
About Us
Wayward Collective is a grassroots family-run nonprofit founded on a desire to live with integrity, resourcefulness, and purpose. We believe in the power of community—not just as a buzzword but as a real, grounded way of life. We’re a small family working toward something bigger than ourselves: a culture of self-reliance, mutual aid, and sustainable living that can weather hard times and still leave room for joy, beauty, and connection.
Our values are simple but strong. We value honesty, hard work, and follow-through. We believe that people thrive when they feel useful, share their skills, and are surrounded by others who care more about doing the right thing than being impressive. We are not interested in spectacle or perfection—we care about consistency, community, and creating real solutions for everyday life.
We started Wayward Collective because we were tired of waiting for someone else to fix things. We saw a growing need for people to reconnect with the land, their own skills, and each other. While many systems feel broken or out of reach, we believe we can rebuild something meaningful at a local level—starting with a toolbox, a few people, and a willingness to show up.
Our group includes a mom, a dad, a teenager, and a circle of close friends and family who’ve helped shape this vision. Like many others, we’ve faced financial struggles, burnout, and the tension between survival and purpose. Wayward Collective is our answer to that tension—a space where people can learn, build, and heal without needing to have it all figured out first.
Our mission also includes supporting Wayward Nature Preserve, a 35-acre piece of land we’re restoring for long-term stewardship. While it’s not open to the public, the preserve is central to our vision: a living example of off-grid sustainability, native plant restoration, and wildlife protection. As Wayward Collective grows, we hope to offer opportunities for members to get involved in hands-on work that reconnects them with nature and each other.
We’re just getting started—but we know we’re not alone. If you’ve been looking for something real, something rooted, and something worth building, welcome to Wayward.
Our Team
Aaron Madrid
Aaron Madrid is a history buff, lifelong survival enthusiast, and aspiring electrician with a deep love for the old ways of living. Since his teens, he’s studied off-grid skills and self-reliance techniques, always drawn to the challenge of surviving—and thriving—without modern conveniences. When he’s not wiring circuits or researching the past, you’ll probably find him talking about horses or dreaming about wide open trails.
E.C. Madrid
E.C. Madrid is a fantasy author drawn to the quiet magic in resilience, rebellion, and the untold stories of people on the margins. Her work blends the mythic with the intimate, often exploring themes of survival, identity, and the cost of power. When she’s not writing, she’s dreaming of forests, building a nature preserve with her family, and carving out space for a different kind of world—one story at a time.
Andrea Davis
Andrea Davis is a passionate supporter of community-driven efforts, small businesses, and the local gems that give neighborhoods their soul. Whether she’s organizing behind the scenes or showing up to support others, she believes in the power of people coming together. A frequent traveler with a love for culture, Andrea has explored everywhere from Paris to Jamaica, always chasing the next great bite or art festival. Her heart is in the details—and in every corner where food, art, and community meet.
©2025 - Created by Wayward Collective