Hello, friends of Palouse Land Trust! My name is Craig, and I am excited to introduce myself as the new Community Lands Steward at PLT. It is a true privilege to join a team committed not only to protecting the natural gifts of the Palouse, but also to nurturing the connections between people and the places they love. I’m looking forward to getting to know the land, the community, and the many partners who make conservation in the region possible.
My path here was anything but linear. I have lived in Michigan, California, Ohio, North Carolina, and Washington, with each move shaping my interests and connections to the lands across our country. I came to the Palouse in 2021 to pursue a Master’s in Biology at Washington State University, and right away, I felt grounded. And so, after graduating, I made the long and arduous trek from Pullman WA to Moscow ID. What used to be weekend visits to the farmer’s market and arboretum now take place right outside my front door.
These experiences, across different regions and now here on the Palouse, have shown me that conservation is as much about people as it is about place. I have always been drawn to the human side of conservation, focusing on how we teach and inspire others to care for the land. As I continue to grow, I feel fortunate to be in a role where both the people and the places they cherish are deeply valued.
That connection is also why the boundary between work and my personal life often feels blurred. A type II person at heart, my fun often consists of summiting the highest ridges in sight, cultivating my newfound interest in birding, or taking off to the woods with just my backpack and a few dehydrated meals. When I can’t get outside myself, I bring the outdoors to me with a growing collection of houseplants that make my apartment a green retreat. Whether it’s at the farmer’s market in town or out on the trails of Idler’s Rest, I hope to see you around!
"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." - John Muir