Meet Our Team!
Elizabeth Fox
~ Owner, Gardener ~
As a local wintertime property renter and single mom trying to provide for her family, the concept of Coastal Cottage Services LLC was born.
What inspires me ...
After years growing up in Portland, my passion for the outdoors came when my parents purchased a beautiful (and needy!) coastal cottage on Long Island, Maine. Starting from 8 yrs old, I learned first-hand about coastal landscaping including beach roses, native grasses, and hearty perennials + annuals. I helped my folks manage typical coastal Maine practices including erosion control, organic gardening, and utilizing native Maine cultivars. My Dad loved the old movie "On Golden Pond" which perfectly describes the passage of time each year; from the cottage opening in the Spring, and then when the fall slows down and the winter rest sets in.
Experience and continued learning ...
After 15 years at an Architectural firm, did I ever envision working at a local Maine farm? No way, but that’s just what I did when I moved to Kennebunk. As I've managed the Farm's Market and outside plant/seasonal inventory, I’ve become an expert with care and maintenance of hydrangea, decorative grasses, rugosa roses (beach roses), butterfly bushes, and a wide variety of perennials and annuals. When a need arose, the Farm utilized my skillsets for complete customer care with fine gardening, landscaping, and seasonal decorating for Prelude in Kennebunk + Kennebunkport. Through work experience and industry experts, I continue to learn about organic practices and modern gardening. As a single mom, I've had the opportunity and pleasure of working with my 3 children. My sons lead the landscaping crews and my daughter excelled at customer service in the store.
Cottage Care ...
Island and cottage living has given me 4 decades of experience with spring-opening and fall-closing of our family cottage, and what it takes to winterize a place in Maine. I have intimate knowledge of the delicate balance needed to make sure a coastal property is well-maintained. For the owners, these homes are often generational homes, second properties, a coastal retreat, a place to invite special guests. I understand the need for scheduling services like pest control, weekly home wellness checks, acting as the point person for summer and wintertime construction, and addressing important weather-related issues.
Kathy LaBelle
What drives my passion ...
After having spent 4 decades as an IT Project Manager, I'm following my dream of utilizing my talents in the garden! I've always approached my life with great attention to detail, professionalism, and organization; with a strong work ethic that produces a quality experience for my clients. I've taken great pride and incredible joy building my home gardens from scratch, and continue to turn them over and reclaim space around my Hills Beach Cottage.
Experience and Continued Learning ...
I can't sit still! While attending the local Kennebunk Job Fair, a friend approached me about a job at a Farm. Always up for new challenges, I embarked on turning the farm fields into flower fields, starting seedlings and purchasing plugs from local farmers. The Farm utilized my skillsets caring for the property garden beds, perennial and annual plant inventory, and planting flower beds for fresh + dried flower cutting. At Christmas time, I enjoy creating evergreen arrangements/planters, wreath-decorating, and bundling fresh pine sachets. As a volunteer member of Project Canopy for the city of Biddeford, I was introduced to the selection of new green spaces and management of both new and existing spaces. We maintained a nursery, which housed the multitude of trees donated by various organizations and provided me with an introduction to a large variety of trees.
What fills my spare time ...
I enjoy painting; watercolor medium specifically. I'm drawn to the principals of unity, scale, balance, simplicity, variety, emphasis and sequence. I apply the same principals to gardening following line, form, texture and color. What can I say? I love to create beautiful landscapes!
~ Lead Garden Designer ~
Anna Fox
~ Social Media, Marketing ~
What I love to do ...
Currently, I'm a student at Kennebunk High School where I strive for high honors while participating in the yearbook club. Outside of my school work, I focus on my entrepreneurial spirit. My passions are photography, digital arts, social media marketing, painting, walks on the beach, time with friends and baking.
Experience ...
I've spent 3 years at a local farm store and nursery, where I had the pleasure of working alongside my two older brothers and my Mom. I immediately loved working with plants, but my creative side was helpful making all the farm signage by hand. I was tasked as the baker, and primary customer contact rep, and quickly utilized my talents with inventory management and helped select and build a new POS system. My love of nature and loyalty to the Farm keeps me involved as one of the social media and marketing team members. I am also working as an Associate at a new and exciting boutique shop.
