1) Tell me "the basics." Where were you born/how long have you lived in Yarmouth/job/kids, etc...
I'm a Midwestern girl but I've lived in Maine almost half my life now, so I've come to like saltwater more than fresh- I even like how cold it is. We've lived in Yarmouth for 11 years. The Gillies were already living next door, and that arrangement has pretty much sealed the deal for our family. Leo (your partner in pretty much everything including this project) is 17, Henry and Joe are 11, and Frank is the patriarch/visionary. I've been an ESL teacher in Portland for many years.
2) When/how did you first decide to get involved with the garden?
Marie and Meg first told me about the idea while carpooling to one of our MG classes. Once I met Becki and Maryellen, I knew I had to get involved because I knew these 4 women had the knowledge/ horsepower, and willingness to reach out to the community to make it happen.
3) What interests you most about gardening in general?
change. beauty. good food. being local.
4) What do you think is working best at the garden right now?
EVERYTHING! It's growing like gangbusters right now!
5) What would you change about the garden?
I'd love to find a way to have someone there a good part of every day to just keep making it better maintenance-wise, but also to create a hub of activity so that lots of people would be there adding their ideas and energy to the project; making sure it has a strong future and a strong presence in the schools. I guess that means money.
And now some James Lipton-inspired questions...
6) What is your favorite word?
I like the word "fresh." I find it refreshing.
7) What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I like garden design a lot.
8) If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
"abandon hunger, ye who enter here"
And finally, you're on a desert island. What would you bring for a
9) Book?
Mindfulness in Plain English
10) Music album?
a Putamayo World music collection- Afro Cuban
11) Movie?
something funny like 'Mars Attacks'
And there you have it. Thanks for spending the time to answer these questions, Sheri!