Matthew Bibeau

Out of undergraduate school, Matt began working in the fields of resource management and restoration with the National Park Service and National Forest Service. The work in places like sequoia forests and alpine lakes was the realization of a childhood dream, yet there was a significant piece that seemed to be missing: that these places are still at high risk from human impacts, and that to really learn how to CARE for a place, and develop a strong sense of nature connection, accessing nature needed to be close to home, right where we live. And so in 2004 Matt moved to Portland, Oregon where he completed a graduate program in sustainability education, focusing on how a budding school garden movement in the city could provide an essential connection to nature in our early, most formative years. Here, he was introduced to Permaculture through a college course taught by Toby Hemenway, and Matt would later coordinate and co-teach with Toby before coming on as a lead instructor for what is now City Repair's Urban Permaculture Design Course. Years spent teaching and running Mother Earth School--a farm and nature-based early education and lower grade school--gave further insight into what kind of education is possible in a city. Matt currently lives at Jean's Farm with is partner, Kelly Hogan. Jeans Farm is an educational farm that has been the location of many of their garden and nature programs for over a decade.