06/23/2026
From a Mother's Day present to a dream fulfilled, Rachel Light gives all the credit to God's blessings. Rachel and her husband Jimmy have built gardens that have gained the honor of being in a magazine.
A few years ago a man was riding his bicycle past her home had to stop to tell her how beautiful her place was, and that it should be in a magazine. This gentleman stopped two more times with the same compliment and finally telling her that his friend who manages the gardens at the Cincinnati Zoo wanted to meet her. He also wanted to arrange Garden Gate magazine to come write an article on them. Her dream was fulfilled in October 2024 with a full 12 page article.
It all started years ago when she was asked what she wanted for Mother's Day. Rachel told Jimmy she would like a small flower garden that she could see out the window.
The next year, she had the same request but make it in the shape of a kidney. Each year her flower gardens would grow to become what it is today, amazing and beautiful all around the house, the craft building, the barns, (every building built by Jim) including the lily covered pond. Garden Clubs and organizations from around the state has toured their beautiful place, took in the peace and tranquility of sitting on a swing in the gazebo or under the wisteria covered pergola.
Rachel and Jimmy were friends as children and have not been apart since. She tells the story that when she was a small child they were at his family's house when she asked to swing in the tire swing, he told her no and said I dont like girls. Jimmy laughs now and said if I would only had said yes and pushed her in the swing.
After getting married they purchased her family home. They started building the new home when they noticed the refrigerator was starting to lean because termites had eaten the floor. It took Jimmy 14 months to complete the new house working seven days a week, sometimes until 2 am then getting back up at 5 am to go to work.
Gardening is not the only talent that Rachel has recognition for. She is an artist, a basket weaver and quiltmaker. For years Rachel taught painting classes and basket making in her home.
With their home shaded by two large pecan trees Rachel would sit outside in the morning with her coffee enjoying the gardens and thinking about what could be planted next. The squirrels also loved the trees, especially when the pecans were on. One morning Rachel decided to sit outside with her gun by her side while drinking her coffee. She wanted to see if she could hit those destructive squirrels, so she took four successful aims and got those squirrels.
Later that day as the women started showing up for class, one told Rachel she just seen the most precious thing outside her home. Rachel was anxious to hear the compliment on her flowers and asked what she seen? She said there are four squirrels laying near your flowers hugging. Rachel had left the squirrels there so she could prove to Jimmy that she had took care of the pecan stealing pests. There's some strong competition for those pecans! One year they harvested 42 quarts after the squirrels got their share.
Jimmy and Rachel both had fond memories growing up in Goshen. One of the memories he shared was the famous TV bear named Gentle Ben. For years after the bear's acting career, it was kept on short 48 near 28 in a cage. The owner would bring Gentle Ben up to the field which is now the Kroger parking lot so people could get in the cage to wrestle Gentle Ben and see they would come out a winner. One big burly Goshen football player got in the cage and took the bear down earning him the title of The Bear.
Jimmy also shared that when 275 was in the planning stages it was originally supposed to come up through their farms in Goshen and interstate 71 had a route planned closer to our community.
Thank you Rachel and Jimmy for sharing your place, the stories of Goshen's past and your memories.
