From Subsistence to Surplus

Tim is a lifelong agriculturist. His family operates Deer Run Farm – a 30 acre “truck” farm on Long Island, New York. As one of a handful of farms in the area, it faces unique challenges, especially those associated with urban-edge agriculture. As a result, Tim has a keen interest in the interplay between science, sustainability, and policymaking. After graduating from Cornell University in 2001 with a B.S. in Plant Science, he worked in various levels of state and federal government while continuing to work seasonally at the farm. In 2004, he was awarded a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship for study at Lincoln University, New Zealand. DHS awarded Tim a graduate fellowship in 2005. In summer of 2006, he was a visiting fellow at Los Alamos National Lab, working with crop biosecurity. In 2008, Tim graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Plant Medicine, the equivalent of a “plant M.D.” He is currently an Associate Professor of Crop Science at Ferrum College.

Child of the 80’s

I fancy myself an encyclopedia of 80’s culture – toys, music, and video games. I own an exhaustive collection of retro consoles – curated to museum quality standards. I also restore old stand-up arcade machines. Hydroponics and bucket ag are a zen-like experience – horticultural therapy is a legitimate stress reliever (and paradoxically, an inducer).