Matt Reese
I grew up on a small farm in northwest Ohio and spent most of my youth writing doodling, taking pictures, reading and exploring the surrounding landscape. With a family full of teachers, I also grew up around a culture supportive of education. I was active in athletics and art in high school before heading of the Ohio State University where I studied agricultural communications. This led to a career in agricultural journalism.
I am 33 years old and continue to work on the family Christmas tree farm on a regular basis. I married my wonderful wife, Kristin, in 2002. We live on a small farm in Fairfield County with sheep, rabbits and chickens. We have a daughter Campbell Miriam who was born in the fall of 2007 and a son Parker Matthew born in August of 2009. We are active in our local church and with numerous other organizations.
I have served as the assistant editor for Ohio’s Country Journal, a statewide agricultural publication since 1999. I also write a column for numerous newspapers around Ohio, Fresh Country Air and do freelance writing and photography work. I have written and self-published six books to date. Visit my blogs at mattreesebooks.blogspot.com and freshcountryair.blogspot.com for more information.
May — what a month!
May — what a month! It is National Egg Month and National Hamburger Month, which are two of my favorite things. In fact, fairly recently I had a combination of the two and it was delicious. I will say that the initial thought of a delicious egg on a delicious burger did not necessarily sound [...]
Preschool animal day
This week, the Reese family was fortunate enough to get to help with our daughter’s preschool animal day. In our rural community, several of the kids in our daughter’s preschool are from farms. So, on a pleasant spring day, locals bring some gates and some critters and set up a fun farm day right outside [...]
The tardy martin mystery
They arrive in mid April of each year — One more reason to celebrate. Another wonder of spring to cheer, But the purple martins are one day late. Maybe they’ll come tomorrow. Then their throaty cries will resonate, And bring spring’s joy to winter’s sorrow. The purple martins are two days late. The sugar peas [...]
The dark secrets of agriculture
By Matt Reese With full bellies and suspicious minds, consumers are questioning more than ever the science behind their food. Genetically modified crops, antibiotics, pesticides — these are all scary sounding things that seem more at home in a science laboratory than in relation to something as intimate as the food on our plates. Despite [...]
Follow up with the foul-mouthed food blogger
We recently took a trip to the city. It was an adventure with the children, my wife, and her siblings, parents, grandparents and me on a road trip to visit my brother-in-law in southern Mississippi, just outside of New Orleans. One day on the trip, we went into the city to see the sights and [...]
Mississippi crawfish boil
We went on family trip to visit my brother-in-law in southern Mississippi early this week. We celebrated Easter with a delicious Cajun Crawfish Boil. This was a first for me, and anyone in my family. While I wouldn’t want to do it every day, there are certainly worse ways to spend a Sunday afternoon. Basically, [...]
Breakfast with the foul-mouthed food blogger
By Matt Reese With a poof of disdain amid a cloud of black language, the Backyarditarian stormed into the breakfast meeting of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance late last month. At the Chicago meeting, food related bloggers were invited to meet with the nearly 20 farmers (including my wife, Kristin) at the event to [...]
2012 tree planting on the Reese farm
The incredible March weather has inspired (and allowed) all types of farmers to get an early start on preparations for the spring planting season. The Reese Christmas tree farm was no exception. Though we typically plant in early April, and have never planted in March, the warm weather left soils nearly ideal for planting. And, [...]
Is ag up a creek without a paddle on phosphorus issue?
By Matt Reese I think I have convinced my children that I am pretty smart. They are at the ages where they ask copious amounts of questions. And, every time they ask me a question, I have an answer for them. “Daddy, why is this soccer ball round?” “So it rolls after you kick it.” [...]
What are you doing for Ohio Ag Week?
By Matt Reese To celebrate Ohio Ag Week (the second full week of March) at the Reese house, we made an all-Ohio meal. We used fresh eggs gathered from our own hens that day, bacon and ham from a hog we got from our neighbor, Snowville Creamery Milk from Pomeroy Ohio and some cheese. The [...]
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