Plans for the Property

Personal Enjoyment and Other Uses

First and foremost, I wanted to have a weekend getaway spot for my family and friends.  But, also a pretty self-sufficient property that has water and electricity and able to grow my own food if I wanted.  I think this property has achieved the water and power goals.  All else can build on that.

Additionally, besides a community retreat, I'd like to develop these other areas:

• Small weddings and Church retreat - with a small chapel.  This can also be an income generating option
• Mini-Homestead - with orchards, garden beds, hoop greenhouses, and smaller livestock where we can have a small degree of self-sufficiency. This will be for our own consumption, but gives us the ability if needed to share the bounty of the land with those in need.
• Glamping - where income can be generated--either by renting out the decks for tents or smaller A-Frames or other similar type structures.

To achieve these goals, I'd like to build out a chapel, and 6-7 more cabin/tent pads (a quonset hut kit is already on site to be built), 1-2 toilet/shower sheds, and a canteen area for meals.  Further, I'd like to build out a campfire and add a small pond.  Maybe even a zipline, pickleball, badminton, or sand volleyball court.

Other miscellaneous ideas include: greenhouse, garden beds, soaking pool.  Most of the lighting needs on the property will be solar powered.  There are many post lights, string lights, and the such that are solar powered.  For the canteen, I was thinking of an outdoor brick oven, and natural evaporative cooling food storage that won't need electricity.  I also have quite a few dwarf Nigerian goats now being boarded in Anza, which is just 20 minutes east.  If there is a more full time presence, and the fencing is secure against predators and also the goats escaping, then goat meat and goat milk are pretty good eating.  Or maybe a petting zoo as an attraction.

Here's a Pinterest Board of all the inspiration and concepts that I thought was interesting.

Philosophy

As much as possible, I wanted to plant trees, shrubs, and grasses that are native to the area, but am open to being realistic about what is feasible for our own purposes.  I do like the permaculture and regenerative agriculture ethos, and if what we do can help revive the ecosystem, then that's always a good thing.  I'd like everything to be less modern, but still efficient and functional at a lower level of technology.

I think we can create something both practical and beautiful and restorative together.