The Wildstead

Story of the Land

Welcome to The Wildstead, a sacred space nestled within the ancestral lands of the Lenape-Munsee people. This land is their unceded territory. Their presence weaves into the very fabric of the landscape, and we pay homage to their enduring legacy as stewards of the Earth.

The Wildstead is located within the Wallkill River watershed, a vital ecosystem that has sustained life for millennia. This region, bordered by the majestic Appalachian Mountains, is characterized by its diverse flora and fauna. It thrives within the upper western part of what is now New Jersey near High Point.

The flora of this region boasts a rich diversity, from towering hardwoods to delicate wildflowers. Here, you’ll find ancient stands of oak and maple interspersed with vibrant ramps, mayapples, skunk cabbage patches, and lively water streams. 

Among the fauna that call this place home are the wild turkeys, symbols of resilience and adaptability. They roamed these lands long before the arrival of settlers. The deer, with an encroaching territory, grace on everything they find. The black bears climb the oak trees and rest on their canopy. The crows and other birds fill the air with their language, while bats grace the night skies in the summer months. Fireflies dance among the trees, illuminating the darkness with their enchanting glow alongside the singing katydids and a myriad of insects whose intricate roles weave the intricate web of life.

As stewards of this land, we honor its history and uphold its inherent sanctity. As people displaced from our own lands by colonization, white supremacy, and capitalism, we find our home in this land and vow to cause no further displacement ourselves: neither to wasp nor mugwort. 

The Wildstead serves as a beacon of hope and healing. Here, individuals can reconnect with the land, forge deeper bonds with the beyond-than-human world, and heal their colonial wounds. 

Story of Us

Meet the individuals who breathe life into our sanctuary.  

Lili Trenkova (they/them)  a creative force, brings their expertise in design and herbalism to The Wildstead. As a regenerative landscape designer, Lili envisions spaces where flora, fauna, and fungi can thrive in community, restoring land, air, and waterways. As a sustainable interior designer, Lili doesn’t believe in either/or when it comes to choosing beauty and ecology; we can have it all. Lili was also the co-founder of Collectively Free.

Michelle Carrera (she/her)  is a queer, neurodivergent, Puerto Rican, Liberation activist. 

A trained death doula, interfaith Animal Chaplain, and grief facilitator, Michelle, through her business, Grief and Liberation, offers her services to folks that are queer, BIPOC, or activists as they suffer from disenfranchised grief or as they are journeying to their end of life. 

Michelle is also the founder of Plantbased Plants, which led her to explore the intricacies of healthy soils and soil mixes made from non-extractive and all-regenerative ingredients. She sells these mixes here. 

In a previous life, she founded Chilis on Wheels (2014) and Casa Vegana de la Comunidad (2018) in Puerto Rico.  Michelle dedicated her life to serving marginalized communities like herself and advocating for a more compassionate and accessible world. 

Our sanctuary is also home to beloved animal companions who bring joy and comfort to all who enter. Lola, a rescue dog from Puerto Rico, reminds us to tend to our bodies and seek softness and coziness. Chavdar, a former street cat, now watches over us from the loft. He teaches us about boundaries. And the human child, Ollie Carrera, an unschooled teenager and co-founder of Chilis on Wheels, challenges us to let go of our need for control. In a way, Ollie embodies the spirit of The Wildstead, an unwavering commitment to re-wild our spirit and resist the colonial forces that try to bind and control our authenticity.

Together, we are The Wildstead. Join us to honor the interconnectedness of all beings and embrace the wild within and around us.