A one hundred and sixty-acre cattle ranch nestled in the hills of southwest Sonoma County, committed to building soil and sequestering carbon through high-intensity rotational grazing and alternative soils management strategies.
the mission
Take an ecological systems and results driven, Landscape Architecture approach to transform two degraded grasslands along a ranch road and creek bed into a functional lab for wild garden design.
Recharge groundwater, protect the stream from sedimentation, provide nutrient fodder for cattle, produce perennial food for humans, and provide an unreasonable amount of beauty, and wildlife insectary habitat.
the Gardens
“The moments we stumble upon in a garden…..”
The gardens rest upon a network of basins and spillways filtering over two-hundred thousand gallons of roof and road water per year.
The insectary is meant to provide a diverse palette so we can study and catalog the insect communities that arrive and what they gravitate toward. Ongoing Annual surveys provide us with actual vs anecdotal data.
Ribbons of pollinator and native plants provide a rich and cohesive tapestry of color and texture.
Insects, song birds, quail, and birds of prey all center their daily activities around this garden.
paths AND TRAILS
Crushed stone paths and stairs weave through the wild gardens allowing us graceful and intuitive circulation to the lower portions of the ranch. Keeping us off roads and in the spaces made for us.
The larger trail network brings us into the the riparian corridors weaving through fire breaks along the contours, under the oak canopies to the southern portion of the ranch’s orchards, and gardens.
Civil Engineer: Lescure Engineering Lead Researcher: Terra Emerson Installation: Bruce Antognini and Elgaria Ranch Staff Insect Surveys: Emily Robinson & David Lumpkin Cartographer: Bay Area Base Maps
RTLA Rick Taylor, RLA Tom Leblanc Stephen Ulhman, RLA Ursa Gorsak
