Joan Vibert
I have been out of the writing "business" for over 20 years, although I write all of the time for my own enjoyment. By chance my children tripped across my books on Google Images, leading them to a check of Amazon's Author Central and the discovery of my page. And, because it was blank, and, because I can't leave it that way, I decided to introduce myself and catch my readers up on my life since I closed Evening Star Farm.
We moved to Windwalker Farm, in Ottawa, Kansas, in May of 1988 and within a year had closed Evening Star Farm and stored away all my books and other paraphernalia remaining from that time. I wrote the book "Anglesong" for That Patchwork Place in '89 and some other design work but basically I had discovered farm life and the enjoyment it offered.
For five years, until '94, I was the recycling coordinator for six rural counties in northeastern Kansas. This was one of the most satisfying jobs I have ever undertaken. I worked with volunteers from all six counties who wished to begin recycling and couldn't convince their elected officials to consider the idea. Strictly through grants, we purchased the necessary equipment to make recycling collections possible in each county. A donated large building allowed the collections to come into our county, Franklin, where we stored the material until there were sufficient quantities to market. A converted bread truck was available for the volunteers to use to pick up and deliver the recyclables to our central point. Our project became so large that the counties, who had begun to speak of this as their own, were forced to step up and take it over, allowing me to go back to our farm and begin growing food. (And, yes, we continue to recycle as much as possible!).
In July of '94 I became a serious organic vegetable grower. With the help of my daughter, Kristy, that spring we planted our first "real" garden with seedlings we had started ourselves. Our goal was to become more self-sufficient and attempt to feed ourselves from our land, at least a little!
In 1995 we began a CSA, which stands for Community Supported Agriculture where people buy memberships in the farm and share the harvest every week. This grew each year and by 1998 we have a 30 families at one time who were participating members. Because I was doing the work mostly by myself, I decided to stop the CSA for two years and in 2000 I began selling at a farmers' market in Kansas City. I have continued to grow vegetables and currently sell at our local farmer's market in Ottawa and we offer a small member CSA.
During all of this time I have been blessed to be able to spend a large amount of time with five of my beautiful granddaughters who are now growing up too fast! They have been the inspiration for a children's book I have been writing since the early 2000's. This book is about the faeries that live here on our farm. As a chapter book, I am aiming it for the 8 to 11 age. I'm pleased to say that I've gotten a second wind on the writing and am trying to be more disciplined and write every day.
One of the possible hindrances had been the notion that I wasn't sure how to published it. All my previous books were self-published and yet I wasn't interested in that route for this book. However, with the e-book now making itself known and respected, I see more clearly the possibilities for it. Having grandchildren with Kindles is a whole new world!
The book is not yet named and I don't anticipate seeing it done very soon, but I would love to finish it by the start of the next growing season because I have another book in mind that has also been in the works for years.
In the meantime, I am considering making electronic versions of the books that I published in the 80's, having only just now discovered that people are buying them. I was in an antique store the other day and my daughter pointed to a doll and said to me, "Doesn't this look like your old designs?" I sort of shook my head and remarked that things don't change that much - and I'd say that's a good thing!
To round out my bio, I thought I'd fill in a little more about my activities. In 2008 I received my BS in Holistic Nutrition, a subject about which I am very passionate. I feel that good, whole food is the best way we can stay healthy - or regain health. To this end, I have taught cooking classes in my home and at Whole Foods Market. I believe it to be a crime that so many folks no longer cook real meals with real food. It is one of the reasons we continue to grow food for ourselves and for others.
My great pleasure recently has been my attempt to learn to play the guitar. I love every minute of it - but not so sure my husband, Jim, is as enamored!
