Current Land Acquisition – Stewardship Trust

3970 Azalea Ln, Sebastopol, CA 95472

$1,999,000

Property Overview

3970 Azalea Ln is an absolutely beautiful property that truly needs to be seen in person. The pictures do not do it justice. This property is just over 7.5 acres. Roughly half of the property is an active plant nursery and the other half is a botanical garden. It has a large spring fed pond, and a year round creek running through it (Blucher Creek). The property has 1 single family residence built in 1965 when it was purchased from the Hessel family. The home has 2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. The mid century modern has an open beam ceiling. It is completely livable as is, but it has not been upgraded since it was built in 1965 so it could use some modernization and a remodel of the kitchen and bathrooms. There is a non conforming 2 room cabin and another small cabin currently being used as an office. The property has a septic system and hookups to electrical and gas. There are 2 wells with irrigation throughout the whole property. About half of the property operates as a nursery and the other half is a botanical garden with unique and rare plants. There are already some clearings with fire pits that would make great camping locations and meeting/ teaching areas.

Stewardship Property Type

This property would be an extremely beneficial Stewardship Trust property because it is a shining example of what dry grass and blackberry brambles can be turned into through permaculture principles. This a great example of the goal for development of future Stewardship Trust properties. The property has been meticulously cared for with permaculture principals throughout the entire 7.5+ acres. The home may be a little dated, but it is beautiful and fully livable as is. Some upgrades would make this property even more unforgettable than it already is. This is a great example of what we would look to bring to future property development through Stewardship Trust.

This property would Primarily be a Resource Property but it would also be a Support Property and have aspects of a Ministry Property as well. This property is ideal for retreats, growth groups and teaching venues. The property comes with everything as is. Stewardship Trust would gain all of the plant inventory and tools of the Nursery. We would be able to use these resources for the rest of Stewardship Trust properties, helping spread permaculture and food forests at each newly acquired property. Half of this property would continue to function as a working nursery for Stewardship Trust Resources as well as be an income generating Support Property.

Income Possibilities

We would purchase the property as a Non Profit and have Stewardship Trust control the Non Profit. This would make the Property Tax Exempt and save anywhere from $15,000-$25,000 a year on Property Taxes. There would be no Loan on the property because it would be purchased outright by Stewardship Trust.

Half of the property would continue to operate as a nursery. This alone would make it an income property with no bank loans or property taxes attached to the property. We could also create 3-5 “Hipcamps” on the property for added income and use to the public. Hipcamps are basically camping/ lodging short term rentals. Half of the property would be an ideal local camping/ staycation venue. The 2 small nonconforming cabins could be used as Hipcamp lodging and an outdoor kitchen and bathroom/shower combo could be added for another form of income as well.

In just the first 6 months of the year they received roughly $90,000 (revenue?). The nursery currently has 2 full time employees with 2 part time employees. The head nursery operator has been running nurseries for over a decade and is willing to stay on and continue to manage the nursery. The current owner has been doing a great job maintaining the property but is limited because he is only one person trying to wear all of the hats. Because of this, administrative systems, marketing, volunteer program, applying for grants, and managing adjacent secondary businesses are all practical ways to enhance and expand on the efficiency and income potential of the property. Properly applied technologies could be added to improve efficiencies and effectiveness in all of these areas.

To be clear, even without changing anything in how the property has been managed, it will already be an income property with how it will be structured. But implementing some small changes will only create more abundance in all areas of this already amazing and well stewarded property.