About me: Forest-dwelling father, Finnish sauna fanatic, emergency physician, ED and EMS Medical Director, ultrasonographer, professor, student, photographer, filmmaker, author, localism entrepreneur. Co-host Conscious Bro Podcast

Selected Projects:

Defiance Springs Lodge - artists' salon. A charming micro pioneer hotel in the forests just outside Viroqua, WI. Our goal was to create a space where one might not be sure of the time period they were in. Is it now, is it 3000 years from now or 3000 years ago? A combination of Little House on the Prairie, Westworld, and The Real World. The Prancing Pony meets Harry Potter meets Star Wars galactic café. Like a 100 acre movie set. As if you were on an Oregon Trail-type adventure, and requiring some respite, ventured upon a lively timber hotel. A literal healing sanctuary along the headwaters of the South Fork of the Bad Axe River. Surounded by artesian springs, rocky ravines, and effigy mounds. An ideal setting to rebalance, heal, and revive. A community of likeminded resident and visiting filmakers, creators, artists, physicans, healers and entreprenuers. Sharing ideas and content around loving regeneration, in-all-ways. From self to soul to soil. Colletive manifestation of a more verdent valley on the other side of the portal divide.
Viroqua Public Market, an award-winning adaptive reuse of a historic Viroqua, Wisconsin.
The National Transfer Registry app (aka theNTR). This is a directory of every acute care hospital, nursing home and EMS agency in America, a free tool to use during critical transfer challenges.
Regenven, Regenerative Adventures: We seek to leave a lasting positive effect. Optimizing resiliency, through investments focused on a regenerative mindset, from self to society, habitation to habitats to habits. Regenerative adventures.
Cobalt Cottage AirBNB Viroqua. On the grounds of the Viroqua Public Market. Super charming entire home that sleeps 10. Haunted speakeasy vibe. Right in the thick of things. Experience Viroqua as a local!
Serenity Cabin AirBNB Viroqua. Cozy, rustic cabin on forested hillside overlooking trout stream. Miles of private groomed trails. Friendly goats. Middle Earth vibe. Just five minutes to Downtown Viroqua.

I am infatuated with this "Driftless Area", a unique and mysterious zone in SW Wisconsin never bulldozed by glaciers - resulting in an ancient, undisturbed lands of artisan spring-fed streams, foggy valleys and magestic rocky bluffs covered in prehistoric oak savannas. A real-world Middle Earth. A destination sanctuary bioregion with an abundance of water, sustenance, energy, connectivity and cooperation. Arguably the richest soil on the planet and notably, mostly controlled by interconnected families. A geographic locale with an optimal balance of wet and dry, warm and cold, individual and collective, allowing us to not only survive but thrive as the Earth inevitably churns into its next version.

I have playful recurrent dream: This enchanting zone of land, is like an Arc! And we, the people of this Driftless Nation, venture together upon the waters of a world-wide calamitous flood, on 20,000 year mission to foster collective bliss and leave a lasting positive effect.

And thus healing is not a destination, but daily practice.

F E A T U R E D P H O T O G R A P H Y

An assortment of my photography our beloved Driftless Area and beyond....

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F E A T U R E D F I L M S

Mindflow Radio Podcast: Inspiration, Motivation and Values. 12 Feb 21

VISION QUESTS

Driftless Thrive Podcast, ep. 1 April 2020

Entries in food (1)

Sunday

Jan012012

Optimo is now Rooted Spoon!

Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 3:14PM

Optimo is now Rooted Spoon!

"Rooted Spoon Culinary is happy to invite you to share in our passion for good food and great community at our new Kitchen Table event space. Look here for upcoming events such as community brunches and special dinners as well as workshops, music, art openings and film showings. Rooted Spoon Culinary offers a distinct style of catering featuring seasonal menus that highlight locally sourced and sustainably produced ingredients. We proudly support our local economy and showcase the renowned, high quality food of the Driftless Region by purchasing directly from area farmers, butchers and food artisans. Our menus are custom designed to fit both the season and our client’s taste with food that is hand-crafted from scratch. We offer both off-site catering and on-site events at our event space ‘Kitchen Table’, located in beautiful downtown Viroqua, Wisconsin in the historic Main Street Station. Our philosophy is that the best food is fresh, in season, and locally produced. Let us bring our dedication to quality and love of good food to your private dinner, wedding, party, or any other special occasion"