My first attempt at ecological restoration was in my parent's front yard in Brantford, Ontario in 1976. Inspired by the work of Robert Dorney, I pursued restoration not only as an ecological practice but as a way of connecting people with nature and natural process.

My major work in this area is Nature By Design, which argues for "focal restoration," that depends on engaged human relationships to place. This is where I first advanced the idea of wild design.

I supervise students who work on a wide variety of projects, including the return of fire to forested ecosystems, the restoration of wilderness areas, indigenous restoration projects, social practices in restoration, and wild design.