Peck's Farm

10/31/2026

We are not at fault, but we are all responsible.

From out here in these hills, things look a little different, with the rose colored glasses removed. There is a looming change that we feel every single day, and I'm not talking about the falling leaves.

We know what's coming. Many of us are battening down the hatches, preparing to weather a storm and adjusting our plans. But this wasn't an act of nature. This was something people leaned into.

There are some who say no one could have stopped it, that no one was really at fault. But I would argue that we are all responsible for the paths that brought us here, from those that didn't say anything to the community, to the political culture we allowed in our county.

There are entire genres of books dedicated to manifesting, influencing, building connections, and following dreams. And I'm not talking about our dreams. I'm talking about the dreams of those who were planning from a map. Those who have been focused on a long-term goal, that believe this will be the best thing to ever happen to Washington County, those that have taken the liberty of creating a master plan that overlaps our lives.

Just because something wasn't formally ordered and delivered doesn't mean it wasn't influenced. Relationships, connections with lobbyists and development companies, meetings, emails, conversations, and carefully built partnerships all play a role in making something happen. Many times it isn't the one big thing but the little repeated decisions that make the largest change.

Locally, I've been saying for a while that it feels like everyone is trying to play political chess. Make one move to silence, another to discredit, withhold information, then release what is needed to maximize the benefits. Listen, we're all tired of the game.

When strategically timed press releases seem to line up with campaign slogans, I get frustrated. Not necessarily because of the information being released, but because of when it's being released.

This is important information for the general public. It was important last year. It will be important next year. It shouldn't suddenly become a priority a week before an election.

pages that could be used every day to educate the public sit stagnant until there's a particular message that needs delivered. Then, suddenly, information appears in carefully timed doses that seem designed to influence public opinion.

And people notice and were tired.

But here's what I think is being overlooked: I noticed the tool long before I noticed the message. I noticed when the opportunity to educate the public was there, and it wasn't being used. I noticed when transparency seemed to become important only when it served a purpose.

There is a difference between being at fault for what happened and being responsible for the choices, relationships, and decisions that helped make it happen.

And the people who have to live with the consequences deserve more than carefully packaged explanations. They deserve the truth, transparency, and the respect ALL the time, not during certain times of the year.

Because we are tired of being a pon in someone else's chess game. Funny thing about me, if someone stopped playing, if someone tried to set the course right, tried to help this community my entire view would be different but all we get is doubling down. All we get is No one is at fault and no one is responsible.

PS.....

If you recognize a theme from this post, then you're a fellow nerd. HI! 🤓

Over the last three years, I've become a bit of an audiobook ju**ie. One of my favorite listens on the hard days is *The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck* by Mark Manson.

I'd recommend it to just about anyone: those struggling to find their footing, those navigating the world of public office, or anyone who could use a chuckle while trying to make sense of the world.

A little perspective, a little humor, and a reminder that we don't have to give our energy to everything or everyone, only what is IMPORTANT

Happy listening, fellow nerds. ✌️🤓

*This is my opinion and doesn’t reflect any organization

MASH Focus - Publication & Network The subtle art of not giving a fk Audible The Marietta Times WTAP Television Ohio Farm Bureau Erin Brockovich

10/30/2026

Life has felt a little like the walls are closing in lately. Like other people's decisions have a direct impact on our lives, yet somehow they forget that we, and our community, actually exist. Everyone is so focused on the long-term vision that they can't seem to look you in the eye and remember that you're here today, living with the short-term consequences.

It's overwhelming. And for people who aren't particularly good at feeling helpless, we've certainly had more than our fair share of practice since 2023.

So, I think it's time to bring a little whimsy back into our lives. We redid the dining room! Maybe I wanted to remodel, mybe I just needed more planty places, shhhh! Thats somethingwe dont discuss 😉. There are still a few spots that could use some character, or more plants. Next up is the living room, although Gary is currently traumatized by the sheer number of nails that have to be pulled out of carpet. 😂 So I'll give him a little break until after the first of the year.

In the meantime, do something whimsical this weekend. Paint something, rearrange a room, buy the ridiculous thing, plant something, make something, or just do something that makes you smile.

Because there are far too many people around us who take themselves way too seriously, and honestly, the world is exhausting enough already.

