instance , he found a nail in a fence when he was hiking . Taz bent it , made it into a hook , and used it with a fishing line he made out of the inner strands of a parachute cord to catch trout in the creek , using worms and insects for bait .
In 2018 , Taz graduated from Berkshire Community College with an associate ’ s degree in liberal arts , then in 2022 received a bachelor ’ s degree from MCLA in interdisciplinary studies with a minor in mathematics .
Then he came across Alone . “ The show caught my attention because it was not only about survival , but also about self-discovery ,” he says .
When he wanted to catch the producers ’ attention from Alone , Taz knew the perfect subject for his email submission : “ From the jungles of Brazil through the desert of Utah into the cold winter in the Northeast of the U . S .” It was compelling enough to make him stand out from tens of thousands of email submissions producers receive , Taz says . He was cast .
As the name of the show implies , the nature of being alone in the wilderness was the greatest challenge Taz faced while filming the show . Within half an hour after being dropped off at his site , he shot a grouse with a bow and arrow on his first try — and instinctively looked to the side for someone to celebrate what he had hunted .
“ You ’ re like , ‘ Wow , this is weird , this is different ,’” he says . “ There ’ s no one there to cheer with you . Or when something goes wrong , there ’ s also nobody there for you to share the pain with .”
Being on the show was incredible , says Taz . He stayed for 40 days and finished in fifth place out of ten contestants , ultimately tapping out because he couldn ’ t find enough food . But the land was beautiful , and it gave him renewed appreciation for the connections in his life . It was then that he also realized he could teach his survival skills to other people . He began developing course curriculum , which is one of his areas of professional focus today .
In his Becket treehouse cabin , remnants from his time on Alone decorate the walls , blending with the rustic aesthetic : wings from the first grouse he shot ; the jaw from a fish he caught ; and a four-stringed instrument he carved out of wood to keep his mind occupied on the long , cold nights . During a tour of his home , Taz took the instrument down from the wall and started to play . It was clear he had an ear for rhythm and melody ; even though the instrument didn ’ t have the typical tuning or metal strings of a Brazilian cavaquinho ( a four-stringed instrument commonly played in samba music ), he moved his fingers up and down the fretboard , creating a light , joyful tune .
Outside the treehouse , an ax sits near a pile of freshly chopped firewood — his only heat source during the colder months is a
business assistance | flexible loans | microgrants
Who is Berkshire Agricultural Ventures ?
We ’ re a community nonprofit helping farmers in the Berkshire-Taconic region grow and thrive . Together , we ’ re supporting a stronger , more resilient food system .
Scan here to learn more , support us , and stay in touch !