Luther Burbank's Gold Ridge Experiment Farm
Encyclopedia
Luther Burbank's Gold Ridge Experiment Farm
is the official name of the 3 acre (12,140.6 m²) that remain of the farm originally purchased in 1885 by famed plant breeder, Luther Burbank
(1849-1926), in an area of Sebastopol
, California
, formerly known as the "Gold Ridge District". To these 10 acre (40,468.6 m²), Burbank added 5 acre (20,234.3 m²) in 1904 and 3.046 acre (12,326.7 m²) in 1906 until, in 1923, failing health compelled him to sell-off 3.046 acre (12,326.7 m²) of his holdings. Burbank died in 1926.
In 1974, Burbank's widow, Elizabeth Waters Burbank (1888-1977), donated the remaining 15 acre (60,702.9 m²) to the Sebastopol Area Housing Corporation for the purpose of erecting low-income, senior and disabled housing units with the stipulation that the 3 acre (12,140.6 m²) parcel containing the "Caretaker's Cottage" (that had been constructed a year or two after an older cottage on the property was destroyed by the 1906 earthquake), the barn and potting shed (destroyed by fire in the late 1960s) and over 250 living specimens of Burbank's work be set aside and left undisturbed as an historical and horticultural area, dedicated to Burbank, to be studied and enjoyed by future generations. Presently owned by the City of Sebastopol, it is administrated by the Western Sonoma County Historical Society
and maintained entirely by volunteers.
, Burbank purchased Gold Ridge Farm chiefly because of its subtle variations in environments, exposures and elevations. This allowed him to conduct experiments on plants that varied greatly in characteristics. In its heyday, some estimates put the number of Burbank's on-going plant experiments at Gold Ridge Farm at over 60,000 and tended by a crew of as many as 15 to 20 workers.
After Burbank's death in 1926, the remaining extant Burbank plants were cataloged by representatives from Stark Brothers Nursery in Missouri
(an influential former client of Burbank's) after which the farm fell into disuse and disrepair until the mid-1970s.
The Western Sonoma County Historical Society was formed in Sebastopol at that time from the ranks of local volunteers with the original mission of assuring the preservation and maintenance of Burbank's Gold Ridge Farm. This mission has expanded to presently include the West Sonoma County Museum (headquartered at the old train depot building in downtown Sebastopol), the Sebastopol Archives and the Triggs Reference Room and genealogical archives.
Today, Luther Burbank's Gold Ridge Experiment Farm is both a horticultural and historical museum where the public can, by docent or self-guided tour, view literally hundreds of the "living legacies" of the man once called "The Plant Wizard".
The Western Sonoma County Historical Society and the West County Museum are located at 261 South Main Street, Sebastopol CA 95472.
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
is the official name of the 3 acre (12,140.6 m²) that remain of the farm originally purchased in 1885 by famed plant breeder, Luther Burbank
Luther Burbank
Luther Burbank was an American botanist, horticulturist and a pioneer in agricultural science.He developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants over his 54-year career. Burbank's varied creations included fruits, flowers, grains, grasses, and vegetables...
(1849-1926), in an area of Sebastopol
Sebastopol, California
Sebastopol is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, approximately north of San Francisco. The population was 7,379 at the 2010 census, but its businesses also serve surrounding rural portions of Sonoma County, totaling about 50,000 people...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, formerly known as the "Gold Ridge District". To these 10 acre (40,468.6 m²), Burbank added 5 acre (20,234.3 m²) in 1904 and 3.046 acre (12,326.7 m²) in 1906 until, in 1923, failing health compelled him to sell-off 3.046 acre (12,326.7 m²) of his holdings. Burbank died in 1926.
In 1974, Burbank's widow, Elizabeth Waters Burbank (1888-1977), donated the remaining 15 acre (60,702.9 m²) to the Sebastopol Area Housing Corporation for the purpose of erecting low-income, senior and disabled housing units with the stipulation that the 3 acre (12,140.6 m²) parcel containing the "Caretaker's Cottage" (that had been constructed a year or two after an older cottage on the property was destroyed by the 1906 earthquake), the barn and potting shed (destroyed by fire in the late 1960s) and over 250 living specimens of Burbank's work be set aside and left undisturbed as an historical and horticultural area, dedicated to Burbank, to be studied and enjoyed by future generations. Presently owned by the City of Sebastopol, it is administrated by the Western Sonoma County Historical Society
Western Sonoma County Historical Society
The Western Sonoma County Historical Society , founded in 1974 and incorporated in 1978, is a non-profit organization that preserves and maintains the heritage of Sonoma County, California....
and maintained entirely by volunteers.
History of Gold Ridge Farm
Faced with the need for more room in which to conduct his experiments in perennial plants, trees and shrubs than could be accommodated by his nursery at his home and gardens in Santa RosaSanta Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
, Burbank purchased Gold Ridge Farm chiefly because of its subtle variations in environments, exposures and elevations. This allowed him to conduct experiments on plants that varied greatly in characteristics. In its heyday, some estimates put the number of Burbank's on-going plant experiments at Gold Ridge Farm at over 60,000 and tended by a crew of as many as 15 to 20 workers.
After Burbank's death in 1926, the remaining extant Burbank plants were cataloged by representatives from Stark Brothers Nursery in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
(an influential former client of Burbank's) after which the farm fell into disuse and disrepair until the mid-1970s.
The Western Sonoma County Historical Society was formed in Sebastopol at that time from the ranks of local volunteers with the original mission of assuring the preservation and maintenance of Burbank's Gold Ridge Farm. This mission has expanded to presently include the West Sonoma County Museum (headquartered at the old train depot building in downtown Sebastopol), the Sebastopol Archives and the Triggs Reference Room and genealogical archives.
Today, Luther Burbank's Gold Ridge Experiment Farm is both a horticultural and historical museum where the public can, by docent or self-guided tour, view literally hundreds of the "living legacies" of the man once called "The Plant Wizard".
Location
Gold Ridge Farm is located at 7781 Bodega Ave. (about 1 miles (2 km) west of Main Street) in Sebastopol and is open to the public. This address does not receive mail, and applies to a footpath that follows the original road to the Farm. Visitors are welcome to park in the parking strip between Bodega Ave. and the senior housing, and walk through the gate that is just to the west of the parking area. The Farm is accessed by car through its neighbor, Burbank Heights & Orchards at 7777 Bodega Ave. Parking is also available up the hill past the cottage.The Western Sonoma County Historical Society and the West County Museum are located at 261 South Main Street, Sebastopol CA 95472.