Michael has led a very
passionate and dynamic life thus
far. A variety of broad
experiences has given him an
optimistic perspective of how we
can proactively create a better
future for ourselves, our
communities, and our planet. His
intent is to empower others to
find their peace, their bounty,
and their own deeper path
through life.
Michael has
been teaching farm education,
health and wellness, and
business within experiential
education learning models for
over 18 years. He has taught
hundreds of students through
apprenticeships, public school,
workshops, classes, and work
exchange programs.
Out of high school, Michael was
nominated to attend the US Air
Force Academy. After spending
two years there, he transferred
to and graduated with high
honors from the Indiana
University Kelley School of
Business, with a degree in
Accounting and Finance. Two
years of working in corporate
America then sent him into his
deep self-exploratory years. He
traveled for two years around
the world, visiting far off
corners of the planet such as
Lapland, Timbuktu, and Tibet.
His love of diversity and life
was expanded during these years
as he witnessed both the beauty
of this earth, its creatures,
its cultures, and at the same
time, the destructive
environmental and social damage
that is occurring on this
planet.
This knowledge and awareness has
led Michael down a path of
healing and philanthropy.
Michael has traveled to 40
countries, worked as an outdoor
experiential education teacher
for Outward Bound, owned and
operated Indian Creek Farm,
where he sold organic vegetables
and herbs, ran the Center for
Community Empowerment, and was
the Finance Director for EO
Products, a family owned organic
and natural personal body care
company in California.
He has done much volunteer work
and served on various boards,
which include the Board of
Directors for the Local Growers
Guild, the Board of Directors
for Lost River Community Coop,
and the Bloomington Community
Farmers Market Advisory Board.
While in California, Michael
graduated from Diamond Light
School of Massage and Healing
Arts with a Professional
Bodywork Therapist certificate.
He also attended the California
Institute of Integral Studies,
where he focused on
personal/spiritual growth with
an East/West perspective as well
as individual and relationship
counseling.
His hobbies include farming,
natural building, massage
therapy, AcroYoga, food
production/preservation/fermentation,
mead/beer making, cheese making,
cooking in general, natural
living, herbal medicine making,
yoga, traveling, hiking,
listening to live music, trying
to play drums and the guitar.
Most importantly he loves
playing on the farm with his
son, Leo.
Thadius
Wooden, Assistant Farm
Manager, Animal Manager
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Noel
Thomas, Assistant Farm
Manager, Produce Lead
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Olivia
Grunau, Assistant Farm
Manager, Produce Lead
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Supporting Members
Laurie Becher
Erin Hochgesang
Tim Bowman
Sam Arena
Dr. John and Paula Clayton
John Gibson
Norbert Krapf
Paul McKenzie
Shireen McKenzie
David Masterson
Joseph Butterfield
Janice Luebbehusen
Debbie Hicks
Lisa Engelke
David Dudine
Lisa Boyles
Jeff Mease
Hootoksi Tyabji
Emma Wännström
Sister Mary Lee Hillenbrand
Tom Gallagher
Laura Henne
Linda Chapman
De Feigel
Ron Day
Janabai Raymundo
Hollie Hirst
Rebecca Cohen
Timothy Wickham
Janice Lilly
Ethan Engelke
Amina Shabani
Drew Eckert
Michael E. Hicks
Dee Wickham
Sara Pugh
Carol Olinger
Carol Thornton-Anderson
Kristen Abbott
Helen Vasquez
Larry Gillen
Jim Weber
Maria Mitchell
Raymond Foddrill
Phyllis Willis
Eric Day
John Van Meter
Ulla Linenthal