About US

We inform, help, and support people who want to live a natural and sustainable life!

Whether you are just browsing for ideas or inspiration, looking for information about a project, discovering how to heal, looking for natural products or kid-friendly activities… we have you covered. We are always thinking of ways to save money, complete DIY projects, get inspired and live with purpose. Check out our menu items on the homepage to browse our blog posts. Contact us for ideas, support, or clarification. If you want to contribute to our site, click on the link below under “Become a Guest Author.” We love to share ideas and spread good ideas to support a community of people who want to live with purpose. If you just want to support the website, and make new content possible, you can become a member or purchase recommended products through our affiliate links. This will help us to bring great content to you!

Who am I?

I am not a medical doctor. Any suggestions or insights I provide are my personal opinion and not intended to be used as medical advice. Consult your doctor first!

In order of importance, I am a father and a husband.

After that, I am a teacher, scientist, mycologist, fly fisherman, writer, watchmaker, and quarter-acre homesteader.

I have dedicated my life to scientific research, teaching, and the study of natural products, traditional remedies, and human psychology for more than 30 years. My work is rooted in both formal academic training and lived experience.

Growing Up on a Small Farm

I was raised on a small dairy goat farm. We had animals to care for, a couple of orchard trees to tend—plums, apples, pears—a vegetable garden, and open land for hunting, fishing, and trapping. Before school, I usually fed and milked goats. Responsibility was not theoretical—it was daily life.

My mother is from Germany and lived through the hardships of World War II. She brought with her deep knowledge of self-sufficiency: foraging, gardening, preserving food, canning, and cooking from scratch. I spent countless hours at her side learning skills that were practical, resilient, and often uncommon in American households. From her, I learned that resourcefulness is not a trend—it is a necessity.

Learning to Build and Repair

My father was a farmer by birth, later a U.S. Air Force jet mechanic, and eventually an electrician. He is what people call a “jack-of-all-trades.” He taught me how to rebuild engines, hunt and fish, wiring, framing, mechanical repair, troubleshooting, and problem solving without outsourcing. We did not hire plumbers or mechanics. We figured things out.

That upbringing shaped my confidence with tools and systems. If I can put my hands on something, I will try to understand it—and fix it.

Academic Training and Scientific Work

After high school, I entered college as a Biopsychology major. I later earned a M.S. in Biology with a concentration in Mycology. I taught biochemistry at the college level, conducted research across multiple disciplines, and worked as a laboratory technician. Eventually, I earned a second masters degree, a M.A.T in teaching. I have been a full-time teacher of astronomy, earth science, biology, anatomy, and physiology and robotics for 12 years. Today, I balance the roles of educator, father, and husband—while continuing to research and write.

Beyond the Classroom

Along the way, I traveled to Mexico to study ethnobotany and ethnomycology under the guidance of a traditional healer. I apprenticed under a watchmaker and eventually started my own watchmaking business. I’ve traveled across the country fly fishing. I’ve continued studying the subjects that shape this website: natural products, traditional knowledge, scientific evidence, and practical living. The through-line in all of it is curiosity—and respect for both tradition and data.

Why This Site Exists

Natural Living Reviews is where those worlds meet:

• Scientific research
• Traditional knowledge
• Hands-on experience
• Practical application

My goal is not to romanticize “natural living.” It is to examine it carefully, test it thoughtfully, and share what holds up under scrutiny.

• I believe in evidence.
• I believe in tradition.
• I believe in building competence.

And above all, I believe in raising my family with intention.