A little whimsy never hurt anybody. ❤️

Ohio Plant Pushers Dawn Pritchett Debbie Pritchett Smith & Company Vintage Market River City Farmers Market

10/27/2026

There’s a reason trees with strong roots can weather the fiercest storms. It isn’t because the wind never reaches them, or because the ground never shakes. It’s because what’s beneath the surface matters just as much as what everyone sees above it.

Strong roots are built over time. Through seasons of growth, years of standing firm, and the quiet work that nobody sees. They’re built through the people who came before us, the values we refuse to abandon, and the love we pour into the places we call home.

You can bend without breaking. You can lose a few branches and still grow. You can face a storm that changes the landscape and still find a way to stand tall.

Because growth without roots is temporary, but a strong foundation can outlast the storm. 🌱

10/25/2026

A LITTLE REFRESH FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEW HERE. (sorry for the length)
There seems to be a growing effort to place some of the blame for what is happening in these hills back on the residents and myself for choosing to live here. That we don’t have a right to complain, like our taxes do not warrant the same rights as others because of the location of our property. It’s the same bullying attempt to silence residence as we have seen time and time again. So, let’s go through this again for the people in the back and anyone who seems to be missing the point.

We purchased our home over 11 years ago. Today, it sits next to the former power plant’s brownfield site. When we first visited the property, Unit 5 was still operating. Of course, I had concerns, but we also knew the plant was being decommissioned.

So, I did what I tend to do: I researched the heck out of it.
Did you know you can actually call EPA agents and ask questions? They’re people doing a job, and I found many of them willing to talk through the risks and concerns with me.

We discussed downstream contamination risks, what fly ash is and how it can be used in other products, and air-quality monitoring near schools. I was shocked to learn that, at the time, WCCC had the worst air-quality readings in the area.

I also asked questions about the restrictions being placed on the site. I was informed of prohibitions on agriculture and another power plant, along with a 15-year testing requirement. These restrictions were also discussed by the company that demolished the plant, but they seemed to quietly disappear from the conversation when the Port Authority took possession of the property.

And because I’m not exactly the most trusting person in the world, I didn’t just take one person’s word for it. I’d hang up and call someone else.

We purchased our home the same week the plant shut down.
When the demolition company arrived, they came straight to our door, introduced themselves, and gave us multiple cell phone numbers. When we called, someone answered.

Our concerns weren’t brushed aside or minimized. During the explosions, they arranged for a state inspector to come to our door. When we had questions about potential impacts, the state placed sensors around our property and later provided the results directly to us.

I can honestly say that the out-of-state demolition company treated us professionally and considerately. They communicated with us, took our concerns seriously, and made an effort to keep us informed. That experience stands in stark contrast to what followed when our own Port Authority took over the property or this company became our “neighbor”. That is why I often say, it doesn’t have to be this way.

You see, we didn’t even know about the recent project until a realtor showed up at our house, we were dealing with life. Feeling guilty and pressured to sell, we reached out to the Port Authority ourselves. We wanted to know what was being planned.
If the property was going to be used for a warehouse or something similar, we figured they could do their thing on the other side of those trees, and we could continue living our lives on this side.
Seems reasonable, right? But no one would give us a straight answer.

Then came the offers. No contracts. And not enough money to replace our home.

Let’s be very clear about something:
I have never denied the choices we made when purchasing our property, and I have never claimed that living next to a former power plant automatically meant someone owed us a buyout but I will stand by my right to voice concerns because I am a tax paying American with rights and my location does not eliminate those rights.

THEY approached US with claims about how much they needed this property.

Then came the games, the attorney fees, and the stress of watching something that should have been a straightforward conversation turn into an unnecessarily confusing and exhausting situation.
There is a difference between accepting responsibility for a decision we made and accepting blame for decisions other people make about the property surrounding us, mainly government owned property, which is MY neighbor.

I own my decisions. I will not own theirs.

SO, WHERE DO THINGS STAND TODAY?
I’m not sitting here waiting for an offer. We’re making plans for a spring greenhouse setup, and we just redid our dining room. We are continuing to invest in our home. If they want us out, they know where to find us, they have our number.

I’m not currently focused on getting an offer. But I am still paying attention and documenting.

And lately, I’ve noticed a disturbing pattern among officials.
When people ask questions, exercise their rights, and start digging into what is happening, they are met with attitude, defensiveness, and personal attacks.

