StarFish Author Jeff Thayer was brought up on the East Coast on the oceans in the summers and in the woods most of the rest of the year. In his early educational years he became a committed naturalist integrating his education with practical wisdoms drawn from indigenous cultures.  He’s been devoted to organic farming and gardening for over 30 years  bringing a renaissance man viewpoint to building soils using archaea which supports mycorrhizal fungus for root health and plant nutrient uptake.  Graduating with degrees in history and environmental sciences, Jeff has followed closely developments with the Human Genome Project and later the Microbiome Project eventually enrolling in the “Gut Check:  Exploring Your Microbiome” three month class offered by the University of Colorado (Boulder).  For the past 10 years Jeff has also pursued mastering the skills necessary to ferment foods and water kefirs which has further enhanced his understanding of haloarchaea found in unrefined sea salts.  A long time follower of fermentation and microbiome experts Sandor Katz [Wild Fermentation], Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride [Gut & Psychology Syndrome], Dr. Jeffrey Leach [Human Food Project], Stephen Harrod Buhner [Sacred Plant Medicine], Jeff has connected dots between the use of fermented foods and overall health in indigenous cultures.  He’s grown microgreens and fermented various sauerkrauts and kimchis making them available at farmer’s markets.  Jeff has taught classes and workshops on fermentation of food and kefirs, and has consulted with home gardeners on creating edible landscapes and farmscapes using permaculture and food forest practices.  Currently Jeff is a support manager over fresh (produce, deli, meat and dairy) as well as dry grocery at Walmart.  His career at Walmart began in the Lawn & Garden Department which is a part of the fictionalized setting of the novel, StarFish - The Evolution of People at Work.