M. J. McBain was 'born in Adelaide in 1952 and raised on the family farm 'Crower' at Lucindale. In 1957 they moved to a farm at Boyup Brook. He attended Scotch College from 65 to 69, did a Commerce Degree at UWA and then worked for Esso Australia. After a year he moved to Nannup and commenced organic/ biodynamic farming. In 87 he bought a farm near Margaret River and became a community conservation activist, an environmental retailer and even sold real estate. He spoke at the UN in New York and went to the 92 Rio Earth Summit. On returning to WA from a 2 year trip filming and photographing in SA, Vic and the NT, John started writing poetry as a creative outlet having hocked all of his cameras along the way. In his spare time he is a community sustainability consultant, environmental designer, an urban agriculturalist and an alcoholarian.'