Suzanne DeJohn

Candler, NC
Middle South Editor

A former self-professed "city girl," Suzanne fell in love with the rural lifestyle 15 years ago and hasn't looked back. After several years of gardening in rural, northern Vermont, Suzanne and her husband, Dale, decided to head south to warmer climes -- and longer growing seasons -- and settled in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Suzanne and Dale recently purchased a rambling, old, 6-bedroom, 7-fireplace house on 7 acres of farmland in Candler, just west of Asheville. They are slowly building their dream, Suzanne's Farm and Gardens Bed & Breakfast, where guests can wander the sprawling organic gardens, perhaps choosing a bouquet for their guest room and one to take home with them.

During their first growing season they experimented with a small sunflower maze and pick-your-own flowers and herbs, and have begun selling cut flowers to the farmer's market, local florists, and natural food stores. Long-range plans include a small nursery specializing in herbs and native plants. As they grow their farm and B & B ventures, Suzanne continues her full-time job with the National Gardening Association, telecommuting from her home.

In her eight and a half years with NGA, Suzanne has worn a variety of hats, including work in the education and editorial departments. She has coordinated NGA's online question and answer service for the last six years, and has answered literally thousands of gardening questions. Convinced that gardeners are curious and love to learn, she was inspired to create the Exploring the Garden series of in-depth, online courses that teach the principles of botany in the context of the garden. Suzanne also does Web- and print-based graphic design work for NGA, as well as illustrations to accompany articles.

Suzanne's varied background includes a BS from Tufts in geology; University courses in botany, soils, and plant pathology; a stint as a research assistant in plant pathology; and several years as a self-employed artist and graphic designer. She strives for balance in her life by combining time spent outdoors on her farm with time spent at the computer, communicating what she has learned about plants and gardening.