VOLUNTEER PROFILE: Greg Mull—Hardworking & Hilarious

Hi Greg! Thanks for meeting with me on this crisp winter day. You’ve been a core OVLC volunteer since around 2017, always bringing light-hearted humor and a knack for problem-solving, no matter the project. To start, can you tell me a little about yourself?

I was born in Hollywood in 1961 and grew up in Burbank. I was lucky—I had a classic middle-class, bike-riding childhood, and right across the street was a mountain range. That was unusual for such a developed town. The land where I used to play is now covered in houses, but back then, we could hike straight from my house, cross a couple of ranges, and end up in La Crescenta-Montrose. It was unstructured, wild, and an absolute blast. That’s where my love for nature started.

I moved up to Ojai about ten years ago when my wife followed an employer, and I tagged along. I love it here. I have a real fascination with rivers, river restoration, and steelhead trout. OVLC keeps me moving—it gets me off my butt and working! These days, I work as a professional landscaper, which lets me combine my love for the outdoors with hands-on, creative work. I spend my days shaping landscapes, restoring spaces, and—most importantly—getting my hands in the dirt.

What led you to working outdoors as a career?

Playing in the mountains as a kid. I’ve always had two passions: music and nature. I spent my twenties and thirties in Hollywood recording studios, working long hours indoors. When my daughter was born, I knew I couldn’t keep up with the 80-hour weeks. So, I pivoted. I started working at a nursery for a bit, and long story short, that led me to landscaping. It happened naturally—people kept asking me to do projects, and I kept saying yes. No one complained, so I kept going! Eventually, I got my license, built a career, and raised my kid.

You’ve mentioned music as one of your two passions. Can you share more about that?

I’ve been obsessed with music for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid, I was always spinning records. When I was nine, my mom got a piano, and I just started banging on it instinctively. I took lessons for about a year, but I didn’t love being told what to play—I just wanted to play Skynyrd! My teacher had me repeating chords, and I was like, “This isn’t why I’m here!” A couple of years later, I got a guitar and taught myself how to play. I still write and play all the time—it’s just part of who I am.

What do you enjoy most about trail work?

There’s no single answer, but honestly, the number one thing is the camaraderie. It’s a wacky world these days, and it’s hard to find people who believe in what I believe in. The folks at the conservancy—the staff, the volunteers—they just get it. At least as far as I can tell, they’re rooted in reality. Sure, the fresh air and exercise are great, but mostly, it’s about being around good people.

Absolutely! And it’s the people who show up, too.

Exactly. There are two ways you can help—one is to throw money at something. And don’t get me wrong, nobody’s giving more than they can afford to a cause they believe in. But time? That’s a finite thing. You can always make more money, but you can’t make more time. The people who put in the hours—the ones who really show up—those are the winners for me. As for a favorite trail, I’d say Wills Canyon and El Nido Meadow. But honestly, I’m usually just enjoying the river.

What keeps you coming back after all these years?

Fear of dying—ha! I mean, that’s one way to stay motivated, right? Toby Keith had this song, “Don’t Let the Old Man In.” I didn’t know much about it until he passed, but I heard the story. He was at a pro-am golf tournament, and he got paired with Clint Eastwood. Clint was 88 at the time, still working, and said he was in the middle of writing and directing The Mule (2018). Toby asked him, “Why the hell do you keep doing this?” And Clint stopped, thought for a second, and said, “I don’t let the old man in.” I loved that. That’s me. I might be getting older, but if you tell anybody...well, I’ll just keep going until I can’t!

Do you have a favorite memory or project you’ve worked on with OVLC?

Not one favorite—what I have are memories. I’ll be out hiking and suddenly think, “Oh man, I remember when we hauled that concrete up here for this bench!” Or I’ll see a section of trail and think, “This used to go a different way, and look how well it grew in after we rerouted it.” So for me, it’s not about one big moment. I just like checking up on “the kids” and seeing how they’re doing.

I’ve been thinking a lot about all of us who work on the trails—how it’s like we’re creating a living legacy. The sweat, the effort, the memories we tie to certain sections of trail...those places wouldn’t be the same, or even exist, without that work.

Exactly. Great societies are built by people who plant trees whose shade they will never sit under. I live by that.

That’s beautiful. I know you also volunteer with Los Padres Forest Association and the Ojai Raptor Center. What does volunteering mean to you?

I have a lot of thoughts about money, and one of them is this—volunteering puts you in control. Most of us go to work because we have to. I mean, I can tell you love what you do, but a lot of people wake up in the morning, drag themselves to work, and just do what they have to do to make a living. Volunteering? That’s my choice. Money or no money, this is valuable to me. This is what I want to do. I’m lucky enough to have the freedom to make that decision, and I don’t take it for granted.

And by the way—if you love something and then start doing it for a living, you might stop loving it. I heard about a study on parents who pay their kids to take piano lessons. Those kids almost never stick with it. It has to be organic—something you truly want to do. That’s how I feel about volunteering. I do it because it means something to me. Plus, you know...I’ll take the juice boxes and Nature Valley bars at the end of the day.

What would you say to someone who’s thinking about joining us for trail work but feels intimidated?

I’m a huge believer in the healing benefits of nature. There’s plenty of science to back it up—just being outdoors, doing something—it’s good for you. So don’t overthink it. Be a part of it. Be alive. A lot of us hesitate to step into something new because we don’t want to feel out of place or like we’re not pulling our weight. I get that. But here’s the thing—volunteering isn’t just about what you give, it’s about what you receive, too. I used to think saying no to help was the safe choice, but now I see that when you turn down an opportunity to connect, you’re actually taking something away from both sides. So don’t be afraid to jump in. And if I can make you laugh on the trail? Even better—because that means you’re already part of the team.

You do plenty of that! You always keep us laughing—honestly, one of the best reasons to show up is to hear one of your jokes. Greg, we really appreciate you. It’s always a highlight to see you roll in behind the wheel of that old International Harvester Scout, ready to get to work. You’re truly the best, and it’s a pleasure having you on the team.