Our story begins simultaneously on the West and East Coast. Steve in Sacramento and Mimi on Long Island. For both heartache at the development of the natural world, moved them to explore the worlds of wild. For Steve solace was in the American River where he roamed building forts, rafts and maneuvering rope swings. For Mimi it was a favorite pine tree, a place to climb to the top and sing. She cut flowers from the rose garden, placing them into her red flyer wagon, to sell at the end of the road. It is in these childhood memories that we now see as the early seeds of the life we have sewn together here on Morning Star.

Our paths first crossed in the mountains of Wyoming. From here, we continued in an ever wandering way. Our hearts for the solace of land interweaving with new ideas and evermore questions. While Steve studied at the UC Berkeley College of Conservation and Natural Resources, Mimi explored Political Ecology, Ornithology, Writing, and Education at Evergreen State College.

Our journey continued in a series of touchstones of years and places, our love for community and land developing along the way. Berkley in 1981-- Mimi starting an urban garden program for kids, Steve building a solar green house on the UC Berkeley Campus. Seattle in 1982—so Mimi could get her teaching credential. Queensland, Australia 1983-1984. Here, our fascination with the miraculous web of life and growing things really expanded while we worked on Rosebud Farm, partaking in a dream of Mimi’s beloved cousin Rich. Our travels continued throughout S.E. Asia, as we collected tropical fruit and palm seeds to send back to Rich. We settled in Seattle, with the desire to work with people of all ages, from all parts of the world. Mimi taught E.S.L and later 1st grade. Steve developed his contracting business while also teaching math and carpentry at a Junior High School.

1988. In an our ever intuitive way we came to Orcas, where we’ve been for the last 32 years. As a family, sitting around the kitchen table, we laugh about our inability to avoid “farm talk.” And that’s the reality of it, it is nearly impossible to separate out the parts of this land that are “work” or “business” and those that are “home.” Mimi fills her flower buckets in the same sink where our youngest used to bathe. For years, broad forks doubled as mini jungle gyms, to keep kids entertained at the end of the bed while Steve and I bed prepped, weeded, or planted. We hang garlic from rafters in the upstairs of the barn, a space, which has also been the first stage for many island kids during summer singing camps. The bounty of our lives is woven into this land. Beds worked, trees pruned, starts transplanted all by the many hands young and old, our parents, our children, countless other beauties who have joined our “farmily,” all helping to shape this place.

It has always been a multigenerational labor of love. Now, Taylor (our son) and his partner Kristen bring the farm business into a level beyond the imaginings of that first challenge to grow Basil. We get to watch them take the lead, while exploring new focuses with flowers for Mimi and sustainable forestry for Steve. Through it all, we continue in a process of cultivation: planting, watering, germinating, harvesting, and each season learning from the previous.