Luther Burbank's Gold Ridge Experiment Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gold Ridge Farm
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the Caretaker's Cottage in 2012
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Sebastopol, California |
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| NRHP reference No. | 78000803 |
| Added to NRHP | December 14, 1978 |
Luther Burbank's Gold Ridge Experiment Farm is a special place in Sebastopol, California. It was once the amazing outdoor laboratory of a famous plant scientist named Luther Burbank (1849-1926). People called him "The Plant Wizard" because he created many new kinds of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Burbank bought this land in 1885. It was part of an area known as the "Gold Ridge District." He started with 10 acres (40,000 m2) and later added more land. By 1923, he had to sell some of it because he was not well. Luther Burbank passed away in 1926.
In 1974, Burbank's wife, Elizabeth Waters Burbank, gave the remaining 15 acres (61,000 m2) to a housing group. She wanted them to build homes for seniors and people with disabilities. But she had one important rule: 3-acre (12,000 m2) of the land had to be kept safe. This part included the "Caretaker's Cottage," a barn, and over 250 living plants from Burbank's experiments. She wanted this area to be a historical and plant-filled place for everyone to learn from and enjoy.
Today, the City of Sebastopol owns the farm. The Western Sonoma County Historical Society helps manage it. Many dedicated volunteers work hard to keep it beautiful and open for visitors.
The Story of Gold Ridge Farm
Luther Burbank needed more space for his plant experiments. His home garden in Santa Rosa was not big enough. So, he bought Gold Ridge Farm. This farm was perfect because it had different types of soil and sunlight. This allowed him to test many different kinds of plants.
At its busiest, Burbank had over 60,000 plant experiments happening at Gold Ridge Farm! A team of 15 to 20 workers helped him care for all the plants.
After Burbank died in 1926, the farm was not used much. It started to fall apart. But in the mid-1970s, local volunteers formed the Western Sonoma County Historical Society. Their main goal was to save and take care of Burbank's Gold Ridge Farm.
Now, the society also manages the West Sonoma County Museum and the Sebastopol Archives. Today, Luther Burbank's Gold Ridge Experiment Farm is a museum of both history and plants. Visitors can take a tour and see hundreds of the "living legacies" created by "The Plant Wizard."
Visiting Gold Ridge Farm
Gold Ridge Farm is located at 7777 Bodega Ave. in Sebastopol. It is about 1 mile (2 km) west of Main Street. The farm is open to the public.
You can park in the area between Bodega Ave. and the senior housing. Then, walk through the gate just west of the parking spot. You can also drive to the farm through its neighbor, Burbank Heights & Orchards. More parking is available up the hill past the cottage.
The Western Sonoma County Historical Society and the West County Museum are at 261 South Main Street, Sebastopol CA 95472. You can find more information at www.wschsgrf.org.
See also
In Spanish: Granja experimental Gold Ridge de Luther Burbank para niños
