How it came to be

Much of my life was spent in non-traditional schools, where I enjoyed experiential and interdisciplinary education, art, and an appreciation for being in the wilderness. I received an undergraduate degree in art with an emphasis on cultural anthropology and non-profit business. I later earned a Master’s in Sustainable Business and Communities from Goddard College, which helped me hone my interests in sustainable ventures, community development, renewable systems and right livelihood. I worked for three years at a tech company but my true love was outside the window, in nature.

In 2014 I began on the winding road of developing a rural property and establishing a small herd of Tibetan yak. I never knew I would raise them as a child, but having been brought up among Tibetan Buddhists, I had been exposed to Tibetan culture, so it was an easy choice. I knew I loved yak and that they would be strong, resilient, hardy and beautiful in a land of mountain pastures and forests.

Since then it has been an enjoyable challenge to work on building an infrastructure, a herd, home, road, well, and everything rural life entails. The yak have been excellent teachers of patience, comedy, strategy, ingenuity, unconditional love, faith and optimism.

The adventure unfolds. Stay tuned for my blog about yak, ranch development, recipes, off grid life and general musings.

- Sophia Weiss