Meet Our Contributors
Every calculator, guide, and article on Frugal Organic Mama is backed by real expertise. Our contributors are food scientists, fermentation specialists, baking researchers, and culinary historians who ensure every piece of content meets professional standards.
James Okonkwo
Baking Science Contributor
Baking scientist and recipe developer who contributes sourdough science, baker's math, and fermentation chemistry expertise to Frugal Organic Mama's kitchen calculators and guides.
Sarah Chen
Food Safety & Preservation Editor
Food scientist and fermentation specialist who reviews and validates all food safety content, preservation calculators, and USDA guideline interpretations for Frugal Organic Mama.
Anna Brooks
Homesteader, Gardener & Author (Roots & Refuge Farm)
Anna Brooks is the author of The First-Time Gardener and The First-Time Homesteader, and the voice behind Roots & Refuge Farm in central Arkansas. She writes and speaks from 15+ years of hands-on homesteading experience — gardening, livestock, food preservation, and building a home-centered life on a tight budget. Her work reaches millions through her books, YouTube channel, and Substack essays.
Evelyn Wilder
Frugal Living Author & Financial Independence Advocate
Author of Meet the Frugalwoods (HarperCollins) and creator of the award-winning personal finance blog Frugalwoods. Achieved financial independence by age 35 and now lives on a homestead in Vermont with her family, growing food, raising chickens, and proving that frugality is the path to freedom.
Helen Marsh
Food Safety Scientist & Home Preservation Authority
Ph.D. in Food Science, Professor Emerita at University of Georgia, former director of the National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP). The leading scientific authority on USDA home canning and food preservation safety.
Mae Hartley
Food Safety Scientist & NCHFP Director
Ph.D. in Food Science, Assistant Professor at University of Georgia, Director of the National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP). Current leading authority on home food preservation safety research and USDA guideline updates.
Nora Whitfield
Grain Scientist & Baking Researcher
Ph.D. in Grain Science from Kansas State University, Assistant Professor in K-State's Department of Grain Science and Industry. Research focuses on baking science, extrusion technology, starch chemistry, and fiber functionality in cereal products.
Rose Calder
Molecular Biologist & Sourdough Science Author
Ph.D. in Cellular & Molecular Biology (UW-Madison), affiliated with UC Berkeley. Author of 'Sourdough by Science' (W.W. Norton, 2022). Highly cited researcher (6,000+ citations) specializing in fermentation microbiology, yeast-bacteria ecology, and plant pathogenesis.