Today we’d like to introduce you to Xavier Villa.
Hi Xavier, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Fremont in the Bay Area. My dad grew up working with his father on a flower farm in Half Moon Bay but realized he was tending land that would never be his. That lit a fire in him. As a mechanical engineer at Lockheed Martin, he commuted through brutal traffic and found peace through gardening—my mom noticed that 15 minutes with his plants would alleviate all the stress from work/commute and thus it helped him really be present with us.
In the early ’90s he discovered bamboo in a magazine, got a couple truckloads from my landscaper uncle, connected with the American Bamboo Society, and our backyard became a very lush oasis. In 2000, he made his dream real: we moved to Paso Robles and bought an abandoned dairy farm covered in tall weeds with just two trees. We even brought a whole U-Haul full of bamboo from Fremont.
Those first years were trial and error—Paso’s extreme heat and freezing winters killed a lot of what we brought. We tested about 60 varieties across four acres; only eight survived and thrived, and those are still the hardy ones we produce and install today.
I went through Paso High, played soccer, then Cal Poly for Business Administration with a focus on Entrepreneurship. Right after graduation I had a great job offer in the Bay Area, but the day before accepting it my dad called and asked if I’d help him on the farm for a year or two to get the bamboo business going—his helper had quit. I was hesitant because we have different personalities, so I prayed on it. After the prayer, my mom called and said it would be a great opportunity to learn and save money. It felt like an answered prayer, so I said yes. That was supposed to be one or two years—thirteen years later I’m still here, carrying the torch, and I give all the glory to God for how He’s guided every step.
Early on it was tough—the work is labor-intensive, digging those deep trenches in 100-degree heat. I remember thinking, “I have a degree, why am I doing this?” But over time I learned to love the value of work. I saw what patience and perseverance bring forth: real growth in character. It also gave me space for reflection, which helped us grow into greater things on the farm and in the business. It was beautiful to see that the amount of work we put in was exactly what we got out of it. I saw the value of doing something for ourselves and beautifying our own farm rather than working for someone else. It became a dream to make a living from beautifying our home while providing great bamboo for all those around us—creating oases in their backyards.
We also got into real estate. My parents started buying old, beat-up apartment buildings. My dad taught himself renovations from Home Depot books and hands-on learning. He even left me to renovate my first property completely on my own—which was frustrating at the time but built real confidence. That grew into Casa Villa Apartments. I now have my own rental properties that I renovated myself and maintain.
Today we’ve expanded the farm vision with Experiencia Bamboo—intimate farm-to-table dinners featuring our own ingredients or sourced from our friends, bamboo forest tour, live music, and meaningful conversations. This is a culmination of these past 13 years, the knowledge, confidence, network/relationships, building up the farm, and realizing the vision. This is a blessing. I get to work alongside my wife and beloved friends, all sharing our creative passions. It’s exactly the kind of family-centered life my dad hoped to build, and I’m truly grateful. All glory to God.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but I’m grateful for the struggles because they’ve shaped me and the business. When we first moved to Paso in 2000, the farm was basically a barren dairy lot with tall weeds and just two trees. Bringing our initial plants from the mild Bay Area climate meant a lot of trial and error—Paso’s extreme heat and freezing winters killed many of the varieties we brought. We tested around 60 different bamboo types across four acres, and only eight survived and thrived. That was a tough, expensive learning curve with no real internet resources at the time to guide us. Now we have the knowledge from the learn by doing approach that has helped us to grow every year. Operationally, the work itself is very labor-intensive. For the bamboo installation, we need to set into place a high-density polyethylene root barrier to keep the bamboo contained, we dig trenches 30 inches wide by 27 inches down. Once the trench is dug, we line the periphery with the root barrier, seal the two overlapping end points with a clamp and then bury it as we backfill to then plant the bamboo. That’s why it’s so demanding—ensuring the roots don’t go anywhere you don’t want them to. Digging those trenches in 100-degree heat was physically draining, especially in the early years right after college when I had my degree and kept thinking, “Why am I out here doing this?” But over time I learned to love the value of work. I saw what patience and perseverance bring forth: real growth in character. It also gave me space for reflection, which helped us grow into greater things on the farm and in the business. It was beautiful to see that the amount of work we put in was exactly what we got out of it. I saw the value of doing something for ourselves and beautifying our own farm rather than working for someone else. It became a dream to make a living from beautifying our home while providing great bamboo for all those around us—creating oases in their backyards. On the business side, transitioning from just growing and selling to full installations, property renovations, and now hosting events with Experiencia Bamboo brought new challenges—figuring out permitting, learning renovations from scratch, and pushing through the fear of doing things I’d never done before, like renovating my first property completely on my own. But through all of it, I’ve seen God’s hand. The customer gratitude—the high-fives, hugs, and thanks for creating beautiful spaces—shifted my perspective. What started as “helping for a year or two” has become 13+ years of building something meaningful with family. The struggles taught me resilience, the value of hard work, and that real fulfillment comes from doing what you love alongside the people you love. All glory to God for turning those challenges into growth.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Primarily, I run Paso Bamboo with my dad and mom. We specialize in installing live bamboo plants to solve people’s privacy needs. We plant a screen of bamboo anywhere from 10 to 35 feet tall and as long as the client chooses, to completely shield them from neighbors’ windows, balconies, rooflines, or anything unsightly they desire to coverup. This lets people feel like they have their backyard back or an intimate space for the first time. Bamboo is the perfect solution because it grows very tall and dense in a short period of time; in just two to three years you can have a lush, full screen. We’re known for high-quality, mature plants that thrive in California’s diverse climates—especially after years of trial and error testing dozens of varieties so we only offer the toughest eight that handle heat, cold, and various soils. We handle everything from nursery sales, education, deliveries, maintenance to full installations. We even make custom planter boxes for hardscape areas.
