two houses on an Exceptional lot

In 2009, we arrived on 44th Street not just to live — but to transform. What began as two modest homes surrounded by concrete slowly blossomed into a thriving, intentional, and deeply loved urban sanctuary. Over 15 years, this land has grown into something rare: a living ecosystem, a place of nourishment, joy, and community — right here in the city. Along the way, we were lucky to welcome a series of amazing renters who became more than neighbors — they became part of the vision. Together, we built a true sense of community, sharing the outdoor space for meals under the trees, collaborative gardening, and joyful child’s play. The land became not just a garden, but a gathering place.

We planted with purpose. The clementine mandarin took root beside the back house. The white Genoa fig found its home in what became a goat pasture. We built a trellis for passionfruit that now spills over with fruit and privacy, and our container garden between the houses thrived in the full Oakland sun. We planted bamboo strategically for privacy, beauty and functionality! never will you need to buy a garden stake on 44th street. We didn’t inherit rich soil — we built it ourselves, season by season, composting, cover cropping, and restoring life to the land.

In 2011, we took a leap: we purchased the narrowest, most neglected house on the block — and in a single day, brought it down. In its place, we planted dreams and bare-root fruit trees that today rise tall and strong in what we call the poultry orchard:

• 3 avocados (including pollinating types; 2 produce bountiful annual harvests)
• Santa Rosa plum, Meyer lemon, Lisbon & Eureka lemons, Buddha’s Hand, UCB tangerine, navel orange
• An espaliered Granny Smith apple along the front fence
• A banana grove (yes — fruiting bananas in Oakland!)
• Pineapple guava and strawberry guava

In 2013, we brought in chickens and ducks. They worked in harmony with the trees, reducing pests and enriching the soil. Then came the pandemic, and with it — goats. We welcomed two Nigerian dwarf dairy dames in milk, converted the garage into a milking shed with a greywater sink, and started recycling every drop of water into nourishment for the land.

In 2022, those goats gave birth here, bringing forth the next generation of our urban herd. This wasn’t just a home — it became a village, a classroom, a refuge. During 2021, our daughter’s second-grade class met here for pod-based, in-person learning among the trees — while the nearby basketball court served as their P.E. field.

And still we built. A greenhouse roof now arches over the former driveway, creating a microclimate for year-round abundance. Steel bars above support swings, rings, and playful hangouts — for kids and grown-ups alike. Every inch of this space has been lovingly imagined, planted, built, and lived in with deep care.