Our Story

I moved to Portland on a bit of a whim. Actually, an astrologer advised me to during a birthday reading I had treated myself to when I informed her of my then personal housing crises. (I was literally homeless and couldn’t afford an apartment of my own on my then line cook’s pay.) I was very fortunate to have so many friends and friends of friends, who offered up their guest rooms, couches, air mattresses, whatever, so that I always had a roof over my head during that incredibly difficult time. I did that for a few months, trying really hard to make it work in a city that was very much so telling me to GTFO! When I finally made the decision to make the move to another state where I had no connections, no job, no home, the things that kept me going were the blind faith/wise words of my astrologer, and my willingness to not give up. And I did. I did everything I could to make it work, even going as far as working three jobs at one time!

When I first started plotting the idea of an urban flower farm, I was still working full-time in the hospitality industry (with big dreams of one day working for myself). We had planted quite a few peony, tulip, and narcissus bulbs the previous fall in our garden space, not knowing what to expect come springtime. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. Like so many people during that time, I was laid off from my job in March 2020. Fear and uncertainty of the future began to slowly consume me, but then the literal following day after I had lost my job, I had gained something new: I discovered that very morning, (like magic!) our first tulips had just bloomed in the garden!

I took it as a sign from Mother Nature herself.

My partner, Doug, is the other half and essential part of our team, who has helped us realize our micro urban farm dreams. It all started with a small balcony garden that we shared together many years ago. We packed that little corner with so many plants—tomatoes, chilies, ground cherries, lettuce, herbs, onions, flowers, whatever we could—I knew that if we could grow all that with just the bit of space as small as a coat closet, who knows what we could build with a bit more room?! I’m the dreamer, and he’s the practical one. I have the crazy ideas, and he grounds me and explains what will work, what won’t, and then he builds it. My brain does not work in the way his does, and with our specialties combined, we really do make a great team. The Petal Dispatch is very much the amalgamation of our love, skills, and strengths.

Peter, our 2-year-old rescue pup, is a rambunctious Australian Cattle Dog-German Shepherd-Golden and Labrador Retriever super-mix who very much keeps us on our toes. He loves just hanging out with us while we’re out in the field and chasing squirrels! Peter is also our Quality Control Specialist and Social Media Manager, and if you follow us on Instagram (we’re at @thepetaldispatch), expect to see LOTS of photos of our little guy out in the garden exploring!

Violet is a recent addition to our farm family! She’s a rescue terrier mix pup from Texas (just like her big bro Peter), and is quickly learning the ropes. She is currently training to be our Squirrel Security Officer under the guidance of Peter as well as our QC Specialist Assistant.

At The Petal Dispatch, we thrive to provide our farm-fresh flowers for your special occasions, or simply for no occasion at all. (If you’re buying yourself flowers because they make you happy, we not only encourage it, we are right there with you!) Our urban mini micro-farm was built on the love and comfort flowers brought us during a very secluded and reflective time in our lives, and we just want to share that love and our flowers.

We sincerely hope that our flowers bring you the immense joy that it brings us as the people who grow them.

—Kelly, Doug, Peter & Violet