Wildstar Farm and Folk School

The Future We Are Creating

Our food systems aren't integrated into our daily lives and our communities, so we rely on industrial agriculture that is rapidly destroying ecosystems and making people sick. Children grow up not knowing the joy of living a creative, fulfilling life fully integrated with our means of survival. Without access to healthy food, or even the experience to know the difference between healthy food and industrial waste, most people believe that living a sustainable life means giving up what makes them happy.

How We Are Creating It

We want to show how tending to the earth combined with creative arts lead to a sustainable way of life that is joyful, rich, and fun. To do that, we will: 1) create a successful, abundant edible ecosystem based on permaculture principles, so that the outputs of each component of the ecosystem support the others 2) to bring kids and adults to the farm through a program of fun folk art programming, during which they'll have the opportunity to experience what it's like to care for chickens and goats, sow seeds, harvest their lunch from an edible forest, and just hang out in nature 3) offer those for whom the farm sparks a passion training in the sustainable living skills they'll need to bring Wildstar Farm into their own homes, yards, and communities. 4) support ourselves sustainably through our programs and sharing our surplus.

Our Story & Why You Should Support Us

Nate Stanis, Founder and Creative Director, is an active and vocal proponent of local and sustainable food movement. He has worked as a farm camp director, naturalist, and most recently started a vegan, organic bakery collective in Berkeley, CA. His passion is bringing people closer to the earth and their bodies through what they eat! An avid traveler, cook, runner and outdoorsy person, Nate finds simple pleasure in home cooked meals with friends and family. Kerrick, Permaculture Systems Manager has dreamed of living in the woods since he was a child. With a masters in Museum Education and experience in non profit management, he developed skill in research and project management before deciding to pursue a long-standing fascination with permaculture design. He completed the apprentice program at Emerald Earth Sanctuary and is a certified permaculture teacher and designer. A diligent student of sustainability and environmental justice, Kerrick is a nature kid at heart and delights in the simple meditative tasks of the garden. Helen, Retreat Manager, has been studying Buddhist meditation since 2005, she recently completed a six-week silent retreat and will soon be completing a two-month retreat. She has also been an active proponent of sustainable food systems since studying at Vassar College, where she graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies and a focus in Sustainable Agriculture. In 2006 Helen worked to co-found a development non-profit, called La Ceiba, in Guatemala. In 2007 and 2008 she worked as a Program Manager for the Student Conservation Association. Helen has worked on five organic farms and grew up on a sustainably managed Christmas Tree farm in central Vermont. Helen sees environmental work as integral to her spiritual path and has found Nature to be one of her wisest teachers. Joelle Provost Arts Education Coordinator Joelle is a recent graduate of UC Davis art program. A painter herself, she loves connecting kids with nature and their own creative energy.