NEW MARSHFIELD, OH — Ed Perkins, 79, came to Athens to study botany at Ohio University, where he met his wife, Amy Abercrombie. After graduating, they settled in New Marshfield, where Perkins built Sassafras Farm from the ground up. He constructed much of the farm himself, including the barn, creating a small working farm that has served the Athens area for decades. Perkins still handles most of the daily labor, including picking and washing produce, caring for his animals and preparing for the Athens Farmers Market. The work is physically demanding, and Perkins says his back bothers him more than it used to, but his routine has changed little. Farming remains his livelihood, and he continues to provide fresh, affordable food to a community that has supported him for years.