It started in the kitchen. The need to create…. nourish…… comfort. Our story is not typical. We live with autism. Not once but twice. That small little 6 letter word changed the course of my life. When we got our first diagnosis: I researched, visited every doctor, program or therapy available. And the biggest effective therapy out there….I could do…. and it was in the kitchen.

I have always loved to cook, garden and craft. I still laugh when I think of dusting off the old crochet hook to make a blanket for my first little one on the way. I had learned to crochet when I was a youngster ( I couldn’t let Barbie go without new clothes, what would Ken say?). As my first child (pictured) grew, so did his alignments. Today we are Gluten, Soy, Dairy, Fragrance and Preservative Free. Translation, grocery shopping stinks! Lol.

Have I mentioned that I married a farmer? My garden this year was 5 acres of the most wonderful heirloom, grown organically, mouthwatering produce around. At least that is my opinion. Besides the local farmer’s market, handmade items for our home, I have another passion. I love to reduce, reuse, and refurbish. Kind of goes with my husbands need for farm auctions. We make a comical site, when I all of a sudden raise my hand to bid. He has a look of shock as I blurt out “ I couldn’t resist! Do you know how much those dishes are worth!”. All of this makes a whole, and its name is SHAG BARK HICKORY FARMS. And you can find all but the produce on here at any given time. Agape.