Chicory Ranch
Studio & Gardens
Santa Rosa, California
Welcome to Chicory Ranch Studio & Gardens. Home to residential and creative-use facilities, gardens, grounds, feral peabirds and the wild blue flowered chicory - for which the ranch gets its name.
Chicory Ranch welcomes Artists and Makers to live on the Ranch and work on self-directed creative projects for a period of one week to three months. The residency successfully accommodates visual artists, designers, crafts people, writers, performers and more.
Chicory Ranch is located in Santa Rosa California fifty miles north of San Francisco and twenty five miles east of the Pacific Ocean. The property is uniquely situated between the urban and the rural. On the eastern edge of Chicory Ranch there is lite-industry, on the western edge there are riparian grasslands that lead to the oak woodlands of Taylor Mountain.
The Barn is a 1,500 square foot former horse barn that’s been converted into a studio. In the Barn, residents have access to a dedicated workspace as well as use of shared common areas. The Barn is equipped with wide-span doors, ample 120V & 240V outlets, slop sink, work bench & table, dedicated storage cabinet, surround sound stereo system, wifi, and surveillance by Xena the barn cat. Your hosts, Todd & Sebs, also utilize table space in the barn. Outside the Barn there is shared work space and an outdoor lounge.
The Grounds. Depending on the nature of the project, the grounds might be an appropriate and inspiring location to work in. There are ample locations on the eastern and south side of Chicory Ranch for you to set up an outdoor studio. If working in the grounds, a shade structure, power via extension cord, folding table, chair and access to the Barn are provided.
The Cottage is a live/work space great for “no-mess” projects. The living-room in the Cottage can be converted into a work space ideal for writers, musicians, draftspeople, etc. who seek a cozy place to focus. It is also possible for the cottage to be used only as a live space with work space provided elsewhere on the property. The Cottage is only available for residencies of at least one, two or three months in length.
The Red House is a 3 bedroom 2 bath home. In the house, residents are welcomed to a private furnished bedroom and the guest bathroom. Your hosts, Todd & Sebs, also live in the house with their two cats. Residents stay on the opposite side of the house from Todd & Sebs’ quarters ensuring privacy. A stay in the house involves sharing the common spaces with us (kitchen and living room). We aim to strike the right balance between shared and private time in the house. We charish the opportunity to get to know one and other, as well as moments of private reflection. Together we will find the right balance between the social and the private.
The Cottage is a thoughtfully furnished, stand-alone one-bedroom home in a garden setting. The Cottage offers a newly renovated living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Depending upon the project and availability, the Cottage can be used as a live/work space, or it can be lived in with studio space provided elsewhere on the property. The Cottage is only available for residencies of one, two or three months in length.
Camper Vans can be accommodated in the grounds. If you’d like to bring your camper van, we can provide power via extension cord and water via hose hookup. We cannot manage black water onsite.
Sebs (pictured on the right) is an artist, landscaper, gardener and crafty fellow. His company, The Silent Gardener Designs, delivers water-wise native plant landscapes and gardens. Sebs leads the Gardens at Chicory Ranch.
Todd (pictured on the left) is an artist, designer, builder and manager with the Marin County Department of Cultural Services. Todd leads the Studio at Chicory Ranch.