SHAMBA Farm

SHAMBA is an acronym for Sustainable Homestead and Microclimate Based Agriculture. This conveys a focus on place-based agriculture, observation, and refinement. SHAMBA is founded on the principle that all living things deserve to be treated with respect, and that we can raise food in a manner that is in harmony with nature. The word “shamba” also happens to mean homestead in Swahili, and perfectly describes the scope of the farm: small and managed mostly by hand. SHAMBA was started by me (Sarah) - educator, yoga teacher, herbalist, beekeeper, and gardening enthusiast - in 2016, but the story starts much earlier. Over a decade ago, I stumbled upon a beautiful piece of land and fell in love. I had been searching for a place to put down roots after traveling for much of my 20s, and luckily I found her spot. My goal was, and remains, to create an abundance of food while using efficient management systems and increasing the amount of resources here on the farm. Growth was slow at first as I worked full time in Austin, built a straw bale home, and had two beautiful children. I put in fruit trees, a garden, and chicken coop. When I began keeping bees, honey was added to the offerings and SHAMBA became official. Now I sell eggs, honey, herbal medicine and salves, and fresh herbs. Sustainability is the focal point of farm design and growth. As a certified permaculture designer, I use my knowledge (mostly made from mistakes!) to refine the flow of resources here on the farm to create products that are clean, natural, and safe. You can trust that SHAMBA products are created with love and care for the land, animals, and customers. Campsites: Choose your own rustic, simple campsite on 10.5 acres of sustainable farmland and nature preserve. Enjoy watching chickens frolic in a small fruit orchard or a mix flock of ducks and geese swimming in the pond. Listen to coyotes calling and savor a clear view of the stars at night. Our farm is home to bees, goats, chickens, ducks, and geese as well as a variety of herbs, fruits, and vegetables. We also have a small pond surrounded by willows and wildflowers. The pace of life in generally slow and quiet. You'll be able to choose from a variety of spots to pitch your tent, but all are primitive and do not have tent pads. Water is onsite but away from the campsites. Composting toilet is available. Please note that there are full time tenants that live on site in two RVs and a rental guesthouse. They live near and will share the common playground area. So while you will be the only campers, you will not be the only people on the property. The easiest spot to camp is near the main house, so you will have the owner nearby. There is a more secluded spot set up a further distance away near the pond. You may camp more primitively than that, but it will be a further distance from the parking area.