Bring your project to life.

Find space and time to focus. Stay for one or two weeks.

Further your project or ours.

The land

Our land has a long history of housing folks with exquisite dreams. From its earliest days people have come here to connect, learn, and grow. Every inch has something to discover.

Western Hills Garden, founded in 1959 by Lester Hawkins and Marshall Olbrich, is a three-acre ecosystem with a critically important collection of plants and trees from around the world, many nearly extinct in nature. Meandering pathways cross 35 small bridges and numerous outdoor “rooms” with benches, tables, and adirondacks are scattered about to sit and reflect, read, or work.

The adjacent three acre property is more open, with small redwood groves and a large meadow, offering varied environments to explore and experience. We call this property Sy’s Place, in honor of Syoko Lombard who immigrated from Japan and developed the land with her husband Jim beginning in 1958. The two properties are connected by an internal gate, by a shared history, and by a common vision.

RESIDENCY LIVING SPACES

The Octagon

  • A 300-square-foot garden guest cottage on the WHG grounds. Queen bed in bedroom, bath with shower, living/dining/kitchen combo. Not suitable for wet work inside. (Up to two people. Perfect for a couple or solo.)

Sy’s House – Red Door

  • An 1800-square-foot, newly updated mid-century house on the WHG-adjacent property. Two bedrooms, queen and king, two baths with showers (one en suite), full kitchen, large dining/living room combo, separate family/workroom. (Up to four people. Perfect for a family or two creative collaborators.)

Sy’s House – Blue Door

  • A 500-square-foot, newly renovated one-bedroom apartment with a queen bed and walk-in closet, bath with shower, full eat-in kitchen, and living room. (Up to two people. Perfect for a couple or solo.)

Shared spaces & amenities

The garden’s primary structures are the Barn (office, kitchen, and guest space for visitors), Glass House (greenhouse with plants on display), Prop House (greenhouse for propagating plants), Octagon (1-bedroom guest house available for residents), and Big House (2-bedroom house which serves as the owners’ residence). 

Outside the Barn is a large Commons, a central place for gathering, teaching, learning, listening, music making, and sharing communal meals at the picnic tables.

Additional shared spaces include:

  • Ceramic studio: Includes a ceramic throwing wheel, Skutt kiln, 3- bay utility sink and work space. Abundant light and movable shelving help organize and define the space.

  • Darkroom: A small walk-in darkroom houses an enlarger and space to develop small prints. The adjacent bathroom includes a darkroom sink that allows for large (11x17) format developing. (NOTE: This is still a work-in-progress but close to being completed).

  • Multipurpose art studio: A former garage bay at Sy’s has been converted into a multipurpose ~200 square foot art studio with a utility sink, large tables (including an underlit drafting table), sewing machines, scrap fabric, paper- making supplies, and plenty of natural light, lighting, and wall space to bring out the creative spirit.(NOTE: We are putting a new roof on this building so it will not be available until late spring.)

  • Jim’s Workshop: The garage bay adjacent to the studio houses wood, tools, and shop materials.

  • Drying Shack: A metal outbuilding currently serves as a space to experiment with drying plants and branches or other textiles.

  • Outdoor Shower: A blissful retreat attached to the ceramic studio with on-demand hot water and biodegradable bath amenities.

  • The Laundrette: Attached to the art studio is a small lean-to with a washer/dryer for messy projects.

We also have two e-bikes, one paddleboard, four boogie boards, two kayaks, two surfboards.

All residents will receive a basic pantry. And we will enjoy a shared meal every Sunday and a Friday Happy Hour. More communal eating opportunities will likely arise organically.

Pricing

We are offering one- and two-week residency opportunities starting on Sunday midday and ending on Saturday mornings.  A pay-to-stay and a work/stay option are available.

  • $1200 for one week, $2200 for two weeks

    • $1000 for one week, $1800 for two weeks

  • $1500 for one week, $2000 for two weeks 

  • Don’t have a specific project to work on or the funds to do a pay-to-stay residency? Have skills (like carpentry, construction, permaculture, design) or an affinity to weed, prune, and compost? We’d love to have you come stay and help us further our vision. Work/stay residents live onsite and enjoy the bounty of the land in exchange for 30 hours/week of time furthering specific priority projects of ours.