I am a graduate student, farmer, and community gardener currently based in Philadelphia, where I live with my partner. My work and passion is the pursuit of creative and liberatory strategies to transform the social, political, economic, and cultural relationships that we have with land and food. To this end, I'm currently working to preserve community gardens in Philadelphia, and conducting research on forms of community ownership of gardens and farmland.

It's probably obvious at this point, but I love growing food, cooking food, and eating food! Despite being a graduate student at the moment, I'm happiest outside and moving, whether its farming, running, hiking, or cycling. Add to any of these things a good conversation and I'm happier than a pig in mud.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm currently getting ready to travel for my research, and hope to meet some new folks on the way!

I wish I could reciprocate, offering my place in Philadelphia, but there's hardly enough room for the two of us at the moment. I love hosting, though, and hope to continue in the future.

Interests

• environment
• dining
• cooking
• coffee
• running
• gardening
• cycling
• hiking
• surfing
• trail running
• agriculture
• anthropology
• ecology
• history
• public policy

Music, Movies, and Books

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance; the essays of Thoreau; Siddhartha; Guns, Germs, and Steel; the works of Dr. Paul Farmer; Blue Highways by William Least Half Moon; LOTR series; The Autobiography of Malcolm X; The Value of Nothing by Raj Patel; Small is Beautiful by E.F. Schumacher; Octavia Butler

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I recently married my partner at a ceremony in southeastern India, where much of her family lives. It was my first time visiting, and my first time being married, and so as you can imagine, a whirlwind of an experience!

Teach, Learn, Share

I claim to know a good bit about food, agriculture, and political philosophy.

But most days I'm reminded how little I know, and how much I have to learn!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Always happy to cook, clean, offer gardening advice, and chat!

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Swaziland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Guatemala, Mexico, United States