We’ve also grown into real estate with Casa Villa Apartments, where I acquire older properties, perform full renovations (from foundations, framing, plumbing, electrical, sheetrock, flooring to finishes), and manage them as rentals.
And more recently, we launched Experiencia Bamboo—intimate farm-to-table dinners on the farm featuring ingredients that we produce on our farm such as our meat, olive oil, honey, vegetables/herbs and as needed, we source from our friends who are local Central Coast food producers. It is a five course meal perfectly paired with wine from the great V1no Juan. We also have a special local musical artist performing throughout the evening for an added depth of warmth to the evening. The experience is summarized below:
Set beneath the open sky in an intimate outdoor setting, guests are welcomed with a guided walk through our bamboo forest, an entry into the story behind this vision-how it was shaped by the land, built through many hands, and brought to life through shared passion, memory, and craft.
The evening unfolds with a five-course menu inspired by the Central Coast, where seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms are transformed into refined, expressive dishes. Each course is a deliberate composition of flavor, texture, and restraint, designed to honor place while allowing the ingredients to speak with clarity and depth. Every plate is introduced with intention, creating a paced narrative that invites guests to slow down and fully experience each moment.
Wine pairings are curated throughout by V1no Juan, who joins the experience at the table, offering thoughtful selections and insight behind each pour. The evening is gently elevated by a surprise musical guest, adding an atmospheric layer to the dinner experience.
Every detail from ambiance to timing and service is thoughtfully considered. Rooted in seasonality, storytelling, and hospitality, this season’s menu explores the richness of the Central Coast through deeply personal interpretations that bridge refinement with soul.
Designed for intimate gatherings and meaningful evenings, Experiencia Bamboo is intentionally limited in capacity to preserve the warmth, exclusivity and care that define the experience.
We are also a wedding/event venue. We host weddings for intimate gatherings of 60 guests as well as up to larger celebrations of 250 guests. We have a dedicated ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception space that is a short walk from each other, all while immersed in a bamboo forest. We are 5 miles north of downtown Paso Robles. Easy access/entry with ample parking. We also host concerts showcasing our local musical artists.
Another highlight we’re especially proud of is supplying 360 bamboo plants for the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscars after-party. It was an incredible adventure that taught us so much about large-scale logistics, and being surrounded by the world’s best in their fields made the experience truly exciting, fulfilling, and a standout moment in our journey as bamboo farmers.
What I’m most proud of is how it’s all evolved from my dad’s original dream of owning land and teaching us the value of work into a true family legacy. Seeing the farm transform from barren land into a beautiful oasis, creating spaces that bring people joy and privacy, and now hosting experiences that celebrate community and our roots—that feels special. I’m also proud that my wife is part of the team here at the farm and working alongside her building a beautiful dream together is something I’m deeply grateful for.
What sets us apart is the full-circle, hands-on approach: we grow it with love on our farm, install it ourselves, and now invite people to experience it through dinners, weddings and tours. Everything is rooted in passion, sustainability, family unity, and faith. We’re not just selling a product or service—we’re sharing a story and creating lasting beauty and memories. All glory to God for the opportunity to build something like this!
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
In my day-to-day life, a few resources really help me stay sharp and grounded. I wear a Whoop strap to track my health and fitness metrics so I can make better decisions and perform at my best. The Hallow app is a daily staple for faith enrichment and spiritual growth. My wife and I also read together—whether it’s self-development books or the Bible—to uncover deeper truths that guide how we lead. YouTube has become an incredible resource for me, not just for practical learning but also for listening to great interviews, success stories, and inspirational content that keeps me motivated and moving forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pasobamboo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pasobamboo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pasobamboo1
