Barbara Kattman

We live in Holliston, Massachusetts. When we bought our house in Holliston about 27 years ago, Holliston was a rural/residential town of about 13,000 people. There was a lot of country and open space to enjoy. We could take our kids to Shady Oak Farm in neighboring Medway to watch the farmer bring the cows in from the fields to be milked. You could buy fresh milk and ice cream there. Also, their eggnog was outstanding.

I am glad we bought our house in Holliston. It is a little bit out of the way in terms of highway access and that means the town has grown at a slower pace than neighboring communities. The current population of Holliston is now 15,000. Holliston is located approximately 26 miles southwest of Boston and Cambridge. I would say the town is a little more residential/rural in character these days. It has a very picturesque and historic downtown. There is a little less open space today, but we still have farmstands and a winery.

My husband is an energetic 60 year old and we have been married for 35 years. We met while we were attending the Landscape Architecture Program at the Rhode Island School of Design. He is a landscape architect, artist, and photographer. A very talented fellow who will be called to action for this project! He is lean and has always loved good fresh food. His grandfather had a farm in Ohio which he thoroughly enjoyed.

We have a small antique colonial with extensive gardens - primarily perennials, antique roses, and herbs. Other valued members of the family include two Shetland Sheep dogs, Lily & Daisy. We also have a three year old West Highland White Terrier by the name of Henry "Pudge" MacDougall and an 11 year old white cat rescued from a neighbors barn.

I am extremely close to my mother and daughter. Three generations strong! I am very much the bologna between two hearty pieces of bread. We knit together.

My mother lives close by. She is almost 80 and an amazing woman. We lived in Sherborn years ago and enjoyed the best of country living. We had ten acres of land with extensive vegetable gardens. There isn't much we didn't grow, can, preserve, or freeze. My mother is still an amazing cook and I still need to learn more from her.

My daughter and I work together selling real estate. She is almost 33 and lives ten minutes away. Everyone laughs because they envy all the great lunches we have together on the fly! She has a hollow leg like my husband.

Our son Matt and his girlfriend Sheryl live in Providence. He is going to the Rhode Island School of Design now to study graphic design. He was once a strict vegetarian (the result of working at the turkey farm in Holliston right before Thanksgiving years ago). They also enjoy eating and appreciate fresh local food.

We are close knit and enjoy good fresh food - the fresher the better. During the summer, we pack picnic lunches to take to the beach in Little Compton, Rhode Island where we summer. All fresh pickings from local stands! At the end of the day, you will find us grilling and eating fresh corn and other newly harvested goods from Walker's Stand.