About
hello!
I’m Katelin, a mother, designer, gardener and founder of Mother Grows Best™. To help introduce myself, I would like to begin with a few stories. These experiences have shaped who I am today, and continue to guide the values I instill into the resources I create.
I’m 10 years old, and my parents have sent me to spend the summer with my grandparents and siblings in Sheridan, Wyoming. We ride horses, build tree houses, swim in the creek and take rides in the bucket of my grandfather’s tractor. I feel independent.
I’m 16 years old, and I’m riding the chairlift in Girdwood, Alaska. My friends and I yelp our way through tree runs and laugh as each heel turn throws powder into our faces. We’ll end our day in The Bakeshop eating bread bowls filled with soup. I feel like I belong.
I’m 23 years old, and the fishing tender has just left the harbor of Cordova, Alaska. I’ll spend the next day and a half photographing fishermen pulling up nets full of sockeye salmon. I take a breath of fresh ocean air and smile into the cool summer sun. I feel free.
I’m 27 years old, and the summer heat of Spearfish, South Dakota reflects off the metal of the ’59 Chevy bus I’ve spent countless hours sanding. The solitude gives me time to think through the past and I reflect on “what I want to be when I grow up”. I feel self-sufficient.
I’m 32 years old, and I’m hiking with my new in-laws and husband to Exit Glacier, in Seward, Alaska. Two summers prior, the glacier retreated 252 feet, a record for a single summer. I grimace as we walk past the marker that stands tribute to where the glacier once held strong. I feel worried.
I’m 35 years old, and am working remotely from our home in Seattle, Washington for Braver Angels, a bi-partisan non-profit committed to healing the political divide in our country. I feel drawn to the cause because I want to see a brighter future for our 2 young children. I feel hopeful.
I’m 37 years old, and am practicing illustration on my new iPad. I’ve had a children’s story forming in my head and am finally committing it to paper. A month prior, I founded Mother Grows Best™. I feel inspired.
This brings us to the present. My small business has been steadily evolving as I connect with parents and children across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. To date, I have launched G.R.O.W. Guides, native plant coloring pages, a national park support project, and have written a children’s book.
I am committed to developing resources that help families experience the magic of nature while improving mental health, strengthening community connections, and learning how to garden.
I've seen first-hand the benefits of getting children into gardening and nature, so it is my absolute pleasure sharing a piece of that with you. If you’re in the Seattle area, watch for our goofy little gang on the trails, and if you see us don’t hesitate to say hello! We love connecting with other families.
From our family to yours, thank you so much for your support and we hope to see you out there!
- Katelin
