I am a native of the Chesapeake Watershed and have lived most of my life along its rivers, forests, and fields. My life started on a dairy farm in Frederick County, Maryland, and I have been living in Virginia’s Valley and Piedmont regions for almost two decades now. My centuries-long farming heritage in this place makes me aware of, and implicated in, the tragedies and injustices that have happened here. I launched Chesapeake Watershed Ministries to help in the spiritual and ecological renewal of this watershed, from the headwaters of the Susquehanna to the Allegheny Front to the south bank of the James.

I am…

• A spiritual leader and guide—ordained over twenty-five years in the Episcopal Church, I have served churches of all sizes, and as chaplain to the University of Virginia. I have strong preaching and teaching gifts that I enjoy using to help draw people closer to God, nature, and one another.

• A leader and practitioner of conservation—an elected member of the Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District, representing Albemarle County. Former field technician for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Lord Fairfax Soil & Water District. My own farming practices conserve water, heal soil, address climate change, and integrate wildlife habitat.

• A farmer with over sixteen years of experience in regenerative farming, raising livestock and vegetables. I currently raise sheep through management intensive grazing for soil and animal health.

• A spiritual director for many years, having recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction at St. John’s School of Theology & Seminary in Collegeville, MN with an emphasis in contemplative ecology.

• A life-long friend to Amish and monastic communities, listening to their integration of spirituality, community, and the natural world.