Mike is a plant ecologist (MS in Plant Ecology), an award-winning garden maker (Rock & Rose Landscapes), an educator (M.Ed Science Education), a nursery owner (Sonoma Horticultural Nursery) and a permaculturist (2014 with OAEC and 2016 with Toby Hemenway and Daily Acts). He has presented talks at the Permaculture Convergence and the annual meeting of California Landscape Contractors Association on Food Forest Gardens and Permaculture. He was an advisor to the SF Water Department on water use during the drought of the early 1990's and served as chair of the Landmark Tree Committee of the SF Urban Forestry Council. His Master's Thesis was on Post-Fire Vegetation.