2016-2023

The Pony Farm

Permaculture Garden and Artist Residency Project

The Space.

The Pony Farm, nestled in Pioneer, California, was more than just a property. It was a community hub, serving the Amador and Calaveras County communities. The two-acre property featured one acre of reconstituted permaculture landscaping, two houses, a 1,000-square-foot workspace, and a 500-square-foot digital print lab for residents.

The farm, with its unique revenue sources, not only sustained itself but also offered opportunities for community growth. It supported itself through grants, short-term rentals, plant sales, and local events, inspiring a diverse and intriguing income model.

The Impact.

- The Pony Farm served a rural area spanning over 500 square miles, with attendees traveling from as far as seventy miles away to visit.

- The farm is now home to over 150 native trees, showcasing its commitment to sustainable landscaping.

- In a rural area where community events can be scarce, the Pony Farm hosted monthly gatherings, providing a vital space for locals to come together and build connections.

- Over the course of seven years, the farm hosted over fifteen artists with residencies lasting from ten days to several months, fostering a rich creative environment.

- With a significant impact on social media, the Pony Farm amassed 2,000 followers and received applications from all over the world, showcasing its global reach.

- The farm maintained a high rating with the California Arts Council and secured funding to continue its impactful work, solidifying its standing as a respected and influential community establishment.

An Experimental

Homestead…

The Pony Farm was a community arts center and garden that created an inclusive, supportive home for artistic innovation, bringing diversity and dynamic creativity to rural Amador County, California. The project believes that nature can inspire and transform and that everyone should have access to the resources they need for innovative, creative expression.

The program was founded in 2016 and aimed to facilitate creative production through an immersive residency experience lasting ten days to several months. Artists learned about homesteading and spent long hours in the garden.