Backyard Gardeners Network features the voices of gardening experts to bring their expertise and experience as well as their love of gardening to our readers. Meet our editorial team:
Stephanie Suesan Smith, Ph.D. – Master Gardener
Stephanie Suesan Smith has a Ph.D. in psychology that she mainly uses to train her dog. She has been a freelance writer since 1991. She has been writing for the web since 2010. Dr. Smith has been a master gardener since 2001 and writes extensively on gardening. She has advanced training in vegetables and entomology but learned to garden from her father. You can see her writing samples at https://gardencopywriter.com/garden-writing, and her vegetable blog at https://stephaniesuesansmith.com/.
Briana Yablonski, B.S. in Plant Sciences from Penn State University
Briana holds a B.S. in Plant Sciences from Penn State University and has been working with plants, soil, and ecology for over ten years. She spent five years working on vegetable farms throughout the East Coast before starting her own farm in 2020. She has been writing about plants, food, and science since 2019.
Helga George, Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Cornell University
Helga George caught the gardening bug from her parents at a very young age, and it continues unabated. Helga was fascinated that plants make chemicals to defend themselves, which led to her childhood dream to become a plant scientist. Helga earned a BS in Agriculture with a specialization in Plant Science from Cornell University and took multiple courses in plant pathology, entomology, and soil science. She has two advanced degrees in Plant Pathology, including a PhD from Cornell. Helga transitioned to professional writing in 2009 and has written extensively about plant pests and diseases. She relaxes by reading about politics, science, and agriculture. You can see her writing samples at https://www.plantsrule.com/.
Ana Harned, Editor
With over a decade of experience in gardening and horticulture, Ana Harned is a passionate botanist dedicated to promoting sustainable gardening practices. She holds a degree in botany and currently serves as the editor for Backyard Gardeners Network. Ana’s love for gardening extends beyond her personal garden, as she enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with others about the joys and benefits of cultivating plants.
Kathleen Marshall – Master Gardener
Kathleen Roberts Marshall is a Master Gardener through the University of Florida with over 30 years of gardening experience all over the country. She has also studied herbs and supplements for over 20 years. Her hundreds of articles appear on over 20 websites. Kathleen lives on a 100 acre farm in Wisconsin with her husband and children, a menagerie of farm animals, and of course, her garden.
Susan Patterson – Master Gardener
Susan Patterson Stevens is a Master Gardener and Certified Health Coach who has been growing gardens for over 25 years. She is a best-selling author of gardening and natural health books. She combines here her love of growing with her passion for wellness and is on a mission to make gardening and wellness accessible for everyone. When she is not busy getting her hands dirty, you can find Susan biking, hiking, kayaking, crafting natural remedies, or working on art projects with her husband Thomas in the Southwest where she lives. Susan is also the owner of EarthenMamma.com a website dedicated to small-space growing solutions and garden information and resources.
