💡From Boardroom to Barefoot Living in Costa Rica
Weekly Lightbulb: Lessons on Re-wilding, Homesteading, & Land Stewardship
Hey friend,
In this week’s Lightbulb, I’d like to share some takeaways that were part of our Land Steward Alliance: Monthly Workshop Series with my dear friend Ceibo.
As a former North Face executive, Ceibo left corporate America over a decade ago, settling down in Costa Rica to create a new way of life for himself. He shared some of his wisdom with us after years of land stewardship, and building a life that fuels him - from his coastal dwelling to his homestead in the mountains, this man knows how to live on the land!
A former North Face executive who traded boardrooms for barefoot living in the hills of Costa Rica. Why does this matter?
Because many of us dream of reconnecting with land, slowing down, and creating something sustainable—but we struggle to imagine what that leap actually looks like.
Re-wilding: Trading the Boardroom to Barefoot Living in Costa Rica
This week, as part of our Land Steward Alliance: Monthly Workshop Series, I sat down with my longtime friend Ceibo. As a former North Face executive, Ceibo left corporate America over a decade ago, settling down in Costa Rica to create a new way of life for himself. He shared some of his wisdom with us after years of land stewardship, and building a lif…
Ceibo’s path offers a blueprint:
In 2011, after hitting a wall from corporate burnout, Ceibo sold nearly everything and moved to Costa Rica. He wasn’t chasing escape—he was chasing origin. Over time, he built a life rooted in simplicity, self-sufficiency, and deep ecological awareness. Today, he lives off-grid on a 35-hectare homestead, cultivating fruit, building soil, and walking barefoot to feel the earth more intimately.
What struck me most was his rewilding philosophy. Not just returning to nature, but undoing domestication. It’s a conscious, daily practice—eating what he grows, drinking water he collects, listening to birds before checking screens.
He doesn’t reject technology. He uses AI like the rest of us. But he insists we stay in touch with our hands, our bodies, and the living systems that sustain us. It’s not either/or—it’s integration.
The lesson? Land stewardship isn’t just about planting trees or building eco-structures. It’s about cultivating a state of being. One that honors slowness, observation, and humility before nature.
Key Takeaways:
Sustainable living begins with simplicity, not complexity.
Re-wilding means reversing some of the comforts that disconnect us.
Balance between technology and nature isn’t only possible—it’s powerful.
Your energy and awareness are your greatest tools on the land.
We’ll be continuing the conversation with Ceibo soon—this is just the beginning. If you're building something on the land, his journey is a reminder: You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start listening more closely. To participate in more workshops - check out the Land Steward Alliance below!
The Land Steward Alliance: Together We Thrive
I’d love to invite you to check out the Land Steward Alliance - where we meet monthly as a community to discuss our land projects and our lives with a collective of project founders, experts on the ground, and peers looking to not walk alone in this journey. We’re stronger together! And if you want to connect - schedule a chat!
Additional Resources
If you are interested in the subject matter of interdependence, resilience, and the future of humanity - check out: Dear Future Human from Ronit Herzfeld.
⚡️ 1:1 Mentorship Spot for August ⚡️
I’ll be opening up one space in August for a 1:1 Mentorship program for individuals or groups looking to take a leap in life and are stepping into a Land Projects - be it a new home and life abroad, or a retreat center / community project. We’ll work on the essentials of forming a clear vision, strategy, budget and team. If you are thinking about starting your own Land Project, feel free to reach out and schedule a short discovery call via the link and we can see if it’s a fit.
Ed, I am being charged by Vida for what, I can’t tell. I wanted to know about your land trusts, but I got nothing. Please explain and cancel my subscription. Thank you E.P. Smith <epamelasmith@gmail.com>
Such a soulful shift, from striving to simply being. Grateful you shared this path.