Great leadership does not operate that way.

When people have questions, great leaders educate rather than attack. When questions are uncomfortable, they don't cop an attitude or stare at a desk. They engage in a conversation. They provide honest, straight answers. When one of their people get upset, a great leader deescalates the situation. They recognize that the people asking questions have just as much right to be there as anyone else. And they are choosing not to educate but to attack, dodge, or discredit (some of this was early on, you may have missed that delightful episode of local meetings).

Those behaviors belong to the people displaying them. Neither this community nor I am responsible for how a few individuals choose to react when they are questioned.

Ronald Reagan said in his farewell address, “We the people tell the government what to do, it doesn’t tell us.”

Our local culture sometimes seems to operate in the exact opposite direction.

I have said time and again that I don’t want our leaders to be uncomfortable. We are in this together, even if they get to go home at the end of the day and forget about us in Waterford.
But being in this together does not mean excusing poor behavior. And it certainly does not mean accepting blame for someone else's decisions.

The new thing I have seen is publicly declaring that someone “doesn’t speak for Waterford” and they are missing the entire point.
The only people who should be speaking on behalf of Waterford are the people we are paying to represent us. And right now, we’re having a hard time hearing their voices when it matters most.
The rest of us? We can speak for ourselves. We can ask questions, raise concerns, share our experiences, and advocate for our families and neighbors. We don't need anyone's permission to exercise those rights.

And when someone jumps into the conversation with a clever comeback designed to discredit another person's voice or minimize their right to speak, it does nothing to solve the problem. It only adds to the growing perception that certain voices are welcome while others are expected to sit down and be quiet.
We're tired of that same old rerun.

And let me be clear about something: You don't have to agree with every criticism. You don't have to believe every allegation. You don't even have to oppose this development to recognize that the people living with its consequences deserve answers, respect, and a seat at the table.

I don't care whether you believe our officials are doing a good job or stand behind their position on this project. You should still be standing beside the community.

If you choose to dismiss those people, minimize their concerns, or help silence their voices, that's on you.

But don't confuse disagreement with a lack of rights, and don't confuse speaking up with pretending to speak for everyone.
Waterford doesn't need someone to decide who is allowed to have a voice. Waterford needs the people entrusted to represent us to finally use theirs on our behalf.

What I will take responsibility for is buying a home I researched extensively. I will take responsibility for the decisions my family made based on the information we had at the time.

And as for being bullied? I’ve never been very good at that. I will not be quiet, I will point it all out, my flaws included.
As for what I plan to do? I will continue writing about what is happening. I will continue documenting the progress and capturing footage as this project moves forward.

Because if this really is the best thing to happen to Washington County, then it deserves to be documented and witnessed.
I always have done that; I stood in Muskingum Park and watched the old Putnam Street Bridge come down. I understood the significance of that moment.

This development will become part of our history, too. It will become part of someone's legacy, whether we agree if that legacy will be positive or negative, we are about to find out.
The documentation will also preserve a record of what happened, and how the process unfolded should my neighbors or I ever need it for legal purposes.

But surely, if this is the best thing to happen to Washington County, none of that will ever be necessary.

Right?

Amber
Waterford Resident
The worst bullying victim ever.

*This is my personal opinion and doesn't reflect any organization

10/24/2026

Let me tell you a story about a family in our community.

A community member who has stood up at meetings and asked, “What would you do if you were in my situation?” only to be told, “I’m not in your situation.”

And that is exactly the problem. It’s easy to have an opinion when you aren’t the one living it.

In that green yard sits a home where a young family lives. The surrounding 900 acres belong to the development. Think about that for a minute. A family’s home, their life, and their future sitting in the middle of a development that continues to move forward around them.

We first heard about this family through the broker, who suggested they could just sit there until they had no choice but to sell because they didn’t fold to their will quickly. Then, a local representative chuckled while telling me that same story.

But you see, things out here aren’t that simple.

This family did what they were supposed to do. They met with the broker and were told the development didn’t need their home. Then an offer arrived in the mail. An offer that wasn’t enough to REPLACE the home they would be giving up.

Then came a second offer.

When discussions fell flat, the phone calls stopped being returned.

This home is were they wanted to raise their children.
This home is where they held their wedding next to that pond
This home is where they built their life.

