rural conservation specialist
503-858-2149
Merek grew up in Colorado, where his reverence for nature took root hiking and camping in the Rocky Mountains. Drawn by the verdant forests of the Pacific Northwest, he moved to Portland after graduating from the University of Colorado with a degree in Environmental Studies.
In 2016, Merek left a long-term desk job to pursue farming. He completed a beginning farmer apprenticeship through Oregon State University Extension and worked on small vegetable farms for three years. Experiencing firsthand the challenges and rewards of growing food inspired him to help farmers and rural landowners achieve their stewardship goals.
Merek has worked in Washington County for ten years, providing technical assistance to residents on maintaining green stormwater infrastructure, monitoring restoration projects, and surveying invasive insects. He was the Field Conservation Intern for West Multnomah SWCD in 2024, where he developed conservation plans for rural property owners.
Outside of work, Merek’s best days are spent honing his plant propagation skills or backpacking high country trails. He lives in a tiny house with two lucky stray cats.