Six weeks ago, renowned vegetarian author and Soquel resident John Robbins was painfully reminded of what he’s always known to be true.

Robbins, who walked away from the Baskin-Robbins fortune to seek a simple life grounded in sustainable food practices, lost his life savings in the $50 billion Ponzi scheme of which Wall Street financier Bernard Madoff is accused.

“I know at this moment more than ever that our real wealth is in the love in our hearts, and the people we care about and who care about us, and in the quality of relationships to the spirit and natural worlds,” Robbins, 61, said in an interview Thursday.

Robbins, best-selling author of “Diet for a New America” and “The Food Revolution,” said he and his wife of 42 years, Deo, lost 98 percent of their net worth in the vast investment sham that has sapped international banks, movie stars and charitable organizations. As a famous longtime resister of what he calls the “toxic mythology” that “self-worth is defined by net worth,” Robbins acknowledged the irony of losing more than $1 million in a scheme fueled by old-fashioned greed.

“We are all part of the system, I’ve always known that,” he said. “There is no truly cruelty-free lifestyle. We can minimize the damage, and increase the level of respect we manifest toward others, and, in our economic dealings, try to be as socially responsible as we can be. I believed I was doing that.”

Robbins said he began investing small amounts with Madoff Securities International through a trusted friend and attorney in Marin County whose family had been Madoff clients for 35 years. Then, after several years of steady earnings from what he thought was a portfolio in line with his principles, Robbins decided to place all of his holdings from book royalties and speaking fees with Madoff, who faces a host of federal charges.

“This wasn’t a bad investment,” Robbins said. “This was a theft, a criminal action.”

Robbins assumed his savings were safe because he knew much wealthier people were longtime investors with Madoff, a former Nasdaq chairman who had earlier been cleared by federal investigators.

On Dec. 11, the friend who had steered Robbins into the Madoff fund called with the bad news: They had both lost everything. Since then, Robbins has taken in tenants on the 8-acre property he and his wife share in the Santa Cruz Mountains with son Ocean, daughter-in-law Michelle and twin grandsons.

“It’s just a shame — it’s a terrible thing to happen to anybody,” said Jeff Nelson, who along with wife Sabrina became vegetarian and founded the Web site www.vegsource.com after reading “Diet for a New America.”

The critically acclaimed 1987 book impeaching America’s meat-rich eating habits champions a vegetarian diet for the betterment of human health and animal welfare. Robbins followed it up with “The Food Revolution,” which argued against processed food, in 2001.

Ever since Robbins left the legendary ice cream company started by father Irv Robbins and uncle Burt Baskin, Robbins said he has lived frugally, donating to charities and speaking for free in recent years. Robbins said he and his wife, who has gone back to work, nearly lost their home of 11 years last month, but were rescued by donations from supporters. Robbins said he also has submitted a proposal for a new book to his publisher.

“I don’t see us as a charity case. There are people who are in worse straits — I know that,” he said. “I appreciate the love that is coming to us.”

How to help

Those wishing to donate to a fund for John Robbins and his family may send a check to his former agent, Patti Breitman, 12 Rally Court, Fairfax, CA 94930. Or visit Robbins’ Web site at www.foodrevolution.org.