Healing can be found in unexpected places. Hidden between the pages of a book. Buried under layers of life-giving soil. Even at the bottom of a dish, after the last bite of a nourishing meal has been cleaned away.
For Alexis Campestre, it was all three.
In 2018, Alexis did not hold much hope for humanity. Until, that is, he read Kiss the Ground, a book that describes the possibility of healing our bodies, improving soil health, and caring for the environment simply by shifting how and what we eat. The concept was a catalyst in Alexis’s life.
He went on to take a soil science course at Kiss the Ground Institute, read other impactful books such as Dirt to Soil and One Straw Revolution, and experience the benefits of regenerative farming and connection to land for himself by working at farms across Montana. Throughout all this learning, Alexis developed the desire to help others gain the knowledge that he had. He dreamed of a place where they could experience healing, connect with the earth and community, and learn self-reliance on a small scale where change could be effected more easily.
“I feel like there is no other practical approach [than permaculture] that I’m familiar with at this point that heals the land and heals the people that are on it, heals the animals that are on it, and heals the ecosystems.”
That dream became what is now Orion Farmstead, a holistic, educational farm stay experience with the goal of reawakening visitors’ relationship with the natural world and origins of our food while celebrating local agriculture, neighborliness, and resilience.
To make this vision a reality, Alexis partnered with Beau Milton, a contractor with a background in environmentalism and agriculture, and Ashton Todd, a writer and health coach who grew up with her hands in the dirt.
In a story familiar to many Montanans, Alexis, Beau, and Ashton struggled to find land they could afford. After several years of searching and being denied loans, they were finally able to lease land from a mutual friend five minutes west of Ovando, MT, a remote town of about 50 people.
The property was beautiful; 160 acres of pasture, meadow, and forest, complete with nearly a mile of Monture Creek flowing through it. Acquiring it, however, was not the end of their hurdles. The property they’d leased was due for some much-needed TLC.
“We sent over 20 tons of steel to Pacific Steel Recycling. And, you know, an endless amount of dump runs, random garbage. You dig anywhere on this property, and there’s metal, cans, bottles, and other bits of trash.”
After clearing the property of debris, Alexis and Beau got to work on the infrastructure. Within a few short weeks, they’d drilled a well, installed a septic system, laid the electrical grid, and purchased a shipping container tiny home, which would become their first farm stay rental.
Since then, they’ve added a second tiny home, a wood-fired hot tub and sauna, and a cold plunge pool beside the Monture Creek. They plan to add a variety of animals to their operation to feed guests food produced on-site and eventually offer a farm stand stocked with food from other nearby producers.
2025 will be their first season of operation. The summer will be full of workshops, single-day events, and farm dinners. Some potential events include a raw milk homemade ice cream social and a forage-to-plate dinner.
“The focus is educating folks about where their food comes from and getting them out to nature. And making it kind of a holistic experience,” says Alexis.
To launch the season, Orion Farmstead will be hosting a Permaculture Design Practicum, May 2-4. The weekend will be an immersive workshop, led by permaculture educator and owner of Broken Ground, Kareen Erbe. In a unique approach, participants will collaborate on the master site plan that will be used by Orion Farmstead and go home equipped with the knowledge to implement changes on their own properties. They will also have the chance to connect with others who are “permaculture-curious” as well as fellow homesteaders, gardeners, environmental educators, and community planners.
One of the highlights of the weekend will be the five farm-to-table meals, cooked with almost exclusively local ingredients from Montana producers such as Winter Kissed Farm and 7B Farmstead, as well as bison from Blackfeet Buffalo Products.
“The permaculture course, from our perspective, is to help us kind of make a splash on the local food scene and bring as many people to the table as possible,” says Alexis. “I love hosting people. I like having events and letting people have fun and learn. Education is in my blood.”
Orion Farmstead is offering the weekend on a sliding scale of $300-$550, along with opportunities for two work-trade scholarships. There are multiple options for staying onsite during the weekend. However, accommodations are limited.