ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian Fitzpatrick
About The Author
No one event, nor bundle of influences, in my life can even begin to lay claim to the spark lighting the fuse that rapidly burned through the socially accepted norms of the day – the 1960s. My explosive awakening came early. By 16 I was gathering the pieces of understanding the importance of what I ate, how and where it was grown, even dipping into the Biodynamic connections of nature and the cosmos.
I manifested my new-found knowledge in my everyday lifestyle. My focus and commitment continued. Only broad strokes could begin to paint this DaVinci inspired picture of the inter-connectiveness. Newly conceived Stockton State College invited self-inspired degree paths – I named mine an Environmental Naturopath. The new campus still under construction, we took over the condemned historic Mayflower Hotel on the boardwalk in Atlantic City to start that Freshman year.
By June of 1972 I packed my bags and surfboard pulling up my roots to my beloved Beach Haven, New Jersey and headed to the surfing Mecca and creative gathering community of Santa Barbara. My Biodynamic and Organic Farming aspirations grew wildly and after three life-changing years in this beautiful community by the sea, Santa Barbara became the launchpad for this story to begin.
Out of the 60s’ inspired Back-To-The-Land Movement, my story takes you on a trip pioneering a mountain homestead in an out-of-the-way historic Gold Rush area known as Fair Play. Blazing the trail, I lead the resurgence of local agriculture and a long-forgotten wine industry. Call me the Earth Friendly Pioneer but I must confess I was no saint. Bless me Father for I have Zinned.
