Dan Ellens is an outdoor enthusiast who is passionate about connecting people with nature. He spends nearly half of each year in an isolated, electricity-free treehouse on Winterfield Pines Nature Sanctuary with woodstove heat, handpump water, and oil lamp lighting. His daily off-grid life includes caring for the sanctuary, hosting the sanctuary’s guests, all of the activities of a self-sufficient lifestyle, observing the natural surroundings and animal behavior, and drawing and writing. 

Dan has written four nonfiction books intended to inspire adventure, promote self-sufficient lifestyles, and connect people with nature. He is also author of the email-blog, Michigan Forest Life, which includes more than 850 posts since 2018.

Dan was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is retired from a full career in industry and international business. When asked, Dan says his education places him in a large group of people with mechanical engineering and MBA degrees.

Dan is an accomplished woodworker and carpenter. He is a hobby artist and is passionate about rescuing, restoring, and finding new homes for fine art. He loves exploring the possibilities of off-grid electricity-free cooking and baking. While not in the wilds, Dan’s home is in the small community of Salem, Michigan.