Jodi Smith raises goats on a small farm in western Maine, near the White Mountains. Jodi spins, weaves, dyes, knits, and makes goat cheese for her family. She is member of the Down Home Spinners, and a former officer of the Northern Colorado Weavers' Guild. She is a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, a medieval living-history group. Besides the goats, she has 3 Churro sheep, chickens, heirloom turkeys, and 3 cats on the farm. Jodi graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 1976, with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Jodi's background in chemical engineering, and her interests in fiber and in medieval life all lead to her work with natural dyes. Medieval Dyes, based on her own experimental research, is her first book Jodi's husband has a job with a real paycheck, but he still finds time to help fix the pasture fences. Their 15-year-old daughter loves playing with the goats, and hates homework and cleaning her room. Within the Society for Creative Anachronism, Jodi is known as Mistress Drahomira Jaroslavna. She is a member of the Order of the Laurel, and resides in the Province of Malagentia, in the East Kingdom.