From town to town & COUNTRY

In 2018, I was living in San Francisco. Although I grew up in the Twin Cities, I moved to the West Coast after my sister passed away suddenly in 2015. At the time, I already had nearly two decades of experience in marketing and advertising, but I reached a point where I felt it was “now or never” to discover what else life might hold for me.

Living in a 300-square-foot apartment in the heart of San Francisco changed my perspective. I was surrounded by Michelin-starred restaurants, incredible culture, and endless energy, yet I found myself longing for something quieter and more grounded — nature, open space, and a deeper connection to the world around me.

Food has always been central to my life. I attended culinary school for two years, earned a sommelier certification, and have continued studying baking and traditional techniques over the years. More recently, I’ve focused heavily on French baking, including taking classes in Paris and attending professional bread and viennoiserie intensives to deepen my understanding of classic methods and craftsmanship.

Despite my love of food, I had never grown any of my own ingredients. In California, I met people who had left city life behind to work on farms and live more intentionally. Until then, farming had never crossed my mind — I had never even managed to keep a houseplant alive. But after deciding to move home to Minnesota and through a series of chance encounters, I found myself enrolled in a beginning farmer program through Big River Farms.

In 2019, I purchased my farm, complete with a fixer-upper farmhouse on 21 acres of neglected land. What began as an overwhelming project slowly became a labor of love.

Over the past seven years, I’ve worked to transform both the home and the land into a small working farm and peaceful retreat. Today I grow herbs, garlic, vegetables, flowers, and native plants, as well as bake French traditional bread and other goodies. I’ve planted fruit trees, restored garden spaces, and spent countless hours bringing life and serenity back to the property.

The name “Tamera Acres” honors my sister, Tamera, whose loss ultimately set me on this unexpected path. I think she would be proud of what this place has become — and of the life I’ve built here. It’s an ongoing adventure, constant learning process, and work in progress, and I’m grateful you’re here to follow along.