Our Beginnings

Me - Maizie - with Cinnamon our Llama

Tierra Vida Ranch was first officially open for business early spring of 2019. We are nestled in the Sierra Foothills in California, on a 50 acre parcel of land. 

Our family has always had a passion for regenerative farming and learning - and teaching -  different ways to survive off of the land without disrupting Nature’s natural course, and finding ways to feed the world healthy and delicious food without the added chemicals and toxins that get added in the process of spraying and tilling. We do not do it the easy way, but instead work hard to get it done the right way. There are no shortcuts in our process, instead we use “smart” work and love, which translates into wholesome and nutritious plants and animals. 

Non-GMO and organic harvests are a passion that the whole family shares, as are raising animals in a safe and healthy environment, devoid of the ‘get it over with as quickly and cheaply as possible’ attitude that commercial food and livestock are steeped in.

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Chloe Moving the Chicken Tractors and Feeding and Watering the Meat Chickens

Elyse Collecting Eggs

We are a family of six, Julie and John being the ringleaders of the gang. We are all invested in different parts of the ranch and each manage a different part. Elyse -  the youngest of the group - can often be found out with her egg-laying hens. Maizie - the eldest - most likely is guarding the “Sweet 100” cherry tomatoes from her sisters, or otherwise tending to the garden. Chloe, the middlest - is currently working with meat chickens, but may be switching over to another project later on. Richard - the eldest son -  hasn’t chosen a project yet, but has been investigating different options. 

In addition to the humans, our family also includes a cuddly cat, two grouchy sheep, a lofty llama, more than eighty egg hens and a varying number of meat chickens, along with Sir Peepers, (a meat bird that was injured and nursed back to health by one of the kids) and five enthusiastic Border Terriers.... And our family is still growing! 

While the kids - okay, teens - manage their various businesses and John and Julie manage the kids, among other things. Like designing and building movable animal shelters, setting up fencing, clearing brush and expanding the orchards.  Julie manages the fruit orchard she planted while John manages the almond orchard he planted.  I’m excited to report that we are expecting a large raw organic almond harvest this year now that the trees are four years old.  If you haven’t tried one of our homemade, healthy, gluten-free plum berry crisps, you are missing out!

As we work to optimize our operations, we are looking forward to expanding and working with cattle and horses, pigs (BACON!) and expanding our flock of sheep, and much more. 

Come join us on our journey to find a way to make the world a more healthy, safe place for people who love food, nature, safe harvests and the earth in general. 

Sign up for our newsletter to find out ways to get involved or come for a visit!

by Maizie Fagan, the family scribe

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