Having lived the majority of my childhood and youth in the town of Mountain Lake, in the corn/soybean producing region of southwest Minnesota, I had a longing for other places and experiences that led me first to study environmental science in Virginia, then from there to work in community development in an isolated, rural setting in the Andean foothills in Bolivia.

During my time in Bolivia, I was fortunate to participate in a week-long permaculture/organic agriculture training event led by Eugenio Gras, Sebastiao Pinhera and Jaime Restrepo, of MasHumus, based out of Mexico. From there my desire to continue along this path has continued to flourish.

Now I find myself once again living in Mountain Lake, working within this community to attempt to understand the eco-social setting of this place, and my responsibilities as inhabitant here. It is quite a journey!