Born and raised in the Matilija Canyon (shown in the background), I have been surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest my whole life. The water that has helped to carve this transverse mountain range also flows within my veins. My connection to the land is so deep that I have made it my lifelong duty to educate youth about how to preserve and protect our wonderful natural resources within our own watershed. Aside from sustainable milling and furniture making I am employed as a full time elementary science and woodshop teacher at a local Ojai Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade school. I use my local knowledge to share the wonders of our unique location in hopes of creating a sense of connection and gratitude for our delicate ecosystems.

 

        Similar to a bird flying north for the summer, I too have spent the majority of my summers driving to Southeast Alaska. This annual migration has helped to shape not only my sense of being but also my sense of place. The diversity that I have experienced along the great Pacific coast has given me a humble appreciation for the natural world, especially wood. My most gratifying moment is opening up a tree and exposing the one of a kind wood grain for the first time. I get goosebumps. I never cut living trees, only dead or salvaged timber. I honor the tree by documenting where each slab was harvested because I feel that knowing where your resources are from is as important as knowing where you are from. They are the true artists, I am simply helping to share their endless beauty. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.