Pragmatic, porch sitting, beer drinking, genuine conversational, hockey playing farmer

Finished grad school for sustainable agriculture and education recently. Before that consumed my life, I bounced around the United States farming, exploring forests, seeking out unique individuals, and eating to my heart's delight.

Cars waste fossil fuels ,but breaking free from town with miles of road ahead of me and a fully loaded ipod holds a special place in my heart. I love nature in all her forms and seek to live in constant relationship with the natural world. I try to live in a way that respects all people and the earth, hence the farming. Reflection and quiet spaces bring me joy ,but give me a cup of coffee I may attempt to discover the great mysteries of the universe.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've had a handful of experiences with couchsurfing through roommates who hosted and enjoyed each experience. However, through traveling for Ultimate frisbee and other adventures numerous people have generously offered their homes and communities helping to create some of the most rewarding travel experiences of my life. Each time I continue to find that connecting with people and sharing their relationship to the places they live and love seems to be the best way to explore and learn a place.

Interests

I once loved to cook. Because I loved cooking, I started farming. Because I started farming, I fell in love with the soil and forests. I got tired of flatlands, so I sought out mountains. I currently cook, farm, and play in the mountains and their valleys.

• coffee
• baking
• hiking
• camping
• hockey
• mountains
• tea
• farming
• ultimate frisbee
• cross-country skiing
• foraging
• sustainable agriculture

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: You play. I listen and enjoy. Dabble in fiddle and classical viola. I'll listen to anything other than pop-country. Tend to listen to mostly folk, blues-punk, and bluegrass.

Books: I enjoy and appreciate those who are gifted in sharing their expressions of the world through the written word. Mostly read non-fiction related to farming and plant sciences ,but tend to keep a fiction book around to stimulate my imagination and keep me from being too pragmatic. My book bag currently contains one or all of the following: Botany for Gardeners, The Tao Teh Ching, and Sometimes a Great Notion.

Movies: Give me a good story and I'll watch ,but I'd rather read the book or be outside. Northern Exposure may be the greatest collection of visual entertainment and story telling ever recorded.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Spend a summer waking up everyday in a tent in the middle of national forest to climb fig trees, wade knee deep in lavender and rosemary, and immerse myself in field of herbs.

Biked up the "Going to the Sun" road in Glacier National Park on a 20 year old track bike...in the rain.

Teach, Learn, Share

The only way to know one's self and the world is through relationship with others. Share, its more fun.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am able to cook, bake, and can provide horticultural advice or assistance in any garden. I can also follow directions.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Norway