These developers talk to people out here as if they are rescuing us from a life we chose, offering us opportunities we never had. But that’s not how we see it. This is the life we chose. This is our dream.

And somehow they ended up in the way of a development, at no fault of their own.

Negotiations, if that's what you want to call them, recently reopened with counteroffers. And then came more silence.

So now this young family has been in limbo for 15 months. Sampling and testing are moving forward around them. Representatives are talking about community agreements, but where is the conversation about the people living in the middle of all this? Where is the consideration for the families whose lives are being affected while plans continue to move forward?

What does being a good neighbor mean when the people who want to move into your community leave a young family wondering what happens to their home, what they will see this spring when they look out thier window and what will their future will look like.

Everyone has an opinion until they are the ones living it.

Because behind every property line is a person. Behind every home is a story. And behind every development map are real people who have to live with the consequences long after the meetings end.

*This does not reflect any organization.

MASH Focus - Publication & Network The Marietta Times WTAP Television Farm and Dairy Ohio Farm Bureau Erin Brockovich Jessica Adams Baker

10/24/2026

This has been a hard week. Maybe it’s fall settling into my soul. Maybe it’s seeing a suggested Facebook friend with my son’s name but not his picture. Or maybe it’s simply the reality of everything all of us have been forced to carry.

You see, this week, an email was forwarded to me containing requested public records, specifically emails from our county offices that included the key words Data Center.

Talk about mixed emotions. I cried in my Jeep sitting in the Lowe’s parking lot. Then I got angry.

Multiple emails were from members of my own community, my neighbors, asking for help. Pleading their cases. Explaining the lives they’ve built, the homes they’ve poured their hearts into, and the futures they had dreamed of.

Now, I know those emails weren’t intended for my eyes, and I am genuinely sorry that I had access to such personal anguish. I know firsthand how much stress and heartbreak this situation has brought into our family, so I understand what you are going through.
But I heard you. I read your words. And I will never forget some of those emails.
Not one of those emails had a reply attached.

Let that sink in.

Families were reaching out to the very people elected to represent them, sharing their fears and asking for help protecting what matters most. And from what I was provided, there were no responses. It’s hard not to feel like our concerns simply don’t matter to the people who are supposed to be listening.

Then there was the email that made me angry.

There are organizations in Ohio that have experience with these companies and developments. They have worked with other communities, participated in these projects, and have experts who understand the potential risks and challenges. One of those organizations reached out to our local offices.

That email is included below.

Among other things, the organization outlined potential predatory behavior and explained how little negotiating power rural communities can have when dealing with these massive projects.
Were we surprised?
Honestly, no.

We are now ten months into “negotiating” a community agreement. Families have been dealing with contracts for much longer. And we have been warned by our own representative not to make too much of a fuss, lest the company decide not to throw us a bone.
We’re talking about people's homes, livelihoods, investments, and futures. Yet somehow, we’ve been left feeling like we should be grateful for whatever scraps might be offered.
The person who sent that email was clearly educated on the subject and had taken the time to crunch numbers for our local offices, including the cost per permanent job (2.5-5 Million) and the fact that that is 3-7x higher than other projects in our region.

We keep hearing how this project will benefit our economy, strengthen local budgets, and potentially provide property tax relief. But when someone takes the time to put actual numbers and potential costs in front of the people making these decisions, I think the public deserves to know more about what we are sacrificing.

Because economic development shouldn't just be about what a company promises to bring in. It should also be about what a community may be asked to give up.
Now, I will give them an "atta boy". Our local offices did reach out to three other areas with experience in these developments. That matters.

But one of those communities had zoning already established before the project, making its circumstances fundamentally different from Waterford's.
And here's where I struggle.

I spend more time reading reviews before buying a household appliance.
If I buy a bad washing machine, the worst thing that happens is Gary jeans don’t come clean.
If our local leaders make the wrong decisions here, an entire community could live with the consequences for generations.

So here is to hoping that the negotiations have moved away from costing this community so much, but when we are in month ten with no deal, I am not very optimistic

*This is my opinion and personal experience and does not reflect any organization.

MASH Focus - Publication & Network The Marietta Times The Herald WTAP Television Cracked Buckeye Farm and Dairy Erin Brockovich

10/23/2026

I have said from the beginning that this company planned this project from the sky and the maps.
But our local representatives and county employees? They are on the ground and should have known better.

