Ana & John Stayton have been the stewards of Golden Nectar Farm since 1997. They have continued its mission as an experimental farm and added an educational component, conducting farm tours and hosting classes, retreats, and community events. They have sought to make the farm one of the emerging creative models of sustainable living, showing that a lifestyle that is caring for the earth is richer and more fulfilling.

Ana’s background in herbology and whole foods nutrition are woven into her farming. She integrates the philosophy of food as medicine and believes as John Jeavons teaches of Ecology Action that healthy food is ultimately all about growing soil that is vibrantly alive. That is the transition she brings from healthcare to growing food. Her passions keep her exploring plant propagation, especially of specialty fruits and herbs, gluten free baking, singing with Threshold Choir and the things that lie at the intersection of food, farming, herbs and healing.

For their first two years at the farm, John and Ana learned and worked together. For the last 8 years, John has been a cofounder, faculty member and director of the Green MBA, now at Dominican University of California in San Rafael, CA. The Green MBA is an engaged learning community that supports comprehensive leadership development for sustainability change agents, helping individuals to align their passions and values with the marketplace. To find out more about the Green MBA check out their website: www.greenmba.com 

We are a host farm for an organization called World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) that enables volunteers to travel and work on organic farms. We have become an ever-evolving micro-community with many “Wwoofers” who help out with the farm’s well-being in exchange for room and board. We learn from each other through the medium of farming, exploring what it means to live a sustainable lifestyle. We have come to know many beautiful friends from New Zealand, England, Israel, Columbia, Canada, Hungary and Wales, as well as from across the U.S. All of them have added to the beauty and magic of Golden Nectar Farm. 

Scott McGinnis has been at the farm for over a year.  He brings us his permaculture, carpentry, fine woodworking, plant sensibilities, and banjo pickin’ skills. Scotty-can-fix-anything, and keeps the farm humming in a restorative way. He also loves making noise in a local marching band called the Hubbub Club. 

We all share the love of growing and preparing delicious, locally grown food and drink and sharing this with our community. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, yet we know that we are all needed, each in our own unique way, in this time of great transition.