Luther Burbank's Gold Ridge Experiment Farm is the official name of the that remain of the farm originally purchased in 1885 by famed plant breeder Luther Burbank in an area of Sebastopol, California, formerly known as the "Gold Ridge District". To these, Burbank added in 1904 and in 1906 until, in 1923, failing health compelled him to sell-off of his holdings. Burbank died in 1926. In 1974, Burbank's widow, Elizabeth Waters Burbank, donated the remaining to the Sebastopol Area Housing Corporation for the purpose of erecting low-income, senior, and disabled housing units with the stipulation that the parcel containing the "Caretaker's Cottage", the barn, the potting shed and over 250 living specimens of Burbank's work be set aside and left undisturbed as a 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.
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 Rosa, 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 after which the farm fell into disuse and disrepair until the mid-1970s. The WesternSonoma CountyHistorical 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, 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 7777 Bodega Ave. in Sebastopol and is open to the public. This address does not receive mail. 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. www.wschsgrf.org
