Staff

Beth grew up on a family farm in Northeast Alabama and returns to her family’s agricultural heritage as a 4^th generation farmer. In the years between leaving the family homestead for college and closing her private practice of 11 years in Santa Cruz, California, [to attend the 8 month semi-residential Regenerative Design and Nature Awareness school in Northern California] she practiced physical therapy and craniosacral work, travelled overseas picking apples, working on cattle stations, teaching English, exploring and studying.  In 2009 after apprenticing in the UC Santa Cruz’ Center for Agro-ecology and Sustainable Food System’s program for organic farming and gardening, she farmed with a group of young farmers at Williams Island (CSA and market ) Farm in Chattanooga. She is happy to have come home to the southeastern states region and be re-establishing a relationship with land and place under the mentorship of Farmers Leaf and Cielo. Beth brings with her a deep love of the natural world, its textures, sounds and rhythms and hope for the world that we create when we devote ourselves to what we love.

Leaf has had a lifelong fascination and intimate involvement with both soil and water. Equally drawn to both elements, his unorthodox life has been a seamless blending of sustainable organic gardening and wooden boat building. For nearly sixteen years, he and his wife Cielo, directed a grassroots environmental watchdog organization named the Tennessee RiverKeeper Project. Monitoring water quality conditions of numerous southeast rivers from aboard their self-built 30 foot wood composite ketch, Leaf became well versed in the hydrologic cycle, and the critical role of biologically healthy watersheds. His role as the  water resource manager for the farm also positions him as the primary instructor for our rainwater collection workshops. His 50 years of organic gardening have given him the empirical background to be a knowledgeable teacher of exemplary earth stewardship. Among his many talents, he is also a master recycler and builder of environmentally sound structures. His hands and thoughts are never far from the water and soil of our farm. When not farming, building, or working with the land, he keeps our website active and updated.

Cielo's life and loves are deeply rooted in the Earth. As an Indiana child she experienced a special kinship with the natural world of trees, lakes, sand dunes, and the wildflower meadow behind her home. Using various art forms to express her understanding of the living, dynamic Earth, Cielo has become a notable artist who captures the essence of life itself. As an outspoken advocate for the natural world, she helped pioneer a grassroots citizen water and forest advocacy movement in the South named the Dogwood Alliance. Her family's organic teaching farm is a fitting next step after a hard-won, but rich and satisfying life of activism. Cielo remains inspired by the intrinsic life force pervading our land and brings a "cup half-full" perspective to our work to transform and restore the viability of this small family farm. She brings a dedication and work ethic that motivates her to arise before the sun every day to tend to our chickens' and family's needs and well-being. Her skill as a photographer can be viewed on the Farm Greeting Card page and in our photo gallery. Also check out her website at www.cielosand.com