Sarah Dye Joy from the Land
photo by Marti Garvey
~by Lee Edgren
S
arah Dye once inked a small tattoo representing her gratitude just below the corner of her left eye. She didn’t know it when she did it, but the tattoo closely resembles a Native American symbol for rain, for prosperity. Sitting with her in the warm spring sun on a small south-facing porch—looking toward the valley, the creek, and the high hill beyond—it is almost impossible not to feel Sarah’s deep gratitude to the earth and water, air and sky, plants, and animals. And there is no doubt that Sarah is rich in passion for a way of life that combines independence, hard work, and deep joy in her land and family. Sarah, husband Doug Mackey, and their son Thuja, four, along with their dogs, angora rabbits, and chickens, now make their life and living at Schooner Creek Farm, which they purchased in 2011. Thuja will be joined by a baby brother in September. They are
44 Our Brown County • May/June 2014
doing the hard work of creating both a market farm and a homestead based in organic, no-till growing practices, on their three-and-a-half acre property, which was pastureland only two-and-a-half years ago. Schooner Creek Farm is already producing tomatoes, eggplant, beets, carrots, sweet potatoes, and amazing variety of greens. Sarah and Doug focus primarily on heirloom and specialty varieties— what Sarah calls “cool plants” with an interesting side to them—like French breakfast radishes, Costato Romanesco zucchini, and the orange glow watermelon that taste like honey. “We also supply the home gardener with unique or useful potted plants, perennials, and herbs.” While they have a garden tour and plant sale at the farm in May, they currently sell their produce at the Bloomington Farmer’s Market, planning to expand their markets as they grow. Sarah laughs as she describes the challenge to her essentially spontaneous and artistic