Author • Creator • Educator • Homesteader
Meet Sheri Ann Richerson
Helping people live beautifully and self-sufficiently.
I am a #1 bestselling author, gardener, homesteader and hands-in-the-soil educator based in Marion, Indiana. I share practical ways to grow food and beautiful plants, preserve the harvest, cook from scratch and build a more self-sufficient life-without pretending real life is always picture-perfect.
A Lifetime of Learning, Growing and Sharing
My work sits at the intersection of gardening, homesteading, food preservation, scratch cooking and practical self-sufficiency. What I teach comes from decades of firsthand experience: growing tropical plants in Indiana, raising dairy goats and poultry, preserving homegrown food, creating a productive homestead and finding workable solutions when plans do not go quite as expected.
I began publishing as a young writer and went on to build a career across books, newspapers, magazines, websites, video, speaking and education. Today I use those storytelling and teaching skills to turn complicated subjects into approachable lessons people can use in their own homes, kitchens and gardens.
My farm, Exotic Gardening Farms, is a certified wildlife habitat. I also serve as an Indiana contact for Plant a Row for the Hungry, encouraging gardeners to grow and share fresh food with people in their communities.
What I Teach and Write About
Gardening and Unusual Plants
Year-round gardening, seed starting and saving, pollinator-friendly landscapes, herbs, tropical plants and the realities of growing in a temperate climate.
Real-Life Homesteading
Dairy goats, chickens, practical infrastructure, seasonal routines, preparedness and self-sufficiency systems tested on a working 2.5-acre Indiana homestead.
Scratch Kitchen and Preservation
Food preservation, pantry planning, from-scratch recipes, goat milk, homemade dairy, herbal infusions and making thoughtful use of each harvest.
Books, Education and Storytelling
Nonfiction books, crime/thriller fiction, workshops, public speaking and useful educational resources built on decades of writing, research and lived experience.
Books and Publishing
I am the author or co-author of books covering year-round gardening, seed saving, organic gardening, self-sufficiency, chocolate plants, folklore and fiction. My best-known titles include The Complete Idiot's Guide to Year-Round Gardening, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Seed Saving & Starting and The Chocolate Lover's Garden, co-authored with Thomas Leo Ogren.
My catalog also includes the 101 Gardening Tips series, Magical Gardens, the Goat Milk Kitchen Toolkit and crime/thriller fiction, including Under the Dragon's Eye and Under the Dragon's Shadow.
Credentials and Professional Experience
- Purdue University Extension Master Gardener, Gold Level
- Indiana Master Naturalist
- Journalism and writing education through Ball State University and Huntington College, now Huntington University
- Decades of professional publishing, garden education and public speaking
- Indiana contact for Plant a Row for the Hungry
My work and expertise have been featured by:
- The New York Times
- Woman's World
- Ladies' Home Journal
- Chronicle-Tribune
- Journal & Courier and The Indianapolis Star
Speaking, Workshops and Partnerships
I speak for libraries, garden clubs, conferences and community organizations on gardening, homesteading, food preservation, herbs, seed starting, tropical plants and growing cacao in Indiana. My presentations are practical, welcoming and designed to help beginners leave knowing what to do next.
I also work selectively with brands whose products genuinely fit my audience. Available collaborations include sponsored social content, product demonstrations, tutorials, reviews, recipes, UGC with negotiated usage rights, SEO-focused articles, integrated campaigns and educational workshops.
33.5K+
Combined Social Audience
1,171
Active Email Contacts
4.1K+
30-Day Active Users
6.2K+
30-Day Site Views
Audience figures updated August 2026. Website totals aggregate six owned properties; audiences may overlap.
For Media and Brand Partners
My one-page media kit provides a quick overview of my audience, content pillars, professional authority and partnership options.
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More About My Work
My Other Websites
- ExperimentalHomesteader.com - homesteading, food preservation, scratch cooking and practical self-sufficiency
- ExoticGardening.com - gardening, tropical plants and year-round growing
- BiannualBlogathonBash.com - blogging, content creation and productivity
- HalloweenCollectorsSociety.com - Halloween history, collecting, decorating and seasonal inspiration
- Sheri Ann's Substack - reader updates and behind-the-scenes writing news
Let's Create Something People Will Actually Use.
For speaking engagements, interviews, workshops, freelance writing and thoughtfully matched brand partnerships, please get in touch.