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Tara Smith: Fearless Farmer

Submitted by Anonymous on February 2, 2011 - 8:35am

Tara Smith, 50, credits RDI's Ecology of Leadership (EOL) program with helping catalyze a major life change: "jumping into organic farming." She is the proud co-owner of Tara Firma Farms, a thriving all-natural farm and education center in Petaluma, Calif.

"Trusting that I am worthy."

Tara learned about the Ecology of Leadership through the Internet. After participating in a free introductory session, she was inspired to sign up for the full course--EOL 2 in spring 2008--which met one weekend a month for 5 months. Tara came into the program with a clear vision of what she wanted: a life immersed in organic farming, education and community. Her major edge was learning to trust herself and her vision.

Believing in herself was a challenge, she says. "Trusting that I am worthy regardless of my perceived 'facts' to the contrary." She was surprised to learn "how much we all listen to the voices in our heads--much to our detriment."

A major aspect of the EOL journey is designing and taking action on a project that helps bring forth one of your ideal visions. Tara's project was to work out the "how" of her organic farming dream--namely, the business plans.

"While I didn't finish all of them, I was able to move structurally through most of it and deal with the pressure and stress much better," she says, "learning to understand what drives me and how I can enjoy that process much more."

"Fear I can deal with. Regret I can't."

Almost three years later, Tara Firma Farms is a bustling reality, a place offering CSA shares, fresh produce, eggs, pasture-raised meats, farm tours, holiday events, farm-to-table dinners, and a daily "sunset experience" by the pond.

"The thing I learned through EOL that has stuck with me the most is that I live without fear," Tara says. "Fear I can deal with. Regret I can’t.
 
"EOL is worthwhile if you are really interested in moving forward in your life. And even if you're not, at least a glimpse or a beginning of telling yourself the truth is worth the time and money."

Ecology of Leadership:
http://regenerativedesign.org/courses-events/ecology-of-leadership

Tara Firma Farms:
http://www.tarafirmafarms.com/

Jessy Servi

Submitted by admin on July 13, 2010 - 9:59pm
In August 2006, I landed at the Regenerative Design Institute as a work trader. With a background in design and a burning desire to live in a more connected way with the land, I was curious about what solutions permaculture had to offer. After a long journey traveling and living abroad, I was tired of moving. When I landed at RDI, I knew I had found a unique place -- but I did not know how transformational the next four years of my life would be. I lived on site, beginning a 4-Seasons Permaculture course and loving the beauty of the valley and the lifestyle. After a month, I felt a deep calling to participate in RDNA, and then in the Ecology of Leadership Program.


Through my leadership project in the EOL program with James Stark and Christopher Kuntszch, I articulated my personal life vision, deepened my skills in designing my life and found balance in my personal "core routine" practices. My leadership project was called My Personal Vision - I envisioned a place that was a community center, my home, a demonstration center, a permaculture farm. A few months later I was offered an opportunity to step into my vision by becoming the assistant director for The Center for Community Empowerment, Inc., which in September 2009 moved me to Jasper, Indiana. 

The Center’s mission is to strengthen community vitality through collaboration and by sharing our skills in sustainable living, permaculture/organic gardening, personal and community growth, and healing arts. We dug contour swales, are growing food, staked out where the greenhouse will be, and I've been selling flowers at the local farmer's market.

But my true passion is for the personal and leadership development work that we did in EOL. Since here, I've led groups through the "What's Your Tree" program -- a program started by Julia Butterfly Hill -- helping people do the kind of work that was so important to me. I provide personal holistic life coaching services here, inspired by Christopher Kuntzsch and the work he does. 

 I've also been exploring the connection between astrology and permaculture -- looking at the patterns in our landscape as well as the patterns in the cosmos. I relate the cycles of the planets and stars to the 8 Shields model and the medicine wheel. With my coaching clients and in my What's Your Tree groups, I look in the astrology world for patterns that will help them. It's another tool to help people move forward in their leadership and their vision for their lives and their communities. 

RDI Courses Completed
  • Advanced Permaculture Design with Robyn Francis -  July 2009
  • Ecology of Leadership - 2008-9
  • RNDA – Cultural Mentoring Program 2007-8
  • Regenerative Design & Nature Awareness (RNDA) – Essentials program 2006-7
  • Geoff Lawton’s Advanced Permaculture - July 2007
  • Natural Building Workshop- June 2007
  • Four Seasons Permaculture Design -  2006-07
  • Art of Mentoring - 2006, 2007, 2008