He is the father of two children and is still a vocational school teacher and head of department at a vocational school until June 2026.

He was born as the eighth child in a family of craftsmen (his father was a self-employed carpenter) and was able to gain his first experience of nature in youth work as a scout (and leader). After completing his vocational training as a mechanical engineer via the so-called second-chance route, he went on to study engineering. After working as an engineer for two years, he was able to qualify as a vocational teacher by completing a postgraduate course in metal technology and English. He has been working at the vocational school since 1997 and has also been the head of department responsible for the school's international exchanges since 2009. In 2024, he completed a coaching course and before that attended various training courses on life-supporting topics.

In addition to gardening, he also enjoys long-distance hiking. In the last six years, he has hiked the Spanish Way of St James, the Spanish Pyrenees, the Camino del Natural de Ebro and Scotland in particular, covering over 5,000 kilometres. Sustainability has been a constant theme in his life.