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June fog was just burning off the coast when I pulled into Tempest Traders just south of Rosarito. I’ve long been wanting to write about this family’s story as they are building a life off the grid. This idea has become a popular topic of late. Of course, here in Baja there are many original families who have been living for decades in the wilderness on ranchos with no conveniences. I’m thinking as I get out of the car that a lack of conveniences is not what you would call an American dream. In this age of instant living everything is within a touch of the finger tips. What would inspire a family to make this kind of move? Drew, Annel and Sasha Mattews greeted me with warm hugs and we took seats in the shade.
Drew started with, “We had no idea of moving to Baja, let alone living off grid. But something happened in 2016 and we just knew that we were going to make a move. Our dream had started out wanting to travel.” But on one of their visits to Annel’s parent’s home in Rosarito they were bitten by the Baja Bug. Sometimes it takes a while to realize it. They were doing quite well in North County San Diego. Annel and Drew’s Kitchen was a very popular place at the weekend Farmers Market. Drew had graduated from a culinary school in upstate New York and it aligned perfectly with Annel’s background as she came from the family’s restaurant business. Coming together they created a fresh farm to table menu, as well as a very successful catering business for outdoor events. Annel added about the leaving, “It was the toughest decision we ever made as a family. Drew quipped, “Friends and family were really concerned about our mental health.”
It became clear they wanted a home outside of Rosarito. With no effort they found just the place in La Misión. It was perfect for continuing their culinary best. The couple created home delivery service to the communities. Later they opened a retreat center following the shamanic practice of the sweat lodge and the lovely Cacao ceremony. (link here). While inviting people into their retreat center a new dream arose to own land. Twelve acres in the pristine hills and a 1960 vintage travel trailer became their getaway place. Drew joked, “A tiny space and big land.” When they lost the lease on their home it forced them into looking at the idea of living permanently off the beaten path. Often times committing to one’s long held dreams comes with a period of sacrifice.
I asked, “What are the first most important things you had to focus on?” Drew nodded, “Water, power, and where the waste goes.” This is rarely considered when purchasing a home in an urban setting. We tend to take for granted that these very important things are provided. Annel giggles about the waste, “No one is interested in knowing where “it” goes.” We all laughed, and a lusty riff began amongst us adding jokes to where “it” went and what to do with “it.” Yep, living off the grid means you have to be responsible for “it.”
The first need is water. Drew explained, “The camper has a water pump, shower and a hot water heater for a little comfort.” Water, the most important element in life is answered by the water trucks. Their water is hauled from a local well and fills the large storage tanks. Kumiai neighbors came to locate well sites on their property. Using willow branches for dousing they found several well drilling opportunities. Very good luck.
Since they now had water, Annel and Sasha went to work creating their first garden. It was a steep learning curve. During the dry season, the garden became a virtual foodie-heaven for the wild critters and the neighbor’s cows. Annel shared, “We had worked so hard and were so proud of our flourishing first garden. We admired it as we drove passed it into town.” She stops and gulps, “But when we returned the garden was gone! The cows had destroyed it.” Annel moaned, “I have never been so devastated in my entire life.” This followed with battling the rabbits and mice. If you are committed to living in harmony with the land that sustains you, poison is not the first thing you want to reach for. Poison disrupts nature in ways rarely thought about in urban communities. When a mouse or rat has just eaten a poison pellet, it becomes a death meal for an owl or hawk. When your water comes from ancient aquifers you become very careful about what you put in the soil.
Every rancho is not complete without chickens. They pop out eggs for free and Annel jokes, “I fell in love the with chickens, I’ve become a chicken lady! They are amazing creatures, each with their own personality. Cats and dogs all have their place in homesteading, but Drew did have four acres fenced for the cows. Annel said, “I realized I had to plant more garden than we actually needed so the wildlife would leave something for us.” She smiled, “The first year was really difficult, but it is better as we learn. We have to learn to be patient.”
For power Drew had two small solar panels and a couple of batteries. But he wanted something more adequate. Living off the grid doesn’t mean what it used to in the old days. Now there is the worldwide web and invisible information flying through the air. Drew said, “I went to work online to find how to build a solar system large enough for our needs.” He grinned, “It turned out to be really easy just following the directions. But I did blow out the battery when I first connected everything!” He added, “One thing you have to learn when you live so away from the city; you can’t just jump in the car make a quick run into town. You must begin to think differently. There has been a lot of trial and error.”
Now dealing with the third thing no one is interested in. Our intrepid family bypassed the old fragrant outhouse method. They knew they wanted a dry sanitary toilet system, also known as a composting toilet. Sorry, but here are a few factoids of little interest. The first modern composting toilet was invented by Rikard Lindstrom in Sweden in 1939. His aim was to work in harmony with nature, preserve water, and prevent water pollution.
The family has future dreams to learn the art of super-adobe building which is earth-bag domes. Annil shared, “Our vision is one day to teach people the tools that we have been learning. We eventually want to bring people here as a learning and healing center. We would like to teach people what the land is actually teaching us.” Thoughtfully she added. “Maybe this will be for Sasha’s generation.” Drew said, “This is a dream come true, we have big homestead goals.”
Sasha now 12 has been homeschooled her whole life. Drew grew serious, “I wondered if we were doing the right thing as parents, but a wise elder suggested that ‘You must be doing the right thing because you care enough to wonder and investigate that you are.’” The proud father goes on, “She reads a book a day! We have to really work to keep her furnished in books. She loves the old pioneer days like Little House.” Yes, she is also proficient with the iPhone. Sasha’s Instagram tagline, “You Be You.” You won’t find Sasha glued to the phone. She is a respected working member of the family and she actually prefers books over a lighted screen. She attends a five-day online school with changing subjects; sketching, painting, marketing, first aid, science, public speaking, and entrepreneurship. Good old fashion outdoor fun is known to be the healthiest activity for the young. Sasha also has 12 acres of Nature’s school with her friends. Bright minds explore the sunrises and sunsets, the moon in its cycles, the star filled night skies and rainbows.
This family has already stretched the boundaries together, but they are not done dreaming. Currently, they have returned to their earlier success story. Their outdoor kitchen, Alumina Sagrada translated Sacred Alchemy is open. Drew explained. “We always wanted to bring people back to the table to share a meal.” The menu features home crafted meals cooked slowly in the brick oven. Drew looked at his wife, “Annel is the visionary and I have crazy ideas. We are being called to follow them.” Annel smiled, “We have merged our goals with our dreams.”
