CURRENT MISSION

Grow food in Portland, Oregon and see all that there is to see out here!!!

ABOUT ME

Hi! I'm Joshua and I'm a fledgling couch-surfer. I just moved from Duluth, Minnesota to Portland, Oregon in February of 2010 and really enjoyed staying with folks from couchsurfing.com. I feel I not only saved money but made new friends and gained real local perspective while enjoying some real fine hospitality. Now I'm in Portland and am eager to help you do like-wise.

If you are coming to Portland you have TONS of options; there are hundreds of CS supporters in this town. I currently live with my roomie, Julie, in the awesome little neighborhood of St. John's in the NW area of Portland. We are close to bus-lines and if the situation is right we might be able to help you get around. Contact me to discuss things more!

My interest revolve around live-music, sustainable agriculture, permaculture, raw milk, wine, great cheeses, back yard gardening, hiking, running, lifting, volunteering, beer and learning!!!

PHILOSOPHY

You've got to learn to respect what you don't understand

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I participate by believing that there are good people out there who have a strong feeling about offering this type of exchange... I've had the great fortune to stay with two couchsurfing hosts that were just awesome! I surfed in Rapid City, South Dakota with Chett and again with Kelso at the Little Blue House of Missoula, Montana! My time in Missoula almost convinced me to stay there and forsake Portland...

I also participate by telling other folks all about the CS Project. I feel the project is pretty solid and encourage folks to get involved, meet new people, gain new understandings, open up and travel.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I stayed with a host in Rapid City in the Black Hills of South Dakota. His name is Chett and he's one great host! I also stayed with Kelso in Missoula, Montana for five nights. Her roomies were incredible folk and I look forward to returning to Missoula and seeing them all again!!!

Interests

music, permaculture, sustainable agriculture, management intensive grazing practices, sustainable architecture (strawbale, rammed earth and earthships) running, singing, raw milk, wine, slow food movement, books, photography, art, movies, music, walking around a lot with my dog, swimming, hiking, hanging out...and a child-like yet really endearing love of Dragon Ball Z.

• dogs
• arts
• culture
• books
• singing
• architecture
• photography
• dining
• wine
• beer
• fine dining
• running
• walking
• gardening
• movies
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• swimming
• agriculture
• volunteering
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Florence + the Machine, Adele, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Fairwell Milwaukee, Little Gray House, Four On The Floor, Coal Car Caboose, Charlie Parr, Old Knifey and the Cutthroats, La Roux, Architecture In Helsinki, The Avett Brothers, Metric, Bat For Lashes, Camera Obscura, School of Seven Bells, Passion Pit, Devotchka, Laura Marling, Lykke Li, Air France, Alphabeat, Crystal Castles, Justice, MGMT, Fleet Foxes, Avalanches, The Knife, Little Boots, Regina Spektor, T.I., Vampire Weekend, Ani Difranco, Wilco, Indigo Girls, Radiohead, Patty Griffin, Lucinda Williams, Lyle Lovett, George Strait, Gorillaz, John Legend, K's Choice, Bjork, Brandi Carlile, Neko Case, Wyclef Jean, Kanye West, Robert Earl Keen, Lucinda Williams, Rose Polenzani, Alicia Keys, Amy Ray, Anna Egge, Astrud Gilberto, The Band, Bruce Robinson, Colin Hay, Corinne Bailey Rae, Cry Cry Cry, Bob Marley, David Gray, Eddie Rabbit, Feist, Damien Rice, The Roots, Fleetwood Mac, Frou Frou, Kardinal Offishall, Tupac, Biggie, Lauryn Hill, Lionel Richie, Lupe Fiasco, M.I.A., Michael Jackson, Misia, Nappy Roots, Outkast, Michael Jackson, Tool, Neil Young, Nellie McKay, Nelly Furtado, Nico, Portishead, Burning Spear, The Polyphonic Spree, Shelby Lynne, Stevie Nicks, Toni Price, The White Stripes, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Ray Wylie Hubbard...and of course, Marvin Gaye

AS FOR BOOKS...Hermann Hesse (1877-1962), German poet and novelist, who has depicted in his works the duality of spirit and nature, body versus mind and the individual's spiritual search outside the restrictions of the society. Hesse was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1946. Works include: Demian, Steppenwolf, Narcissus and Goldmund, Siddhartha, The Glass Bead Game.......I recommend heavily both Narcissus and Goldmund and The Glass Bead Game...and you have to read Siddhartha as well.......... The Works of Kahlil Gibran: The Prophet, Jesus: Son of Man, The Earth Gods, The Wanderer.......... Ann Rice Vampire novels...because I like vampires.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

LOVE,
Harney's Peak at sunset
Columbia River Valley/Gorge
Mt. Washington in New Hampshire
All of Martha's Vineyard
The Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota
All of Texas!

Teach, Learn, Share

Well...I am really interested in moving to Portland for the land and the culture. I'm a big foodie and I'm very interested in becoming a part of the solution to a world of food ills. We could get more specific in a conversation. I've read tons of books on food safety, production and culture. I'm headed to Portland in order to learn more about wine, continue working in fine dining restaurants and get my hands dirty either with urban or rural agriculture. I'll be considering a possible apprenticeship/internship with a local farm out there...don't know if I have few enough expenses to accept that type of gig as apprenticeships often pay very humble wages. But, regardless, I've got to get closer to the production side of food and learn more. Again...I'm an open book so please inquire about any of this and we can discuss it in detail.

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