For the past fifteen years, author Ron Engeland has farmed organically with his wife, Watershine, and two children in north central Washington state. In addition to garlic they raise over 100 varieties of apples, plus peaches, apricots, plums, raspberries, potatoes, and cut and dried flowers. Ron also manages an irrigation company and writes numerous articles. He is a former state secretary of the Washington Tilth Producers' Cooperative, and served three years on the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board.