Forestiere Underground Gardens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Forestiere Underground Gardens
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 Location in Fresno, California
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5021 W. Shaw Ave., Fresno, California |
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| Architect | Forestiere, Baldasare |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000293 |
| Added to NRHP | October 28, 1977 |
The Forestiere Underground Gardens in Fresno, California are an amazing place built by Baldassare Forestiere. He was an immigrant from Sicily, Italy. He spent 40 years, from 1906 until he passed away in 1946, digging and building these underground rooms and gardens. Today, his family still runs the gardens. They are a fantastic example of unique, homemade architecture!
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Building a Dream Underground
Baldassare Forestiere was born in Sicily, Italy, in 1879. He moved to the United States in the early 1900s. After living on the East Coast for a while, he bought land in Fresno. He found that the soil there was very hard, called hardpan. This soil was not good for growing the citrus trees he wanted. The summers were also extremely hot.
To escape the heat, Baldassare dug a small cellar. He might have been inspired by old Roman catacombs or wine cellars he saw in Italy. He found the cellar cool and comfortable. So, he decided to dig more rooms and live underground!
Growing Plants Underground
Baldassare then started trying to grow trees in his underground rooms. He added special openings, like skylights, to let light in. He discovered that with careful tending, the trees grew well. Being underground also protected them from frost in the winter.
Baldassare kept expanding his underground gardens until he died in 1946. He used only hand tools and a pair of mules to do all the digging and building. It was a huge project done by one person!
A Recognized Landmark
The Forestiere Underground Gardens were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This means they are a very important historical site in the United States. In 1978, they were also named a California Historical Landmark.
Exploring the Underground Gardens
The Forestiere Underground Gardens have 65 rooms! These include a summer bedroom, a winter bedroom, a bath, and a working kitchen. There's even a fishpond and a living room with a fireplace.
Unique Design Features
Between the stone walls and archways, you'll find grottoes and courtyards. These open areas let in pockets of light. Baldassare built the complex pathways section by section. He didn't use any blueprints! The gardens cover about 10 acres underground.
The underground structure has three different levels. One level is 10 feet deep, another is 20 feet deep, and the deepest is 23 feet down.
Smart Airflow and Water Systems
The gardens have special skylights and basins to catch water. Baldassare used the dirt he dug out to fill planters and make stones for the underground rooms. He also used the hardpan soil as bricks for archways and supports.
The pathways and rooms are different widths. This helps to move air around. Narrow parts create pressure, and the slants and curves of the walls keep the air flowing. The cone-shaped skylights help push hot air out quickly, keeping the cool air below.
Plants That Thrive Underground
Some of the plants and trees in the gardens are over 100 years old! They are safe from frost in the winter because they are underground. Each level was planted at different times. This makes the plants bloom one after another, making the growing season longer.
The gardens grow many types of fruit. You can find citrus fruits, berries, and even exotic fruits like kumquats, loquats, and jujubes. Some trees have been grafted. This means different types of fruit can grow on the same tree! Trees and vines were also planted above the underground rooms. They act like insulation and create shade, protecting the gardens below.
In Books
The author T. Coraghessan Boyle wrote a fictional story about Baldassare Forestiere. It's called "The Underground Gardens" and was published in The New Yorker magazine in 1998.
See also
- Burro Schmidt Tunnel – A long mining tunnel dug by hand over 38 years.
- Ferdinand Cheval – A French postman who built an "ideal palace" from rocks.
- Hermit House – A home in Israel with mosaics built by one man over 30 years.
- House on the Rock – A unique house built on a rock pinnacle in Wisconsin.
- Nitt Witt Ridge – A house in California built in a similar, unusual style.
- Watts Towers – A collection of 17 tall structures built by an Italian immigrant in Los Angeles.
- Hobby tunneling – People who dig tunnels as a hobby.
