Spiral Roots Family Nature Retreat

Ashley founded The Children’s Garden and Outdoor Classroom in 2015 in Lorena Texas. There she leads classes teaching children and adults organic gardening, forest school, and sustainable living skills. She has been a maker since childhood. She loves using natural materials to craft quality handmade goods. As the owner of Spiral Roots Farmyard and Wildcrafts, she enjoys working with everything from beeswax and wood, to wild herbs and bits of nature. In college she studied Agricultural and Horticulture. She also works at the local farmers market and volunteers in the community. When she is not busy with all that you’ll find her in the garden tending plants, chickens, ducks, bees, and her homeschooled free range son. She is inspired by the magic of Mother Earth.

Children’s Garden and Outdoor Classroom

Brooke is the creator of the ‘Holy flow Parenting’ style, author of ‘Enchanted Cedar’ a Waldorf inspired children’s book and the founder of the Barefoot Five cyber-tribe. She is a chocolate lover, wanderer at heart, book reader, home apothecary/kitchen witch, tea addict, love-maker, wild water huntress, plant whisperer, moon dancer, sun gazer, herbalist, and barefoot mama to three wild babies.   http://www.barefootfive.com

Since the age of 15 Cory has served as a counselor, mentor, and educator of environmental sciences and the importance of wildlife appreciation and conservation. He is an avid supporter and facilitator of Nature Play during the early stages of ones life and believes that by allowing children the freedom of environmental exploration; a sense of wonder, awareness and lifelong curiosity can be found in the world around them. Cory is currently the Animal Education Program Specialist at the San Antonio Zoo, and previously ran the Nature Spot at the San Antonio Zoo.

Mark Turner is certified in Permaculture Design, and is passionate about sustainable living and local foods. After working for many years as a private organic garden landscaper, he now manages the Lotus Ranch retreat property. Currently Mark is implementing sustainable practices and design on the property. He is excited to share his knowledge and garden with the families attending the retreat.

Yoga found Tierra at the same time she was seeking a deeper commitment to her physical, mental and spiritual health. Always being a health and fitness enthusiast, yoga opened her eyes to a new expression of everything she loved. After receiving her RYT-200 Hour Teacher Training, she immediately started teaching in her local community. Since then she’s been fortunate to share her love of yoga through a schedule of regular classes and now assisting with leading teacher trainings with Living Beyond the Mat. Tierra feels blessed to merge her passion of educating and empowering others to make a difference in the world and looks forward to sharing that with your family at the retreat.

Zena is a second generation chocolatier and rainbow foods chef. She started her relationship with colorful whole foods at a sustainable living community in Costa Rica when she was 17 years of age, where she was taught how to cook “farm/garden to table” style. She later became a raw treats chef at Enchanted Cedar, where she discovered, and created, healthy and more vibrant versions of all the sweet things she loved as a child. After studying Ayurvedic Medicine with Dr. James Anthony, she discovered that her fascination with color went beyond her artistic nature, and in fact, every color pigment holds specific nutritional value. She decided to bring her love for food, and her passion for children, to Australia, where she held the title “Holistic Nanny,” introducing the connection between all things by bringing the rainbow into family kitchens. She’s currently back in the states, personal cheffing beside Sweet Mama, the executive chef of Deer Lake Lodge, in the homes of people who are getting well through alternative and holistic practices. She is excited to bring the color cure to the Spiral Roots Family Nature Retreat!