OUR STORY

Tracy and Brian moved on to the land in the Fall of 2018. Set on learning by the sweat of their brow, healing from lives thoroughly lived, and growing with the land, they found the perfect place to start anew.

Tracy called Texas home for most of her life, raising her family in San Antonio while working different jobs in retail. Some years were spent as an artist with her own business, other years she managed an outdoor furniture store, and still other years she worked for the local Botanic Gardens. Ever present though was a growing distaste for consumerism and the superficiality of urban living.

Brian on the other side of the world dedicated 25 years to the Army serving overseas before retiring to open Smokin’ Hot BBQ in Texas. Even with a successful restaurant and loving partner, there were still traumas from war that no amount of BBQ sauce and chicharrones could cure.

Together, the two loaded up the car with 6 dogs and the dream of living a more intentional life. A life where people are more important than things, where learning is part of living, where the land, the animals, the community are our medicine.

In 2021, Tracy’s son Nic moved on to the land with his partner Amanda. Nic had spent the last decade mentoring young people around the world as a teacher, Peace Corps volunteer, and wilderness therapy guide. Amanda had explored the West Coast through careers as a competitive barista, in the cannabis industry, and owning her own business building out camper vans.

Nic and Amanda joined Tracy and Brian’s dream, turning a hobby into a non-profit, four people into a family, and land into a homestead. Gaia Farm opened its gates Winter of 2022 with the mission of cultivating spaces of learning, healing and growth–through the wisdom of Mother Earth.

Together, we are sowing spaces of learning where sustainable land stewardship practices and homesteading craft are explored and shared; we are tending spaces of regeneration where we can relearn to trust nature with healing; we are ready to harvest and sow again spaces where our land and community can grow together.

Brian Stuart

Director of Meat & Facilities

Brian feels most connected to our Earth in rural open spaces. He is excited to continue learning about livestock, and working with wood & metal. Brian is grateful for the opportunity to teach the next generation about agriculture. He contributes to our farm by managing our facilities and livestock.

Tracy Navarro

Director of Milk & Finance

Tracy feels most connected to our earth when caring for our animals. She enjoys learning new crafts and how to be more sustainable. Tracy is grateful for the opportunity to share in the farm’s abundance with friends and family. She contributes to our farm by managing our flocks and finances.

Nic Navarro

Director of Stories & Development

Nic feels most connected to our earth when sauntering along our trails. He enjoys dreaming of new projects and studying traditional uses for native fauna & flora. Nic is grateful to learn from nature and share these lessons with young people. He contributes to our farm by managing our programs and business.

Amanda Navarro

Director of Plants & Design

Amanda feels most connected to our earth when cooking with fresh ingredients. She is passionate about homesteading and expressing creativity through different mediums. Amanda is grateful for the peaceful lifestyle the farm brings. She contributes to our farm by designing products and our gardens

Join the family

We welcome you to the farm! Our community is dear to us and we hope all feel at home here. There are so many opportunities to get involved with us, just send us an email.

Reach Out

Dedication

As a family and farm, we embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion as the fertile soil from which we flourish. Just as a vibrant ecosystem thrives with a rich array of flora and fauna, we recognize that our strength lies in the diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences of our family and community members.

We recognize our home is on the stolen ancestral land of Chumash peoples, we recognize much of our land stewardship knowledge comes from indigenous peoples, and we hope to address this injustice by dedicating our stewardship to all peoples in our community and the wellbeing of Mother Earth.