We moved to Austin Trail from the suburbs of Philadelphia nine years ago. At the intersection of Austin Trail and Route 254 is Jan's farm where she and her partner, Sandi Hock, raise cows. These two women, Jan and Sandi, are not particularly big in stature but they are strong and burnished by the sun. They drive tall, complicated-looking machines, combines, I think, and manure-spreaders. I've seen Jan sitting way up high in the cab of the manure-spreader with her grandson and a dog.

It was these women, among others, who inspired me to write the book "Cornucopia." It took me three years to get the courage to ask them if I could write about them, not because they are frightening or grouchy; it is their supreme competence and physical courage and constant activity that overwhelmed me, at first. But once I got over my fear they readily said yes, I could interview them and write about them. One day they asked me if I would like to take a ride with them in order to deliver a cow for a show scheduled that week. For city/suburban girl it was pure bliss.