CURRENT MISSION

Going across the US from west to east, in search of good people with open minds.

ABOUT ME

I was born and raised in the suburbs surrounded by the bright expectations that I would go to college, get a boring engineers job, work till I'm sixty, and move to Florida and die. Well I'm glad to say that none of these plans are on track.

I did go to college, but quickly switched from studying engineering to linguistics and German. I'm fortunate to be one of those of my generation not mired in a pile of debt. With this freedom (or rather with this lack of burden) I've been enabled to seek out and try to learn what I truly wish to do, which is to grow food in a non-destructive and independent way to sustain myself, a family, and possibly even a community.

PHILOSOPHY

I couldn't say I've got any succinct way of putting my philosophy. I've got goals, I've got certain principles, but in general I'm feeling my way through every day. I try to remain open to new ways of looking at things, but I also try to realize that these are just that: ways of looking at things. I can certainly talk about the why's and so forth of life, but I'm trying to be more into just living life while I've got it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

As my mission states, I'm on a journey from California (where I've been WWOOFing for six months) back home to Maryland. My reasons for leaving the left coast are many but essentially, I'm not finding what I'm looking for here. Anyways, my plan is to seek out individuals and groups of people who have made it for themselves farming in a way that's worked for them as I go across the country. I do have expectations about what I will see, however, I hope to upset them and let them fall by the wayside. Too much reading into the "ideals" of farming has populated my brain with alot of unrealistic crap about what it takes to be successful in the field (har har pun intended).

So if you're interested in helping an aspiring farmer or know somebody who is, or just want to make friends, I'm your dude.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've yet to surf any couches, so I can't comment yet on this.

Interests

- Music (playing and listening)
- Photography and videography (I just put up a new little video from the ranch I'm currently staying at: http://vimeo.com/33983594)
- Talking about why we do the things we do.
- Reading

• photography
• dining
• reading
• music
• track and field
• engineering

Music, Movies, and Books

- Amelie
- Waking Life
- The Prophet by Khalil Gibran
- Endgame by Derrick Jensen
- Wilco
- The Beatles

Essential I like things that are inspired and inspire me in turn. Things that help me see the meaningfulness of living.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Made a fire with two sticks.

Teach, Learn, Share

- I can show you how to use a camera and take a good (at least technically speaking) photograph (the artistic stuff is more up to you).

- General computer skills (I can usually fix or at least diagnose your problem)

- I've got a pretty good working knowledge of photovoltaic solar systems.

- General carpentry, plumbing, and electrical skills.

- I enjoy learning. If you want to teach something, I think I'd be a decent student.

Countries I’ve Visited

Israel

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, United States