Our Story
The Beginning of the CSA: 2009
A historical dairy farm up until the 1950s, Tara Firma Farm’s now rotationally grazed pasture land was purchased by Tara and Craig Smith in part with a grant from the Sonoma County Agricultural and Open Space District in 2009. It was their belief that because the citizens of Sonoma County helped pay for our farm, they had every right to walk, hike, fish, and explore the beautiful property – a founding principle still embraced today.
Growth & Vision: 2009-2016
The CSA grew from a couple dozen local families to a few hundred throughout the Bay Area over the course of seven years! During this time, the Tara Firma Farms Institute was founded, events like Pumpkins on Pikes became local tradition, and our vision for a sustainable, community driven CSA became a reality.
New Stewardship & Mission: 2016-Present
The Squire-Eldridge family purchased the farm from Tara in 2016. Since that time there has been a strong focus on holistic farming. With a background in natural, organic and GMO free food sources the Squire-Eldridge family have brought a strong focus on using farming practices that are even better for the animals, the land and the environment. Following the advice or Marin Carbon Project we farm in a way that mimics nature. This method actually removes carbon from the atmosphere. With the use of rotational grazing (or management intensive) for the animals, and creating closed loop systems that utilize food waste and locally sourced compost, the farm is at the forefront of regenerative agriculture.
WHAT MAKES TARA FIRMA FARMS DIFFERENT?
In 2009, we set off on a mission to create a source of food produced with the highest integrity, that brought the community together, and that allowed our consumers full access to our farm. From our inception, we have provided education to the public with our free farm tours. Here, the community learns where their food comes from, how they can be accountable in the process, and what choosing between conventional, organic, and/or local means. Our valued members hold us accountable by demanding the highest quality food produced in the most sustainable and ecologically sound way. Through our farm’s production, and our network of family farms throughout Sonoma and Marin counties, we are able to provide pasture raised beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and turkey to families in California along with organic fruit, eggs, cheese, and vegetables.