Spring 2025

152 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 5 erty in 2005, Maehr was ready to sign on the line which is dotted. It’s a magnificent piece of land, covered in native plants and madrones and favored with a sweeping view of the Pacific in the distance. But he knew that to be safe here would require vigilance. And lots of hard work. Maehr is no stranger to that. Some would describe Maehr as a Renaissance man. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geologic and Environmental Sciences with a focus on Land Resources and a Master of Arts in Education, both from Stanford. He worked as an educator for most of his career, including 15 years as a Waldorf school teacher. He’s also been a river guide, commercial diver, organic farmer and boat builder. As a volunteer member of the Mid-Coast Fire Brigade, Maehr underwent extensive training in firefighting. Along the way, Maehr built three homes and designed and made musical instruments. So, when he rolled up his sleeves to transform his new property into an off-the-grid homestead, he had the required skills. On day one, he put his formidable skills and energies to work, build- ing structures—including a beautiful home utilizing “Vastu,” an Indian philosophy that maximizes positivity in a space, creating a harmonious and balanced atmosphere—all with an eye to maximum fire resist- ance. He undertook extensive brush clearing to mitigate the land’s fuel load and installed tanks to store 60,000 gallons of water. Also included (Above) Maehr was a member of the Mid-Coast Fire Brigade from 2010-2016. Here, he’s pictured at far left during a Jaws of Life training session. (Below) A firefighter on the Soberanes fire line. Photo: DMT Imaging Photo: Courtesy of Theo Maehr