Jonathan Buford | Gilbert, AZ
Jonathan Buford is the founder of Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co and author of the book, Arizona Wilderness.
Why does wilderness matter to you?
Well, frankly, I'm obsessed with it. I love having a healthy obsession which reaches deep into my soul. I feel as if we all are A wilderness. Our consciousness is a wilderness. And the living Wilderness we get to experience is an absolute truth and that absolute truth mirrors who we really are. The way we interact with ourselves is similar to how we interact with wilderness. When nurtured, the relationship to both ourselves and nature will be one for an eternity.
Why does wilderness matter to your community?
I believe my community in this sense is the United States of America. We are a nation of incredible wild spaces and a bounty of public lands. We are rich in freedom in nature! If we can muster up some strength, we can be the country that preserves the most wild spaces in the world. We could be the light of the world when it comes to treating our ecosystems as our own backyards. I believe the young generations would prefer adults who think this way. As we grow older, we are tricked into thinking that there's something more. I believe we can be the nation that shows that there is nothing more than nature.
Share a story about a special experience you have had in wilderness.
I drove a 1988 rusted out Chevy Nova from Ohio. I knew one person. I knew not the natural side of this state. I was guided by a principal of the Wilderness spirit yet I had not met my match of wilderness. As I stumbled through the state I fell immediately in love. I was drawn to that first Wilderness sign which a volunteer most likely placed. It was that sign that I borrowed for my company, Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company. To activate the community I needed inspiration from such a moment. Now it is my goal to spread the love of wild spaces. Spread the love of the ultimate designation of the 1964 act of Congress that set forth a new frontier. As we dwindle our natural escapes, Wilderness will be all we have.
What are your hopes for the future of wilderness?
I believe the future is as precious as a seed in healthy wilderness soil. I believe this tree can grow strong like the other trees around it. I believe that many birds and many animals will call this tree home. It all begins with a seed and when I think future I think all of the possibilities that this seed can grow into. I believe that there are many moments in front of us for us to cherish our country in a new way. I believe that we can change the mindset of a patriotic American from a capitalistic, materialistic thrill seeker to experiencing the arduous truths hidden within Earth's wild space. I hope that every kid gets to experience this. It's the children that matter most as they are the wild ones. I hope every kid gets to experience Wilderness.
