About

John's first farm-based business was in middle school, raising and selling water lilies out of a pond that he built in his family's front yard in West Texas. He moved with his wife to Portland in 2007 and their family soon grew to include two kids and several food carts. After many successful years of serving wood-fired pizza, a new interest was sparked when the family visited the Japanese Garden and there happened to be a special bonsai event. John has been down many rabbit holes on YouTube related to various crafts and hobbies, but this one was truly captivating. He began to aquire trees and volunteer, learning all he could about growing and refining bonsai. Eventually the family moved to Milwaukie, OR and John apprenticed for two years with Michael Hagedorn to prepare for the launch of his own growing operation. In 2021, the family moved on to the farm in Gales Creek, about an hour west of Portland, where John grows many species of bonsai material and teaches a variety of classes and workshops. He also travels to teach growing bonsai study groups, speak at clubs around the country, and occasionally vends at events.