The last Friday of September I started my day hosting a farm tour for 2017 Master Gardeners of Ohio state conference. It was my second such tour in two weeks and I was, in all honesty, getting a little weary of playing host. I was also humbled and a little nervous to be showing such an esteemed group of growers around my yard. All I could see in the days leading up to the tour were my failed experiments – broccoli that wasn’t flowering and powdery mildew on my squash vines. I was happy to hear their compliments and answer their questions and compliments like how did I kept my basil so healthy, and how bountiful the butternut squash crop was (despite the mildew).

After I said good bye to the tour bus, did some farm chores, and graded a few papers, I drove up to New Albany, OH to check out my friend Bernadett’s homestead. I met Bernadett through various central Ohio Facebook pages and we’ve spent some time together in person attending female farmer meetups, local foods events, and working on a garden project at our children’s school. She had been over the fence a few times but I had never had a chance to see her spot. I am so glad I finally made the drive!