This Marin County Farm Offers a Fresh Take on Back-to-Nature Food and Camping

Surrounded by grassy hills and a seasonal marsh, Estero San Antonio Wonderland is 120 acres of agro-ecological farm and idyllic campsites—all cared for by Guido and Emily, who firmly believe that wilderness and food production can coexist.

On any given day at Estero San Antonio Wonderland, visitors can spot a number of migratory and resident nesting birds while kicking back at their campsite. The Northern California property is peaceful and quiet, save for the cattle at distant neighboring farms.

When ecologist Jason Fitzgibbon visited for a land assessment, he recorded dozens of these bird species—great egrets, great blue herons, red-tailed hawks, morning doves, great-horned owls, and American kestrels, as well as sparrows, finches, and jays.

“For the lack of trees, I was amazed at the number of birds,” he said.

The lay of the land

Bordered by the Estero San Antonio watershed to the east, south, and west, the property spans 120 acres. Hipcamp Hosts Guido and Emily now steward the space, running the family-owned, agro-ecological True Grass Farms and offering tent camping.

Visitors can buy grass fed and finished beef, lamb, eggs, and vegetables grown and raised on the land, as well as homemade focaccia, fresh scones, and local cheeses. Then stay overnight at one of six campsites overlooking the estuary, all named for nesting birds, with access to trails and kayaks.

“Camping can be the experience of participating in an ecosystem, to discover a place where your senses can rejoice, and reconnect to the basic needs of what being human is all about.” Guido says. “To rest on the land, listen to it, and have it feed you all in one day.”

Taking flight

Birdwatchers often make their way to Estero San Antonio Wonderland, but Jason found that with additional ecological restoration, there’s the possibility of an even more diverse ecosystem.

During his survey, he noted that the property has the potential to support a variety of birds he didn’t observe, particularly during migrations in fall, winter, and spring. Notable species that could inhabit the space include migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptor species, plus prairie falcons, bald eagles, and ferruginous hawks.

Native learnings

Ecological restoration is equally important to Indigenous people who rely on natural resources for their well-being. Along with the ecological assessment, Guido and Emily also chatted with Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) expert Dr. Len Necefer about their existing efforts to reconnect the land and ecosystems to native communities.

“It’s important for people to understand the land under them, to acknowledge the history, and understand why much of the traditions are gone,” Len says. “Northern California is an incredibly rich and diverse place—the Indigenous people who lived in this part of the world actually never developed any large-scale agriculture practice in large part because the land was so productive.”

The Estero San Antoinio land base was once conventionally managed for hay and post-harvest with continuous grazing practices, which maximized production but didn’t allow for much bio-diversity to flourish or soil health to improve. Now Guido and Emily are actively working to restore ecological function through a process of collaboration with the local Coast Miwok tribe. These restoration efforts are part of a mutualist goal to foster biodiversity and cultural and ecological enjoyment of the land.

Guido and Emily have started restoration efforts by allowing native plants, like currants and elderberries, to flourish and multiply by actively managing their cattle, diversifying their animal species, giving the proper rest periods to plants, and focusing on soil health.

Living the land

Ultimately, Emily and Guido are continuing to create opportunities for others to experience, learn from, and get inspired by their space. Visitors can gain a better understanding of the area’s history and wildlife behavior, while forming a connection to the environment and learning about sustainable agriculture.

“Wilderness and food production coexisting has been fundamental in this process,” Guido says. “When someone can actually come out and enjoy wildlife while eating from the place, tasting the grass, there is an attitude change.”