Tracey Besemer

During the day I wrangle six research faculty at Penn State University here in State College, Pennsylvania. It’s my job to make sure they stay in their labs where they belong curing diseases. They are a wily bunch! But once the clock hits 5:15 I’m headed home to slip into the green, wooded state game lands where I live in search of mushrooms, wildflowers, and lost cell service.

I grew up spending my weekends at my father’s. Dad was a homesteader living off the grid. He built our rough-hewn log cabin when I was seven and I spent many hours of my childhood roaming our ten-acres. From a young age, I did everything from stacking firewood to tapping trees with dad and my cousin Ray to make maple syrup in the frosty early New York springs.

Living with my feet in two different worlds, I learned the delicate cadence of living close to the land. As an adult, I continue to live those principles; gardening, knitting, spinning, foraging, pickling anything that sits on my counter for too long and turning wild fruit and flowers into wine.

Once the sun goes down, I spend my evenings as a freelance writer using my unique voice and style to create delicious content casseroles for my sustainability and green living/B2B and B2C clients. Learn more about what I can offer you at https://besemerwrites.com/, and follow my own homesteading adventures on Instagram, @Traceyleezle.