CURRENT MISSION

I want to meet all the people mainstream America has left behind, I want to inhale the still primordial air of an old-growth forest, and I want the freedom and exhilaration that comes from giving your destiny to the road.

ABOUT ME

I had the good fortune of growing up where there was plenty of open space to run and explore. Climbing trees, playing with frogs and salamanders, eating wild grapes and black berries, and just generally doing a lot of outdoor stuff. My parents had a small garden, I remember sneaking in to steal the snow peas, and my Mom canned and made a lot of our food from scratch. My Dad was the handy sort of guy; when I think of him then my most vivid memory is the smell of 2-cycle gas from the chain saw when we would go cut and haul wood. In hind-sight these experiences were very influential for me.

That might sound overly picturesque, and it is. There was a lot of wasted time with video games and TV, ignorance about other people that I inherited from my parents, and idolatry of money and possessions.

Throughout middle school and my freshman year of high school I was depressed and had no passions or things I felt strong about. I didn't know what I wanted to do, so I just figured I would do something related to computers and end up in a cubicle for the rest of my life. My parents had long since stopped being as self sufficient; the garden lay fallow, all our meals were now thawed and reconstituted before cooking, and my Dad had stopped the careful care and maintenance of our house and property. My parents complained about debt all the time but still bought expensive things for no reason.

I found myself rebelling against consumerism and the American dream. Through this I gradually became aware of environmental and social. Later in High School I met a nearby organic farmer. I had an epiphany when I arrived at the farm. Everything seemed to make sense, everything had a purpose, and everything had intrinsic value. I got so much satisfaction from having such an intimate relationship with life. All my beliefs began to come from an environmental and farming perspective.

While I was experiencing all of this, which is very much rooted in being steady and having a sense of place, I delved into the under-belly of America. Thinking and researching about hobos,hitch-hiking, urban exploration, the DIY punk subculture, and squatting. I became fascinated with all of the people throughout history who could never quite stay in one place and felt compelled to travel.

So here I am today. A contradiction. A man who is very much grounded in the land where I farm but always looking up when I hear the whistle of a train and feeling like I should go hop on.

Interests

Sustainability, green building, permaculture, primitive skills, foraging, alternative economic and social structures, beer, music, and ecology.

• diy
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• running
• gardening
• video games
• tv
• traveling
• music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• rock climbing
• ecology
• history
• hitchhiking
• urban exploration

Music, Movies, and Books

Musically my passion is folk music. I really like old string band stuff and pre-WWII blues. Most modern music that I like are folk-punk type bands like Gogol Bordello, The Can Kickers, Mischief Brew, Zydepunks, and .357 String Band.

If I had to choose two authors that were my favorite I'd say Wendell Berry and Daniel Quinn.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm always open to teaching people eager to learn. I guess anything that's in the interest section above is fair game for things I could teach.

Countries I’ve Visited

United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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