
“Kay does not hesitate to step up and take on all sorts of projects,” says Michelle. “Whether that means helping customers or making the garden center look nice, she does it enthusiastically, and with a positive attitude.”
When Farmington Gardens implemented a mandatory mask-requirement in mid-April amidst the growing pandemic, Kay quickly refocused her sewing skills, spending all her spare time (and even lunch breaks!) creating hundreds and hundreds of masks for employees and customers, estimating sewing close to 1,000 masks in a few short weeks.
Kay is also a world traveler, a lover of animals with three rescue cats, and recently became engaged. In her spare time, you might find her on a tractor, working on her fiancé’s family 200-acre hazelnut farm.
Follow Kay’s many adventures at @mignightphoenix or @henryshazelnuts
