I've been a truck driver, a farmer, an environmentalist, and a mother of sons all grown now. I'm a hugger of trees, lover of old folks, history, quirky science, and books. My mother's parents were restaurateurs and I like to try new recipes, although they don't always come out the way I expect. I'm deeply concerned about human resiliency and how families and communities contribute to it-or not. Because I grew up in one, I'm particularly interested in extended families who have close relationships with the places where they live. As a farm kid, I got a hands-on introduction to one three-quarter-section piece of land-not by riding over it on a tractor, but by walking every hill and fencerow. It's provided me with a strong concern for the health of that land and the entire planet. I must have my hands in the dirt, so every summer I disappear into my garden(s) where I grow fruits and vegetables as well as flowers.. I live in town now, but my favorite parts of my double corner lot are the native grass and wildflower plots. They're nearly self-sustaining now.