Michael has worked in environmental protection programs for the past 25 years, including conservation land management for a regional park system, forest restoration project management and ecological burning through prescribed fire.  He has helped plant hundreds of trees as a volunteer urban forester in the past and is known to pull invasives from any land that needs it, whether at home or on vacation. He is currently training with OSU as a Oregon Certified Burn Manager to continue mentoring young land stewards and support the growing prescribed fire community in the northwest.

Michael and his best friend and wife Jennifer are thrilled to now own and care for Cliff and Gay Hall’s farm in Kings Valley and nurture the Luckiamute Meadows/Halls Wildlife Refuge conservation lands through their involvement with the Kings Valley Community Trust and Luckiamute Watershed Council. They love to camp, grow their own food using resilient gardening principles, and to share their growing understanding of ecological stewardship with others.