Ian moved back to Madison at the beginning of 2012, bringing a background in facilitation, culturally appropriate capacity-building, and food systems work from his time living in Toronto and Nicaragua. He was looking for a community where he could practice farming and share life with other growers. He visited the Farley Center soon after moving home, met Gene, and has been caring for soil and plants and enjoying the company of the Farley Center community members ever since.

Ian has helped create a vision for and contributed to the care of the Farley Center's fruit trees and other perennials, helping organize an orchard stewards group, the annual apple cider pressing celebration, workshops, and other activities. He was a founding member of the Spring Rose Growers Cooperative and later served as the General Manager.

Ian expressed how grateful he is to get to share life, ideas, and laughter with everyone at the Farley Center, and how he feels dedicated to caring for the soil and plants at Farley to pass on to future generations.