Who we are
We draw on our professional backgrounds as Earth scientists, educators, writers, editors, and land managers, along with strong personal interests in ecology and history, to read the Ozark landscape and tell its stories.
We've been a team since 2004, combining Joanna's Ozark-native knowledge with Eric's not-from-hereabouts Outsider perspective.
Educators
A graduate degree in science education laid the groundwork for our dedication to public outreach. We've led field trips for local organizations, taught introductory birding classes, written magazine and newsletter articles, and spoken to various groups on ecology, Earth science, and history.
Explorers
Our drive to discover new places, and new ways to understand them, has uncovered so many neat stories in the Ozarks and beyond. Little-known locations, little-understood connections, little-appreciated context: We’re excited to find and share them all!
Scientists
Our academic and professional backgrounds in Earth science research and scientific editing developed our desire to better understand the world. Now we apply that training independently to explore and explain how geologic, ecologic, and human factors shape the landscape.
Naturalists
Our love of being outdoors translates into a strong desire to observe and understand our surroundings. Birding has long been a driving force for us, while a fascination with plants led to multiple recognitions in the 2021 Missouri Botanist Big Year.
Land managers
We've lived on a rural Missouri homestead since 2006, working hard to improve our property through timber stand improvement, habitat diversification, and other sustainable land management practices that provide both human and natural benefits.
Food producers
We're devoted to sustainable food production, even operating as a full-time diversified organic farm for a spell. We produce much of our own food year-round by managing gardens and an orchard along with wild-harvesting various natural resources.