David is the designer and builder of most all the infrastructure at Dancing Crane Farm.  A first-grade teacher by trade, he also has a general contractor’s license, but these days he likes to use his building skills strictly on the farm.  He likes the challenge of using as much local and recycled material as possible while still producing a quality, lasting product.  Though he loves construction work around the farm, he is also a big fan of days off, which he spends mountain biking, sea kayaking, or playing music in his studio.

Natasha is passionate about food, people, animals and the environment.  She loves to teach and inspire others to become healthier and live lighter on the earth.  Natasha believes in the goodness of people and their desire to do the right thing when provided with the appropriate information and skills.  Natasha loves physical work in the fields, cooking for the crew and most of all enjoys mentoring the interns and sharing her knowledge with others.  During the rare times she is not working, Natasha is searching for treasures at a yard sale, checking out an estate auction or reading the latest cutting-edge book about the connection between the food we eat and our health. 

Kelly is a determined young woman with a taste for adventure.  As a young girl, she never missed an opportunity to search for ants under rocks or tromp through murky swamps.  She grew up on a farm near Grand Rapids, Michigan where there were always things to keep her outside, and her mother guessing where she might have run off to.  She and her husband live in Marquette with their dog Sigma and tend a small front yard garden of their own.  When not at the farm you can find her running, biking, kayaking, hiking or working at the Marquette Food Co-op.

Hannah is committed to creating a resilient lifestyle for herself and others and believes that Dancing Crane Farm is the place to do that.  She loves to grow plants and design harmonious outdoor living spaces brimming with real food.  The study of permaculture and the books in The Ringing Cedars Series have left an indelible image in her mind of what the future could hold. She is excited to be a part of bringing it to fruition.  When not farming, Hannah is out in the woods with her dog, Meg, writing, doing yoga and pilates or grazing on Dragon’s Tongue Beans in the field.

Mary enjoys living in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where she is continually adding to her storehouse of knowledge on living simplistically for health and happiness.  You are just as likely to find her hauling wood as baking a delicious pie.  She is often the gopher for DCF, rounding up recycled materials from the area for the many projects always in the works.  When not at the farm she can be found playing the piano and singing, hiking and spending time with her grandson.

Joel fills the role of general handyman and scientist at the farm.  You can often find him repairing the tractor and experimenting with growing techniques.  He enjoys discovering creative approaches to woodworking projects in his shop and eating Mary’s pies.  Sometimes a woodsman, sometimes a scholar, if you hear the clear peal of one of his wooden whistles you know that Joel is in the area.

Case grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan just outside the city of
Holland.  There he developed a passion for the outdoors, and can often
be found hiking and camping in his free time.  He has an artistic side and enjoys drawing and painting, as well as dabbling on guitar.  Case has a strong moral compass, and has spent some time volunteering with the homeless in downtown Grand Rapids.

Andrea is a good steward, strongly committed to the wellness of the environment and its inhabitants. Her heart grows daily in her love for family, friends, cooking, and nature. Her career in “green” design and architecture has led her to be proactive and practical in her approach to sustainable living. She believes that health and happiness stem from a lifestyle of simplicity, eating good food, and caring for others. She is inspired to apply knowledge and experiences of traveling, farming, and living the good life to her local community, and to help propel the slow food and slow money initiatives. Her free time is often spent reading, hiking, making clothes or writing letters to friends and family. Andrea is pleased to join the amazing and talented crew at Dancing Crane Farm for the 2010 season.

Bob Glinn is a computer-wizard turned loose from the city and is now filled with inspirations in agroforestry, permaculture, and studies on symbiotic relations. He is passionate about moving towards sustainable, self-reliant, community living with the first step being to feed and sustain health by growing one’s own food. He is an artist and craftsman who dedicates time each day to prayer, meditation, and self-reflection. Bob enjoys tending fires, reading, playing the guitar, walking in the woods, and sharing a laugh with others. His goals are to learn about implementing sustainable methods of agriculture to create a homestead of his own where much of needs can be satisfied from the land and direct community. He is eager to grow and work hard with his new mentors at Dancing Crane.

Robert Bloom is a native Michigander determined to creatively live in harmony with nature, and is eager to work alongside others who can help to guide him. He enjoys practicing yoga, percussion, cooking, and exploring the world and its cultures both near and far. Robert looks forward to learning methods of organic agriculture, passive solar construction, self-sustainability, and a lifestyle that nurtures the soil and all living things.