About me:

My name is Jerry Covault and my interest in sharing the information contained in this blog began early.  I was born on an Iowa farm in 1938.  By the 1950’s I was building first-hand knowledge of the relationships between soil, weather, plants, animals and economics (although I didn’t know “economics” at the time).  I became proficient at bucking bales, pitching manure, and planting, cultivating and harvesting field crops.  In 1960 I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in forestry.  This was the beginning of my learning about the relationships between mountains, forests, soils, weather, fire, animals and people.
     
My wife, Lois, and I began our life together in 1959.  My career was in forestry and her supporting roll was in homemaking, mothering and community volunteer work.  We managed our life path so as to stay in the mountains, working on National Forests in Oregon, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana for thirty-three years.  Most of that time we lived on National Forest Ranger Stations which kept us close to the land and the people who use it.

After retirement from the Forest Service I was accepted to graduate school at the University of Montana.   I earned an MS degree in 1997 and began teaching in the University’s College of Forestry and Conservation as an adjunct instructor.  I taught various courses, but mostly the capstone course for graduating seniors, for ten semesters.

These days I build canoes, maintain our wildlife habitat yard, and have time for engaging conversation with Lois.  In a good week I take a day or two to hike or ski in the mountains and I enjoy sharing my observations and experiences.