User:Michael J Swassing

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1 Michael J Swassing

[edit] Michael J Swassing

Michael John Swassing is best known for his work as a tree surgeon and organic landscaper. However his early career involved hazardous materials emergency response.

[edit] Early Life

Born July 23, 1962 in Hanford, California to William and Mary Swassing, Michael is the youngest of six siblings.

[edit] Overcoming Adversity

After graduating high school in 1980, Michael studied chemistry at the University of California at Santa Barbara. As a result of cuts to Social Security survivor's benefits by Ronald Reagan, Michael left university in his third year.

Finding employment with a pesticide manufacturing firm, FMC Corporation in Fresno, California, Swassing soon found an opportunity for training in hazardous materials emergency preparedness and response following the incident at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India, in 1984.

A series of career advancements found Swassing responsible for all non-nuclear hazardous wastes at the Trident Submarine Base at Bangor, Washington, by 1988. Dogged by his non-completion of a university degree, he was replaced in this capacity.

For the next several years Swassing foundered in both his career and in his cups.

From the spring of 1990 until the summer of 1991 Swassing worked aboard the Factory Trawler Snow King in the Bering Sea pollock and cod fishery.

In the fall of 1991 Swassing returned to university, this time at Washington State University at Pullman. Here he gained his Baccalaureate in Environmental Science in 1994.

[edit] Finding His Calling

While working for King County in the Parks department, Swassing started an organic landscaping firm, doing business as "A Natural Gardener," with the stated mission "to enhance the natural health and beauty of exceptional places and to create new places of beauty and solace."

In 1998 he achieved Certified Arborist status with the International Society of Arboriculture.

He is also a member of the Society for Organic Urban Land Care.

Working thoughout the Puget Sound region, Swassing provides educational consultations about tree health care, natural land care, restoration ecology, and land stewardship. He often works with Diana Esperas, an independent partner.