Creating  Beautiful Beginnings

The seed was sown at a young age.

Growing up on a 4-generation dairy farm in Wooster, Ohio, I’ve always been a “farm girl”. Some would say it’s in my blood. Never in my wildest imaginings could I have predicted that I would become an agriculturist, a farmer, myself one day. (In fact, in my teens, I promised myself that I would never marry or become a farmer; I knew the cost first-hand and simply wasn’t willing to pay it.)

After graduating college, I moved to Crimea, Ukraine with two college friends and started my 7-year adventure of living and serving orphans in the government orphanages there. Oh the stories I could tell…

Upon my return to the States, I took a position as director of a non-profit that served at-risk children in the same city of Crimea, Ukraine I had been living in. This position took me from my family’s farm in Ohio to Louisville, Kentucky. It was here that I met my former husband who had always had the dream of becoming a farmer. Not a dream I shared but together we started Peaceful Heritage Nursery and I suddenly found myself becoming a horticulturist, that is to say, a farmer.

Life has a funny way of teaching us the lessons we need to learn. Over the last 10+ years, I have become a skilled horticulturist and nursery-woman and am continuously learning and improving my skill set and knowledge base. I have come to understand that there are as many different types of farmers as there are varieties of pawpaws and have come to not only accept, but deeply appreciate, the fact that I have become one.

In 2023, when life taught me another “funny” lesson and I was at a crossroads and could choose any direction to go in, I ultimately chose to remain a farmer and start my own beautiful beginning with a new nursery. In doing so, I pay homage to all farmers, past, present and yet to come and most especially to my father and grandparents and great-grandparents; I am honored to be counted among you.

And to my father, who is part of a true “salt of the earth” generation, thank you for showing me what it is to sacrifice and to do what is necessary in the moment, regardless of convenience or how you might feel. I can not tell you the number of times you have been my inspiration when performing farm tasks I would give anything to not be doing.

To my “sweets”, I am so profoundly proud to be your mother. You are an immensely brave, strong and bright star in this world. Sowing the same seeds in you that have been sown in me by the generations that have come before, I pray that your roots find deep, rich soil in which to grow and that your life will be one of abundance, perseverance and love.

Mi Amor, I could not have done any of this without you. Thank you for being my light beyond the darkness, the love behind the kiss and the laughter among the tears. You are my answer to prayer and together we are making our own beautiful beginning.