Green Oaks Creek Retreat Center
Setting and Location
Green
Oaks offers retreat space for individuals, couples, families,
and groups. Our 63 acre farm is nestled against the Santa Cruz
mountains, borders Green Oaks Creek, and is replete with riparian
areas, rolling meadows, coastal live oaks, redwoods, hiking trails
and ocean views. We are a half hour drive south of Half Moon
Bay, CA and overlook Ano
Nuevo State Reserve.
Goal for the Retreat Center
Our purpose in offering retreat space is to offer a beautiful, natural environment with a farm setting to help all of us remember our connection to nature, ourselves and our food source. We have therefore created simple rental facilities on our farm that are available for individual/couple retreats, family farm stays, and group events.
Facilities
Our rental facilities lie adjacent to our vegetable and flower
fields and have beautiful views of the Santa Cruz mountains.
Our 20 foot tipi can be used as a meeting room for up to 15 guests
or as a place to sleep for as many as 10 people. It has a casual,
comfortable environment with carpets and a fire pit. A Queen-sized
inflatable bed is 
available
upon request. For larger groups, guests can set up their own
tents to sleep in.
A shelter made of strawbales and earth plaster houses an outdoor kitchen that includes a fridge, stove, sink, cabinets, cookware, and service for 50 people. Catering is not provided. However, for an additional cost, visitors are welcome to harvest fresh seasonal produce from the farm to create festive meals together.
Next to the kitchen there are picnic tables, a campfire area, and an outdoor, private shower with hot water.
A 20-ft. yurt houses a queen sized bed, comfortable reading chairs, and a dining area. It is a perfect retreat space for a romantic get-away. We serve breakfast to guests that stay in our yurt.
The Land
In addition to the tipi and kitchen area, visitors are welcome to explore and meet in the many undeveloped , wild areas of the land. Hiking trails meander through rolling open meadows, past ancient oaks and a majestic redwood grove, finding their way to an awe inspiring ocean view. An enchanting, extensive medicinal herb and flower garden can be enjoyed by guests. This garden, with a profusion of colors, scents, and sounds, is a lovely place to hold a wedding ceremony.
Tours
We offer tours of our farm that are tailored in content and length to the desires of the group. Discussions can include such topics as organic agriculture, pasture management, the links between soil-plant-animal-human health, medicinal herbs, etc. Activities can include exploring the farm, feeding the animals, sowing seeds in the greenhouse or the fields, studying the compost piles, harvesting, studying the soil, learning about medicinal herbs in the extensive herb and flower garden, etc. We also participate in the Tour Des Fleurs put on by the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce and the La Honda Garden Tour.
Ecotourism
Green Oaks participates in the Ecotourism Program of the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce. People can sign up for these quarterly weekend events and experience what some of the local businesses in this beautiful coastside area have to offer. The first Eco-Fest was Friday, March 30th to Sunday, April 1s, 2007t. Participants signed up for the following options: camping at Green Oaks Creek Farm, sleeping at Costanoa Coastal Lodge, a guided tour through Pescadero Marsh, a tour of Harley Farms Goat Cheese Farm, high tea and tour of Yerba Buena Nursery, tour of Thomas Fogarty Winery, whale watching, Daylight Farm tour, a kayak tour, and a catered lunch by the Half Moon Bay Fisherman's Assoc.
School Group Visits
Daytime school group visits are geared to the level of the students, which can range from preschoolers to college students. Programs are individually tailored to the desires of the group. Activities can include exploring the farm, feeding the animals, sowing seeds in the greenhouse or the fields, studying the compost piles, harvesting, studying the soil, learning about medicinal herbs in the extensive herb and flower garden, etc. We would be happy to work with any subject or lesson plans the instructor presents.
Our overnight camping trips are primarily for students in the 6th grade or older. The extra time a one or two night trip provides allows for a more in-depth experience of the many aspects of the farm and surrounding ecosystems. In addition to the activities named above, we like to involve the students in harvesting vegetables to prepare some of their meals in our outdoor kitchen. We feel this helps students attain a closer connection to their food source. Hikes on our farm, at the many nearby state beaches, and at the three nearby parks (Ano Nuevo State Reserve, Butano State Park, and Big Basin State Park) provide wonderful opportunities to learn about the diverse ecosystems in our area. At night we offer a campfire area and evening programs that help students appreciate the night sky, learn about local nocturnal animals, and become comfortable in the dark.
Prices
The retreat center is available on both weekends and weekdays. Prices are as follows (children 12 and under are free):
- For short usage (i.e.tours): $5 / person
- A half day: $10 / person
- A full day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.): $20 / person
- Overnight - camping: $5 / person
- Overnight with breakfast - in yurt: $150
- Weddings/Large Group Events: 50-100 people = $1,300 more than 100 people = $1,300 plus $10 for every person above 100
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