John

Personal stuff

Some History

I grew up in Florida, going to disney and watching the space shuttle launch. I was used to seeing alligators and making sure I didn't step on poisonous snakes while taking walks. But after being bit by one to many moisquitos, I was ready to leave. I went and lived in Vermont and Michigan for a couple of years after high school. When I was ready to go to college I went back to Florida to work and go to school part-time. After finally getting my 2-year degree (it took 6), I went back to Vermont and worked on a small organic farm for a summer. After that I was bit by the ag bug. Upon returning to FL, I enrolled at University of Florida and received a basic plant science degree in 2003. Once I graduated, I did an internship with the Extension Service and discovered I really liked education. From there I spent two years in a middle school teaching eighth graders about plants, soil, and food. We raised veggies and ate great salads together. I realized that I wasn't cut out for middle school any longer and I want to study soils so it was on to grad school. After my wife and I spent our honeymoon in Oregon I knew Oregon State was at the top of my list. As luck would have it, I was accepted with a scholarship. We packed our bags, said goodbye to our friends and family, and started our new adventure on the west coast. We arrived in 2005 and immediately knew we made the right choice. I have now finished my MS and work as a faculty research assistant in the Horticulture department and love it.

My family

My wife and I bought our first home in Albany, OR. Luckily we found a town where the house prices were reasonable. This allows my wife to work at home raising our daughter, who was born in May 2007. Check out her blog and flickr.