Welcome To Live Oak Farms
SONOMA COUNTY’S FIRST AGRIHOOD
Your next home can be situated around a working orgranic farm.
These homes will have minimal environmental impact, use water wisely, and will be built with responsible building materials. Solar arrays on the roofs also will allow each home to produce the energy it consumes for net-zero energy efficiency.
Sonoma County’s first Agrihood is taking shape. A lot will happen in the years ahead. Learn more about our progress here on the website or by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
OUR FARM IS YOUR FARM
On 30 acres nestled right outside downtown Petaluma, we are committed to providing the highest quality bounty while enhancing our rich soil.
Visit our farm stand!
Stop by our self-serve farm stand for delicious produce year-round.
Check out our BLOG to see what’s in season.
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Closed Sundays
It’s a new kind of neighborhood.
Quite simply, an Agrihood is a neighborhood built within a working farm. It unites agricultural land use with residents who desire a greater quality of life, thinking beyond simple urban revitalization and addressing our need for reconnection. It’s the beautifully simple idea of growing food and growing community together.
Video: Agrihoods: The newest trend in living (NBC)
In an Agrihood, the crops we tend and the place we call home exist together. This type of neighborhood combines the health benefits of living in connection to nature, the emotional well-being experienced in a community, and the positive environmental impact of local, organic agriculture. Add to that the goodness of net-zero energy homes, so we can do our part to protect the planet. It’s just a smart and satisfying way to live.
ROOTED IN PURPOSE
As you enter Live Oak Farm you are greeted by our namesake, a century old standing testament to the rich history of our property.
This land was formerly known as the Bundesen Ranch. It was lovingly cared for by four generations of Bundesens who, we like to think, sought shade underneath that magnificent oak tree. The Bundesens were chicken farmers who helped build the agricultural legacy of Petaluma, once called the “Egg Basket of the World.”
In 2014, Randy Goldstein purchased the property. Randy was interested in food, health, and as a green energy entrepreneur for 35 years, the impact farming had on the environment. He was inspired by the idea that small scale solar and wind projects could ultimately provide enough energy for society. And he wondered, “could small farms feed the world’s growing population in a more environmentally friendly manner?” This question inspired him to begin exploring small scale agriculture, a new model for living the good life and supporting the environment.
These interests, along with his desire to build an energy efficient house and live a simpler life, turned Randy’s eyes toward the country. Yet Randy wondered how he could both live on the land and retain the community-feel found in a close-knit neighborhood. One day he heard his answer, “if you build it, they will come.”
Since starting the Agrihood at Live Oak Farm, Randy has encountered many people with similar dreams of living together in a new and meaningful way. Live Oak Farm will provide that opportunity to many families, and perhaps inspire others to pursue their own vision for defining a new kind of community.
From the day Randy decided to purchase the property, we have been busy. In 2015 we began our first growing season here at Live Oak Farm. We laid out beds, fed them with rich organic compost and rejoiced in our first harvest of tomatoes, chard, and peppers which we sold in our roadside farm stand, at the Petaluma Farmer’s Market and to local restaurants and grocery stores. In 2016, our land was certified organic by CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers). We also added close to 1,000 fruit trees to the property including apples, pluots, pomegranates and persimmons. In 2017, the road that will someday be dotted with houses, row crops, and food forests was completed.
Over the next few years we’ll continue to develop the farm and lay the rest of the groundwork for new homes. Stay tuned for developments here on our website or by following us on Facebook and Instagram. We hope you will join us as we continue to build upon the rich history of this property!
GOOD THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE COME TOGETHER
We believe community helps everything grow – our land, our families, and each other. Our community events include classes, workshops, live music and our annual harvest festival. We hope to see you here soon, enjoying yourself at the farm!
