Agri-curious

From an illustrious culinary background to robust regenerative farming practices, Paul and Stephanie Ladeira have cultivated a California farm-stay ripe with tranquility, community, and abundance.

​​I rise to the sound of Canadian geese cawing, the sunlight commanding our immediate attention as if to say, carpe diem! I slink up and out of bed, observing the flock crossing the lake in a seemingly uniform manner, an 8 a.m. ritual, perhaps. Three dogs (all perfectly ascending in size) run past our window parallel to the water, an egret soaring above them from a nearby blue oak tree. Faint laughter and the scent of coffee waft down the hallway, luring us to the hearth of the home at Blue Ruby Farm. 

A view of Blue Ruby Farm from the dandelion patch, as the dogs graze on our farm tour.

The farm-stay is tucked away in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, a passion project of husband and wife duo Paul and Stephanie Ladeira, inspired by the “agriturismo” (agricultural tourism) of the Italian countryside. This oasis is not only a visual marvel but serves as a space to practice and explore regenerative agriculture with land stewardship at the heart of its mission (and of course, center the experience on sustainable food practice through culinary exploration). The land is set up as a renewing system in which all the plants, trees, and terraces are cultivated to support the other crops in various ways–aiding water cycle restoration, fixing nitrogen in the soil, and generally allowing biodiversity to flourish. Based on Paul’s humble demeanor, you’d never guess his wildly prestigious culinary background, from the kitchen of Aujourd’hui to Chez Panisse. That is until you taste his food. Swoon.