Katharine Brown ’98

DEGREES

B.S. in biology; M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction, Keene State College

JOB TITLES

Venue owner; flower farmer/florist; science teacher

FAVORITE TRINITY MEMORY

The great thing about Trinity was not only the wonderful education but also the countless memories made with people along the way. I am lucky to be still making memories with them 30 years later!

What was your path to your current positions?

I met George Brown at Trinity, also Class of 1998, from Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Our circuitous path postgraduation eventually led us back to Honesdale, and we bought his father’s farm. My passion for gardening extended into maternity leave from teaching seventh-grade science, and I joined the local Master Gardener chapter. I then began selling floral arrangements at local farmers’ markets, which led to garden design and wedding florals, and one of the brides asked if she could get married on our farm. The wedding business “organically” bloomed here at what was named Fox Hill Farm. Years later, I saw the inside of a historic brick warehouse in Honesdale that had been abandoned since its last life as a furniture-making business. I have a passion for restoring and repurposing old things, and this was the biggest project yet. We named it 6th and River, and it joins Fox Hill Farm as one of our wedding and event venues. It has been a beautiful journey on life’s rollercoaster!

What do you do in your role?

I run the partnership between our farm and the restored warehouse venue. Sales, marketing, social media, tours, and overseeing our small team and the events themselves are all part of the job. We also grow and maintain the perennial, annual, and shrub gardens throughout the property. But it all started with using the products of that labor in floral arrangements for all types of events, which we still do for the venues. Lastly, teaching has always been a part of my life in one form or another. I am excited to be getting back in the classroom!

How long have you been away from teaching, and when will you be back in that role?

Since I left my seventh-grade science position, I’ve been teaching in various capacities, but it’s been 15 years since I left the traditional classroom. I am currently a permanent substitute in the agriculture program in our local high school and hope to be a permanent teacher by the next school year.

What do you enjoy most about teaching seventh-grade science?

First and foremost, I adore the age group. One has the opportunity to harness their energy, and they accept the weird and wacky and still want to learn and have fun . . . all of which is how I like to teach!

What do you enjoy most about your work at the venues?

I absolutely love creating floral arrangements fresh off the farm, and being a part of a couple’s love story is an absolute joy.

How do you juggle so many different roles?

I get asked that question quite often. Much of it is having a good team. Though we are small, we are mighty! All of the women have been working with me for a long time. I feel very lucky to have such great people who have stuck with me through thick and thin. My husband and children are part of the team as well, and I could not do it without their help.

What do you enjoy most about life in a small town?

I grew up in a small town, so I knew what it would be like to live in Honesdale. But raising my own children and starting my business in a small town is another thing! It has been such an amazing experience to start my business here. The support has been unparalleled. George and I have been involved in quite a few community efforts and feel as though we were a part of making a difference. The geography of Honesdale is great, too; we can be in a lot of different places in very little time. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

How did Trinity prepare you for the work you do now?

The opportunities afforded me at Trinity were incomparable: challenging classes with amazing professors, labs, late-night studies, clubs, travels abroad, and the best people with whom I shared it all. Most importantly, my husband and best friends—all from Trinity—have supported me from day one.

What was your most memorable academic experience at Trinity?

The Guided Studies program, now the Humanities Gateway Program, was an absolutely fascinating journey through religion, history, philosophy, and art.