Growing up on a family farm in central Illinois has motivated John to work in rural communities to cultivate regeneration in all of its facets.  He works on environmental issues tied to agriculture across the world including ice cores in Antarctica, sedimentation in the African Great Lakes, nutrient pollution and human health, carbon sequestration, water quality, and food access in Elkhart county.  In his free time you can often find him hiking, swimming, camping, or exploring some bog with his wife and children.  John passionately believes in his work making a difference in the lives of the people around him which leads him to partner with local organizations and stakeholders like food councils and non profits.

Hi! I grew up in Zelienople, a small town outside of Pittsburgh, PA . As a child I had an affinity for soil and developed a love of gardening from my mom and that special joy of picking fresh strawberries in our small, backyard garden. While studying Environmental Science at Lipscomb University I connected with the World Hunger Relief Farm in Waco, TX and fell in love with goats! My next steps took me to Penn State University where I earned a Master of Science in Agronomy and studied organic, no-till systems using cover crops and roller crimpers. My passion for learning about the connections between people and their environment through food, brought me to Zambia with the US Fulbright program. I learned about Zambian culture and a food system with staples of cassava, fishing, and sweet potatoes in the Luapula Provence. I've worked across the front range of Colorado at various diverse, market-garden bases farms, micro-goat dairies, and completed the North American Biodynamic Apprenticeship Program. I am also a certified Permaculture Design Consultant. I am a mom of three (human) kids, who I enjoy homeschooling. I love spending time with my family, hiking, running, canoeing, reading, learning and fostering growth in people, plants, animals, and communities!