Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Armbruster
Hi Tara, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi, I’m Tara Armbruster! I’m the owner, operator, artisan, milkmaid, beekeeper, master gardener, and visionary of Freedom Farms Vista. I grew up a nature lover, with a particular passion for animals. My career goals as a child never changed, but in college they took a slight turn. My goal shifted from becoming a veterinarian to a dolphin trainer. I am proud to say that I spent 7 years as a marine mammal trainer and animal care specialist, and the following 3 years maintaining the health and medical records for those awesome animals.
During my extensive time spent in and on the ocean, my passion for nature grew, and in particular, my concerns about human impact on our planet. In addition to this, I have two beautiful children. Being pregnant was such a gift that made me evaluate everything I was putting in and on my body. I knew that it all had an effect on the life that was developing in me. (This makes me sound totally crunchy, but I promise I’m an “everything in moderation” kind of girl.) Having kids also deepened my ties to the future of our Earth and leaving it better for generations to come.
When I began Freedom Farms Vista, the ideas were fairly simple. I am a military brat, born overseas and brought to San Diego thanks to the Marines. Being brought up around the military plays into my belief for God and Country. I believe in preserving the nature that God created for us to enjoy. Expanding on that to me meant being around animals, raising and growing food that nourishes our bodies, avoiding artificial pesticides and fertilizers, live as sustainable as possible, work in harmony with nature, and care for my little piece of Mother Earth in the best ways I can.
I can now say those simple ideas still exist, but the reach goes beyond our family and the land I am honored to care for. I milk my goats by hand twice daily. This raw milk is used to create handmade small batch goat milk soaps and other natural bath and body care products that I sell at the Vista Farmers Market. I also make clean and natural home products, as well as sustainable and upcycled arts and crafts. I use biodegradable packaging and labels, and avoid plastics if possible.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I lost my dream dolphin job at the end of 2020 due to budget cuts with no backup plan in place. I worked so hard to achieve that dream, and I don’t know if I would have ever left on my own terms. I honestly lost a part of my identity when this happened and did a lot of soul searching (and therapy) to get where I am now. While I now consider myself to be a farmer, I try to not confuse it with who I am. Putting faith into myself, and putting myself out there as an introvert, has certainly been no easy task.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I make amazing artisan homemade goat milk soaps that are free from artificial dyes and perfumes. The milk comes from my goats, that I personally hand milk twice a day. I incorporate my knowledge of medicinal plants whenever possible. I try to include materials that I grow myself, or honey from my own beehives. There is a lot of heart and pride in my craft, and I enjoy having a hand in as much of the process as possible.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Going into business for yourself is certainly a risk! I had to reevaluate my direction in life and try to focus on my other passions and what I had going for me. And while I had so many reasons to not go for it, ultimately I tried to look at it as an opportunity. Believing in yourself is a risk. It opened myself up to failure, and in a scary public way. Despite that, here I am, putting myself out there, and learning as I grow. I would say that I am fairly risk averse, so without a little push, I’m not sure if I would have taken the leap. Maybe that was the nudge I needed to fulfill a greater potential.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.freedomfarms.org
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/freedomfarmsvista/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/FreedomFarmsVista/
