Whether you are relocating to the Ojai Valley or simply looking for a country retreat to enjoy with friends and family, this historic home is a unique find to fit your needs.
Just a short drive from downtown Ojai and tucked behind an electric security gate, this U-shaped hacienda is surrounded by 40 acres of avocado groves, which helps to preserve the tranquility of this peaceful oasis. The original adobe home built in 1830 is the central core of the hacienda, which has been expanded and updated in a manner that preserves its rustic charm while adding modern conveniences and much more space for you and your guests to enjoy. Features include:
Monthly rent: $6,800.00 Security Deposit: $10,200.00 One small pet considered with additional $500 pet fee. Water, trash, pool maintenance, and landscaping maintenance included. Visit the property information page for more photos and information. This Ojai rental home is shown only by appointment. Please contact AimeeJo to schedule a viewing.
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Winter is a great time to update and upgrade outdoor living areas. With shorter days and colder weather, you likely are not entertaining on your patio quite as much right now, which gives you the opportunity to spruce it up a bit between gatherings. If you have tried to have any type of home improvement completed over the last couple of years, you know how busy contractors are right now and how difficult it is to get on their schedules. If you have something that requires a contractor, call them now to get your job in their queue. Then, while you are waiting your turn, consider some of these upgrades that you can do yourself in the meantime. 1. Spread no-water ground covers. You can quickly increase the visual appeal of your outdoor living areas by covering bare earth with a no-water ground cover like bark, wood chips, or gravel. Spread it around plants, in walkways, and in any spot that needs a little sprucing up. This option is easy to do and easy to maintain, since all you really need to do moving forward is refresh it whenever it starts to look a little sparse. 2. Hang string lights. String lights are inexpensive, easy to hang, and a great way to add soft lighting to outdoor living areas. Add a festive flair to your patio or yard with a few strands of string lights that you can likely hang yourself. 3. Add a fresh coat of paint to patio furniture. If your metal, wicker, synthetic wicker, plastic, or other painted patio furniture is looking a little worse for the wear, head to one of our local hardware stores to pick up some spray paint in fun colors. Watch a couple of videos online to make sure you know what you are doing, and then update the look of your furniture with a fresh coat of paint. 4. Add a fire pit. Fire pits are not necessarily easy to install or inexpensive, but there are certainly options that fit both of these categories. You can pick up a portable fire pit for less than $100, bring it home, and have it set up and ready to go all within a couple of hours. 5. Put together a bar cart. Look around the house for a two-tier table or rolling cart that could be transformed into a portable bar. Stock it with your favorite beverages, outdoor drinkware, and some bar snacks to have a handy bar cart ready to go for impromptu social gatherings. 6. Add a rug. Adding an outdoor rug to your patio décor is a quick and easy way to instantly add color and texture to your outdoor living area. If you are not sure you want to deal with caring for textiles, you can also paint a rug design on your patio. 7. Add a shade sail. Shade sails provide protection from the sun and make your outdoor living areas more comfortable and more functional. As an added benefit, they also happen to be great for blocking the view of your patio if neighboring properties sit higher than yours or if second-story windows overlook your yard. 8. Hang a hammock. Hammocks provide the perfect spot to curl up with a good book or take an afternoon nap. They are easy to hang between two strong trees or sturdy posts, or you can purchase a hammock stand that allows you to place your hammock anywhere you’d like. Things to remember this month:
Just a short drive from downtown Ojai and even closer to the eclectic village of Meiners Oaks, this three-bedroom, two-bathroom home for rent is a perfect country getaway to retreat to at the end of the day.