Don't worry, there are emails that clearly outline their involvement. This wasn't simply a case of them being duped into something without their knowledge or a community picking on them. And that is exactly why I still lose sleep knowing these are the people negotiating on behalf of our community. After the way residents have been publicly treated, it's hard to feel confident that the people at the negotiating table are truly representing the people who have to live with the outcome.

Time and time again, this community has been told to be quiet, then the company will be respectful to landowners and help get them out.

Let that sink in for a minute.

What kind of business strategy is that? Better yet, what kind of political strategy is it? I would be furious if people I represented were treated that way, yet that is the most clever advice they have for us.

Because in the real world, when someone tells you, “Be quiet, and I won't hurt you,” that's not a good neighbor, that sounds like the kind of thing that gets you your own Dateline special.

Respect isn't something you earn by demanding silence from the people affected. And trust isn't built by telling people to sit down, be quiet, and hope for the best.

These are our homes. Our families. Our community. And we have every right to ask questions, demand transparency, and expect the people negotiating on our behalf to remember exactly who they work for.

*Video of land that will become a data center or development of some sort.
*This is my personal opinion and experience and doesn’t reflect any organization.

WTAP Television The Marietta Times Ohio Farm Bureau American Farm Bureau Federation MASH Focus - Publication & Network Farm and Dairy Jessica Adams Baker

10/22/2026

10/21/2026

To my community,

I’m sure you’ve seen the drama surrounding footballs, strange Facebook posts, and the overall odd political environment lately. I’m guessing you’re about as frustrated with all of it as I am.
It’s noise.

People are upset about a Friday night picture, when everyone had that same opportunity. They’re concerned about who is getting more attention on Facebook, when they just have to pick up their phone and post every single day. Others are upset that someone is asking questions and poking around, when they could have showed up, answered questions, controlled the tone themselves.

Out here in these hills, we understand that Facebook is a tool. It’s a way to reach people, share information, and have conversations. And guess what? We all have access to it. How much of the drama is because of personal choices and how much is really life being unfair.

While some people claim to have the community’s best interests at heart, much of the conversation seems focused on what feels unfair to them personally or within their own campaigns. And honestly, we can relate to feeling like things aren’t fair. Most of us in Waterford know a little something about that, don’t we.

But while some people are distracted by hurt feelings, campaign frustrations, and not getting their way, I’m sitting here shocked that we seem to have lost sight of the bigger picture.

Because right now? This is the easy part.
Just wait until after the first of the year. That’s when life is going to get real for some of the newly elected and this community. We get to watch a data center rise from corn fields.

I worry when people who want to serve this community become so focused on their own frustrations, before Election Day has even arrived, they’ve forgotten that some of us are dealing with grown-up problems that don’t disappear on November 3.

Some of us are watching the community we love change in ways we never imagined. Some of us feel surrounded. Some of our neighbors don’t feel they can speak openly about what’s happening. And some of us have even been told to be careful not to be mean to the developers, so they will be nice to us and give us the option to get out from under this project.
And we’re arguing over Facebook posts and Friday night pictures.
Perspective matters. Leadership matters. And remembering the people you want to represent matters.

This election matters. I know that better than most. But it should be about more than who got the most attention, and whose feelings got hurt.
It should be about the people who live here. Because when the campaign is over, the real problems will still be here.

And some of us have been living with the reality of this for a long time already. We know that, regardless of who wins in November, this is our future, and the consequences won't disappear when the election is over.

Please pay attention to who actually shows up and who contributes to the noise because we have grown up problems and we need grown up responses.
Amber ✌️

*This is my personal opinion and doesn't reflect any organization*

MASH Focus - Publication & Network Dawn Pritchett WTAP Television Farm and Dairy Washington County (OH) Democratic Party The Marietta Times Gary Peck

10/18/2026

I keep saying I need to run away… a vacation is WAY past due. Apparently, Donkey feels the same way because he decided to take himself for a little trot down the road. 😂

A huge THANK YOU to the neighbors and drivers who kept an eye on my little buddy and made sure he was safe! ❤️

I’m sure an ass trotting down the main road wasn’t on anyone’s BINGO card today, but here we are. 🤣🐴

Apparently, we ALL need a vacation around here! 😂