Fire on the Mountain: Living with Wildfire in the Santa Lucia Mountains of Big Sur

Fire on the Mountain: Living with Wildfire in the Santa Lucia Mountains of Big Sur

While many skillful locals have succeeded in finding ways to survive and flourish in this challenging mountain landscape, Theo has done it by being a true steward of the land. I am reminded of this every time I receive jars of his honey, olives, and olive oil, or fresh fruit from his orchard, or a delivery of madrone firewood for heating my home. When I first heard about Theo's heroic efforts during the Soberanes fire of 2016, I felt simultaneously in awe at the struggles he had to endure, yet unsurprised to find out he was well-prepared. His fire-resistant infrastructure, massive rainwater storage system, years of firefighting experience, and nurturing connections to the land and his neighbors were all in anticipation of such an event. It's not a question of 'if' the wildfire arrives, it's a question of 'when.' This book demonstrates that the foresight of knowing the inevitability of wildfire is essential for one's survival in the forests of Big Sur and beyond. - From the Foreword by Lee Klinger Theo Maehr believes that in living closely with the land we can unfold our full human potential and better understand our connections with everything and everyone. Having chosen to find his wealth in the abundance nature provides, he has lived in the wilds of Big Sur for over 20 years.In addition to being an author, Theo is an educator, lyre maker, house builder, fine wood-worker, diver, nature enthusiast, and steward of the land. His prior endeavors include Waldorf teaching, home-school oversight, professional storytelling, outdoor education, agriculture, construction, raft guiding, and lots of time wandering around in the wilds. Theo currently lives in the Santa Lucia mountains of Big Sur, California, in the sturdy, off the grid home he kept from burning in the Soberanes fire. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geologic and Environmental Science with an emphasis in Land Resources, and a Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis in Curriculum Design and Teacher Training, both from Stanford University. He is available as a consultant to share his wisdom of land stewardship and fire mitigation. Visit Theo's website: www.theearthsteward.com