"My father John grew up herding sheep and tending sheep camp, but he left the ranch for a career in engineering, and moved to Schenectady, New York, where he met and married my mother, Stephanie. I was raised in upstate New York. After an education as a biologist and a career in science journalism, I have returned to my shepherd roots."
From upstate New York...
"I have plenty of help from family members. My Basque cousins of my generation, some of whom live in traditional baserris where they milk their sheep and make cheese, have generously shared their knowledge and taken me to visit other Basque shepherds and cheesemakers. And my American cousin Linda, who grew up with sheep, comes every spring to help us with lambing."
...to Marshall, California
"I also have help and support from my biologist husband, Corey, who has kept his career in biotech, but spends his spare time consulting with me on everything from sheep genetics and husbandry to cheese recipes."