A few years ago, I left the film industry and accidentally reorganized my entire life around plants. What started as a three-month farming trip through Australia and New Zealand turned into an obsession with compost, soil, ecological restoration, California native plants, and the strange joy of talking about seeds for too long. Besides falling in love with compost toilets, I returned to Los Angeles with a much clearer understanding of how deeply people and nature are connected.

I now work at a plant nursery, volunteer with LA Compost and Theodore Payne Foundation, and study horticulture and sustainability through UCLA Extension and UC San Diego. I’ve completed the UC Master Gardens program, and am starting the California Native Plant Landscaper Certificate Program with Theodore Payne. I’m especially interested in seed stewardship, environmental education, and helping people rebuild relationships with the ecosystems around them. During my free time I grow my own veggies, help local businesses take care of their plants, host community fundraising events, and make short films.

At this point, I have accepted that I will probably never shut up about plants again.