My husband, Casey, and I live and farm in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, in the US. I am really into plants, both gardening and wild plants. I also like to learn how to grow or forage for and process them into things like natural dye or baskets. I’m also an artist and love to work with my hands. I hope I’ll be able to learn some new things on this trip. Casey and I are currently traveling from Colombia south to Argentina and Chile from January through June. We are trying to WWOOF, couch surf, and backpack in the wilderness as much as possible.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I want to make friends all over the world that can come visit us in Oregon too. By couch surfing, I am hoping to get away from the transactional feeling of tourism and instead make deeper connections with people that are not centered around money.

Interests

Learning about local agriculture (techniques and crops) and trying local dishes

• arts
• gardening
• backpacking
• ceramics
• botany

Music, Movies, and Books

My favorite book I read this year is So Big by Edna Ferber

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

This summer I worked as a field botanist in sagebrush steppe and salt desert areas of southeastern Idaho in one of the most remote areas of the US. I got to see incredible landforms, lightning storms, sunsets, herds of wild pronghorn, incredible stars. I slept in a tent while at work and on off days slept in my homemade camper or my tent. I learned hundreds of plants and had tons of time to think and sleep and just live without the distractions of the modern world.

Teach, Learn, Share

I want to speak with local people to improve my Spanish—a big goal of mine for this trip.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love to cook for people. I also hope the friends I make will come visit us in Oregon in the future!