We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kate Dooley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kate, thanks for joining us today. Looking back at the decisions you made early in your career, particularly whether to join a firm or start your own, do you feel you made the right choice for that stage of your career?
I was a stay at home Mom after having been on a Tree Farm and deciding to stay home vs daycare. Fast forward five years, my son was heading off to Kindergarten. There was a new brewery and farm being built in front of my neighbor and I decided THAT was where I wanted to work. I signed up for a tour they were having and met the Farmer that was tending the land. I told him in short, I wanted to work there and he shook my hand. We cultivated a wonderful relationship and when he retired 4 years later, he handed it all over to me. I re branded and gave the farm a fresh look. We gained a ton of new customers this year and hope as time goes on we can continue to GROW our community with our small Urban Farm.
Kate, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
As I approach 40 this year I have an opportunity to reflect a little. I am exactly where I want to be in my career and sometimes I have to pinch myself. Emotional Trauma was a big part of my teen years that I was in no position to go off to college. After graduation I didn’t have a car and walked to the closet place I could apply for a job, a Garden Center. That job changed everything. I ended up in college for Horticulture and it started me on the path that lead me this exact place. I now run an 1.5acre Urban Farm on the property of a Brewery. I grow seasonal produce and also host a Vendor Market for my local neighborhood. During 2020 lockdown we had a surge of people interested in where their food came from and who had handled it. We were able to provide real food, directly my hands to theirs. Through that I was able to build a relationship with my community.
Something that I’m passionate about is my Partnership with our Public School System. I host field trips to farm, do talks, host classes and most importantly have the opportunity to Mentor High School Seniors. These kids are the same age as when I learned the language of plants and I hope I can pass on the love that engulfed me.
It is now more critical than ever people know how to grow their own food, and I hope to influence the next generation to return the “cool” culture to the soil.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I was able to inherit the farm from a local Farmer in the area. He had an amazing reputation for his growing practices as well as the compost he makes. He still has a Compost company doing big things here in our area so being a part of his branding from for a few years prior has helped me establish myself. Since he passed the farm on to me, I am able to continue to show people that I am still using all the same methods and practices he did. I am able to maintain my reputation that way, but also now able to align with more of the younger generation.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
I am in a unique situation as we are located on the grounds of a popular brewery. You’d think that would be built in customers but not so much. Most people just walk by me heading to house to get a drink. Ive had to think of unique ideas to try and capture their attention. Signs, Flags, ad more- I have found Instagram has been the best source for attaining new clients for us. We are able to use the social media waves of the Brewery to ride in new customers to us.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.katesnextdoormarket.com
- Instagram: @katesnextdoormarket
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatesNextDoorMarket