I grew up in the idyllic mountain town of Paradise, California, where my family’s home stood as a constant beacon of peace and warmth. Nestled between towering oaks and pines, it was a place filled with laughter, countless memories, and quite often Patsy Cline, Connie Francis or the Mamas and the Papas loudly playing on the mighty mid- century record player, my dad built by hand. I grew up steeped in nature and with a deep sense of family there. We’d pick the blackberries that grew on the side of the road, shove them in glass jars and then tromp over to the Holiday Market, where we’d inevitably bump into a friend or family member. You were never lacking for community in Paradise.
In November 2018 that beautiful community along with my childhood home burned down in a devastating wildfire. The loss of our town was a deep tragedy and pain every one of the inhabitants of Paradise share collectively. In the aftermath of the fire, we slowly pieced what we could back together, clearing land until it was only a glimpse of how majestic it had once been before. With the loving help of my extended family, we rebuilt my family home. Then sadly, within the year, I experienced the loss of my mother to the covid pandemic and six months later, I also lost my father to failing health conditions. The grief that those years carried was profound and confusing. After walking my family through the devastation of losing their home, to rebuilding it, to caring for both my parents in the last moments of their lives. I was exhausted, I was depleted and I was heartbroken. Slowly, I packed up what was left of my parent’s belongings and sold the home we worked tirelessly to rebuild.
After several years of reflection, I knew I wanted to take what was left of my family’s estate and build something new that embodied the legacy of my family and home we lost. I wanted to create spaces that offered a true sense of rest to those who deeply need it. I wanted to build homes that immediately give a sense of community and solid ground. Lastly, I wanted to open doors for our guests to be immersed in the beautiful natural surroundings of the Pacific Northwest.
From these ashes, Terra Firma Living was born.
I truly hope you find our homes to reflect the peace and connection I felt growing up in Paradise, California. I hope you get to know the lovely people who reside in these beautiful communities and collectively make strong connections. I hope your time with us is filled with purposeful rest and I hope each season that passes through these windows is magical to watch. Most of all, I wish for our homes to be a place of healing, and a true testament of the resiliency we all carry within us. I believe that nature has an incredible power to heal, and in our homes, it is literally at your doorstep. So, from Paradise, California to Terra Firma Living, may you truly find your time with us to be all its name implies.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the constant fluctuations of life’s ups and downs and the tragedies we’re all witnessing in our own lives, and the world around us. This raises a crucial question, I think we’ve all asked ourselves at one point or another: How can we, as individuals contribute to making our world safer, more accessible, and better for everyone? It’s a daunting question! One that can make anyone feel small. The answer for me, lies in fostering community and concentrating efforts on improving the environment immediately around us. This could mean anything from supporting a neighbor to creating unique experiences that enrich our local communities. By shifting our focus away from constant reacting, we can reserve our time and energy to build something meaningful in the small spaces around us. Small collective change can and does change the bigger narrative! At Terra Firma Living, we aim to embody these principles by prioritizing simplicity, sustainability, localism, biodiversity, mindfulness, and a profound connection to nature, all while keeping these theories at the forefront of our mission.
Creating homes that embody this philosophy is the meat and potatoes of this business, but only the beginning! Our bigger goal is to create a shift in the common narrative of typical societal norms that promote hustle culture and extreme individualism separated from community. We hope our spaces and community outreach inspire you to move through your life with grace and intention. Because, let’s be honest here, this world needs you more than ever!
Terra Firma Living believes in the theory of rest and digest. Just like our snail, we believe in moving slow and with careful intention. We are all learning to accept that life can sometimes have extreme ebbs and flows, and I feel it’s very common for society to push a narrative that demands that we simply just cope and keep on swimming. We want to give you gentle permission to go slow. We hope your stay with us offers you not just time to reflect, but connection. Whether that be with people you love or just with yourself.
Lastly, we believe this holistic approach to living encourages you to pursue activities that resonate deeply with your values and passions, fostering not only personal growth, but also a sense of connection to your community and your outside world. We hope this inspires you to live each day with intention and vitality.
Adventure is never far away, as our prime locations place you at the heart of breathtaking natural beauty and exciting urban attractions. From the beauty of the Pacific Northwest’s iconic natural wonders, to thrilling activities, festivals, and localism, there is always something new to explore. We encourage our guests to embrace the spirit of adventure while also taking the time to relax and reconnect. True relaxation should feel effortless. Terra Firma Living offers welcoming spaces where connections flourish and friendships uplift the spirit. Our vibrant community is built on shared experiences, and we strive to make daily living a celebration of connection and support.
-Emily Dickenson
