I grew up in Cranberry Township on 10 acres when it was still farmland – born in the early 70s with cows as neighbors on 2 sides. I only ever knew well water and raw milk direct from our local farmer friend. My family had two small gardens but enough to feed 5 for summer with about 10 rows of corn, which us kids mostly seeded, watered, weeded, harvested. I would say we grew about 10 to 12+ different types of vegetables. We often went to local farms for apple picking and took them to the local cider press to watch them be pressed into our own cider. My parents both hunted until my mom had children, and we hunted to sustain ourselves over winter since we did not grow up with a lot of money.

I went from that life pretty directly to corporate world at age 19 through 52 and I much preferred the former life. I enjoy being more in tune with nature, more time outdoors, more self-sustaining, and of course, more tomatoes!

As back up, I have my best friend from high school and her husband who own a beyond organic (even more stringent practices) orchard/cidery and have degrees in horticulture and agriculture. I consider them experts in going above and beyond in their practices of organic farming and living.

I would love to start learning more and am ready to start up and find land.