Gorgeous 65ac semi-wild sanctuary w/ earthworks & bespoke infra above Klamath River (CA)

Soliciting input and ideas for an unusual project and property I've been nurturing for a few years now!

Synopsis:  Four adjacent res-ag parcels totaling 65 acres with a designer tiny home, metal garage, rustic campground, pond, views, trails, fire adapted native ecology, documented knowledge base, privacy, and security, available for around 275K or potential credit/equity investment.

I am considering sale, partnership, or investment alternatives for the next phase of development and habitation on a special site in a very dynamic setting just a few miles away from the largest river restoration effort on the continent to date. Read up on "Klamath dam removal" project which was just completed this year, kicking off several years of landscape scale ecological regeneration, for more if you aren't familiar. The surrounding Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion is highly biodiverse with a wide range of fairly well preserved, low traffic wild lands and natural features with strong collaborative efforts by Tribes, land managers, and locals to maintain good stewardship and multi-use into the future. This part of the country is a leading center of resilient forestry practices and fire ecology to adapt for a changing climate, and perhaps the best current demonstration of bioregional living at scale that's not been compromised with short-sighted urban sprawl development. Although officially within California, this is still rugged country in more ways than one, and won't appeal to all.

The site I've been living and working on is nicely positioned around 3000' on the northern shoulder of an isolated volcanic butte overlooking many miles of winding river canyon below the Siskiyou Crest, rising up to 7500'. Valley bottoms are mostly grassy ranch land with scattered rural neighborhoods. Upland slopes host open oak-juniper savannah and chaparral, shifting to ponderosa, cedar, and fir forest at higher elevations. Precipitation varies significantly with landforms and elevation, on my site and nearby averages 15-20" per year mostly concentrated from October to May. This is roughly the mid point of the west coast El Niño climate dipole, so variability is lower. It is a temperate dryland environment that is well suited to passive solar designed natural building, and perhaps a bit of seasonal 'nomadism' to escape a few weeks of peak heat/cold around July and January respectively - warmer and cooler environments are always within reach. Diurnal temperature swings provide consistent relief too.

The property itself has several outstanding assets and advantages. Given it's elevation and gentle north slope, it stays a little cooler and wetter and is nicely protected from prevailing winds while still feeling very open with lots of light and stunning vistas, including lovely dark skies at night. It is well buffered against larger destructive fires, given the major river on one side and prominent steep butte on another. It has good access and defensibility by local CalFire resources, the best wildfire corps in the world. I've invested significant effort in fuel reduction and thinning to create a much more fire resistant landscape that lacks potential for devastating 'fire storm' conflagrations. Water is currently sourced from rain catchment plus a spring-fed pond (seasonal in drier years) near the top of the site. A well is on the list of priorities next. Ground surface is generally a blend of perennial grasses, forbes, thatch, moss, lichen covered stone, woody mulch, and some exposed soil. It is a clay loam soil type, fairly workable when hydrated, I have not done nutrient testing or attempted to 'garden' much, being limited on water and focused more on restoring healthy native plant communities that are already well adapted and potentially quite productive both for people and wildlife. The native oak savannah landscape is essentially a ready made low maintenance "silvopasture" system, stretching to many thousands of acres over the surrounding open range.

Current infrastructure includes good access roads, extensive track and trail system, a dozen simple and aesthetic camp sites both drive up and walk in plus a larger group gathering area, several sculpted fire circles and a larger bonfire amphitheater, a 500sqft metal garage/storage/workspace, a 250sf self contained tiny home on wheels, a 2500gal rain catchment and distribution system, and basic on site organic waste disposal. Grid power is about a quarter mile away, but solar has been sufficient and can be greatly expanded. Cell service is fine throughout, and serves unlimited fast stable internet via router base station for $50/mo. Access is via a mile of maintained private gravel road, and just 5 miles from major freeway with quick connection to nearest sizable town (20 min), Oregon's Rogue Valley (30-40 min), or a half day to Portland or the Bay Area. An existing lightly used cargo railway passes within a mile. PCT trailheads and many other backcountry access points within an hour. Great potential for more local multi-use trail development in surrounding hills and nearby Cascade-Siskiyou national monument.

I am most excited about the potential to create a live-work learning and demonstration site here to help (re)introduce appropriate sustainable life ways and culture to the surrounding region, which currently has very little available in this regard. Given that the location is also a jumping off point for adventure and recreation ("eco-tourism") along the rebounding river just upstream, there is significant potential for hosting and hospitality offerings as supplemental revenue stream, plus perhaps some craft local goods, experiences etc. Some of this will depend on successfully navigating local bureaucracy and mindsets, however the area is clearly and vocally in need of 'economic development' and paired with a generally hands-off / low enforcement policy for non-disruptive practices, I believe (and have so far found) there's good opportunity to work around any regulatory obstacles with a bit of patience and compromise. I can go into more specifics about this and my own vision/strategy in private discussion.

I am able and willing to support a graceful transition to new owners that are well suited to the site, providing a lot of experiential knowledge here and local connections etc. I'm interested in potential joint venture or co-owner approaches, but very sensitive to potentially challenging dynamics of this in a newly formed relationship, and would need careful mutual vetting and some sort of trial period. My third option is simply a short term loan ($100k range) backed with the land as collateral, and the possibility of some direct involvement, usage, or other perks, which could be a stepping stone to longer term arrangements. Also interested in discussing other options that may occur, and generally creative solutions to collaborative regenerative development and financing which could be replicated by others. I think that's a pretty important under-studied realm of our larger design system and practice in current contexts, which could really expand the field. Thanks for contemplating, I'll follow this with a photo set pronto for some visual stimuli...cheers!!

Here's a few photos of the property described above, for a better feel of the place - and several more in an album here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/19483908@N00/albums/72177720316212856/

I just heard about a nursery business for sale in the Orleans area. If that is anywhere nearby and would be of interest to you, PM me for more info.

“Bumping” this with two more pics of a lovely frosty dawn and blustery afternoon on the land earlier this week. Especially colorful and magical setting this time of year!

I’m keen to find some more interested parties in the next month or two, and happy to discuss creative ideas and possibilities - including just in general about the project/place thus far and what it could become, if anyone’s curious (don’t need to be ‘in the market’ per se). I’m clearly biased, but think it’s a pretty nifty example of what I’m calling for lack of better terms “wild placemaking” in an already richly featured and robust natural environment that nonetheless benefits from thoughtful human presence. Kind of back to the true origins of Permaculture in a sense? Certainly a good classroom for it!