Overview of the Forest Garden

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This four-acre residential parcel in Orange County, NC is a woodland forest garden situated two miles from downtown Carrboro and four miles from downtown Chapel Hill near University Lake. The property is a Certified Bird-Friendly Habitat (New Hope Audubon Society, 2017) and Certified Wildlife Habitat (North Carolina Wildlife Federation, 2017). According to a forestry expert, the oldest trees on the property are approximately 70-year old (Yonavjak, 2023). 

The parcel includes two creeks and was likely home to several Native American tribes, including the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation. In 1987, the current house was built and the Outer Loop (walking trail) was established. In the early 2000s, the second owner, with inspiration from NC State Parks and help from a certified landscape designer, established the extensive network of moss-covered walking trails, low stone walls, and native plantings. In 2016, the current owner, began to establish the small scale permaculture ecosystem, including the 1,800 square foot food forest, chicken coop, compost system, seed starting station, and micro greenhouse, as well as more than a dozen outdoor sitting areas (known as garden rooms or stations). 

Throughout this peaceful property, you will see hundreds of flowering Hellebores, hear the creeks gurgling and owls hooting, and savor the fresh fragrance of Magnolias, Abelias, and Calycanthus. As you walk along the Chapel Hill gravel trails, across the wood bridges, and through a blooming Buckeye tunnel, you will feel the sun on your skin as it peeks through the canopy of oaks, poplars, and pines. We encourage you to walk slowly, breathe deeply, and savor the peace found in nature.