The Garden of Eatin'
at Sawmill Creek
Paradise, CA
Welcome to the Garden of Eatin' at Sawmill Creek!
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In the 1930s, the Nielsen Family Orchards, known world-wide for their apples, prospered. By 1946, the land was divided and sold, becoming the Nielsen Subdivision, of which our little farm is one such parcel.
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Since that time, our lovely little slice of Paradise has seen some tough times, but continues to grow on despite adversity as a symbol of resilience, perseverance, and hope, all while striving to maintaining a strong sense of connection to its past.​
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History
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In the late 1990s, ​the densely-forested land was partially cleared in a brush fire as the result of high brush mowing on an adjacent property. By the time the fire department arrived, the flames were threatening the home that once stood in the middle of the lot. One firefighter had the thought to use water from the pond built in the 1950s by the original owner, and the home was saved.
Not long thereafter, the descendants of the original owners sold the property to a couple who started a market garden and named it "Sawmill Creek Farm." It became known for all varieties of produce and spices, in particular their famed smoked paprika, and even had a small CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) following.
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In 2016, Sawmill Creek Farm was purchased by another small family interested in organic market farming, and it was named "Heartbeat Farm." They grew produce that was sold at local farmer's markets.
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In 2018, the entire town of Paradise and much (but not all) of the farm was devastated by the Camp Fire -- California's deadliest and most destructive wildfire, in which 85 people died as a result of crumbling and ill-maintained critical electrical infrastructure.
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Meanwhile in the Sierra Nevada, Jennifer and Cash the rescue German Shepherd grew tired of the glaciated sidewalks that persisted with literal feet of snow in the end of May 2022, and ventured out for an affordable getaway to experience a little bit of springtime. Their trip landed them at a short-term rental in Paradise. Little did they know what the future held...
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Despite their initial trepidation at the idea of visiting a town that was portrayed by the media as being a veritable wasteland, they were greeted by a considerable amount of remaining conifers, oaks, maples, and fields of wildflowers in bloom all throughout town. The birds chirped, the coyotes howled, the frogs croaked and the crickets chirped. The air was warm yet cool, crisp and clean. This was nothing like where they came from, and nothing like what they expected. Peace was found, and even Cash could sense that something special was afoot here.
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Jen and Cash returned home, more refreshed and rejuvenated than ever, and couldn't shake the experience they had. Distracted by the feeling and longing for more, Jen found herself daydreaming and scrolling real estate websites, though such a lofty goal seemed unattainable. She found a lot off Gate Lane at an incredible price that struck her fancy, and though she didn't dare dream of actually purchasing it, excitedly dashed downstairs to show Matt the potential that was there.
To her surprise, Matt saw the potential too, and joined the daydream. He started contemplating how this could become a reality, and inspired hope and the will to find a way. Within a few weeks, Matt, Jen, Cash and Lucy found themselves on a road trip to Paradise, visiting upwards of 20 properties in one day on top of a 7-hour round trip drive, weekend after weekend, braving heat, countless invasive berry bushes, and more prickly stickers than you can shake a stick at.
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The search continued for three months!
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Without having found "the" property yet, Matt and Lucy had to head out for the summer, so Jen and Cash continued the search into September 2022...Until one fateful day when this little slice of Paradise appeared on the market, touting its meticulously cultivated soil that had a past life as an organic market garden.
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Jen dropped everything, consulted with Matt and put in an offer sight unseen. An impromptu road trip the next day revealed more than we could imagine...​​
​...a stream and pond (though broken); rock walls and steps (though covered in debris); redwoods, maples, black oaks, 200-foot-tall Ponderosa Pines, Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Mimosa, fig, apple, pear, apricot, pomelo, bay leaf, and olive trees; grape vines, asparagus patch, bamboo grove; hellebore, miniature roses, and fields of ferns, herbs and vinca major, to name just a few -- all survived the fire!
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One month later, the deal was sealed, and thus the "Garden of Eatin' at Sawmill Creek" was (re) born, and the adventure of a lifetime began and along with it, our renewed sense of purpose: to bring this special slice of Paradise back to its former glory.
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