Tucked amongst orchards and mature oak trees behind a gated entry, this home has much to offer if you are looking for an Ojai home for rent in a country setting. There is plenty of parking, a fenced backyard with grass, a storage shed, and, of course, mountain views. Inside, wood-look, easy-care flooring is found throughout the common areas, while the bedrooms all have cozy carpet. The kitchen has a laundry area, small breakfast nook, and a door to the backyard. Enjoy mountain and orchard views from the living room and dining area, as well as all three of the bedrooms. There are also two linen closets and a coat closet for extra storage. Features include: Three bedrooms Two bathrooms Wood-look, easy-care floor Laundry area in kitchen Coat closet and two linen closets Breakfast nook En suite bathroom in primary bedroom Gated entry Fenced yard with grass Mature trees Storage shed Orchard setting Mountain views Water, trash, and landscape maintenance included Rent: $3,000 Security Deposit: $4,500 Small pet considered with additional pet fee. This one is sure to rent quickly, so contact us today if you would like an application. Our latest heat wave may have you thinking otherwise, but fall has arrived and the weather should soon be cooling off enough for us to finally enjoy our outdoor fire features. Fire pits and fireplaces are some of the most sought-after additions to outdoor living spaces, particularly in areas like Ojai where we can entertain under the stars any month of the year. Aside from providing warmth, fire features create a more intimate atmosphere for social gatherings and provide a visually appealing focal point around which your guests can gather while enjoying a cocktail or telling tall tales. Here are seven safety tips to help you more fully enjoy your fire pit this fall and winter while keeping you and your guests safe: 1. Keep It Clean - Before your first autumn soiree, make sure your fire pit and screen are clean and in good repair. If your fire pit has a drain or vents, make sure they are not clogged with ashes. 2. Clear the Area - Make sure your fire pit and the area around it are free of flammable debris, such as dry leaves. 3. Burn the Right Fuel - Propane and natural gas fire pits are better for the environment, but wood-burning pits are still the most popular. Always use dry, seasoned firewood for a safer fire, or opt for eco-friendlier manufactured logs. Avoid using lighter fluid, which can cause flare-ups, and never use wood that has been stained, painted or chemically treated. 4. Start Your Fire Safely - It is best to start small and build your fire slowly. It may be tempting to add crumbled paper in with your kindling, but burning paper may be blown out of the bowl and could start an unwanted fire elsewhere in your yard. It is best to use safer fire starters you can make beforehand or purchase at the store. Always use wood that fits completely into your fire pit and does not protrude out of or lean against the side of the bowl. 5. Use the Right Accessories - Always use a screen to keep embers and sparks under control. If your party plans include roasting marshmallows, make sure you use outdoor cookware designed for use over an open flame to avoid accidents or burns. If you will be grilling food, use only a properly fitting grill designed for use with your fire pit. 6. Keep Your Distance - Gathering around the fire is part of the fun but, even with a screen and proper fire tending, sparks may fly. Keep your seating at a safe distance to avoid your guests or favorite patio cushions being burned. 7. Properly Extinguish Your Fire - Letting your fire burn out unattended while you bid your guests good night may be tempting, but that is a habit best avoided. Dumping water on the flames and leaving your fire to die alone isn't such a great idea either, since it could result in dangerous flare-ups. Once your fire has mostly burned out, spread the ashes to allow them to cool. Once cooled, slowly add water to dowse hidden embers. Alternate spreading the ashes and adding water until steam stops rising. AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, green living and travel writing. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.
This four-bedroom 1920s farmhouse is set on a .43-acre lot in downtown Ojai.
From here, you can walk or bike to the weekly farmers market, Libbey Bowl, shops, restaurants, galleries, parks, wine tasting, and all that the charming village of Ojai has to offer. When you are not meeting friends for dinner or teeing up at one of Ojai’s popular golf courses, enjoy your morning coffee on the covered front porch, yoga on the covered back porch, or spending time working in your garden and enjoying Ojai’s great weather. Features include a brick fireplace, built-in buffet in the dining room, ceiling fans, gated parking, and a detached, two-car garage. Mature landscaping and a large backyard offer great opportunities for outdoor entertaining, while the versatile spaces inside allow you to customize this home to fit your needs and lifestyle. The family who originally built this home completed several permitted upgrades over the years and is now offering it for sale for the first time. To learn more about this downtown Ojai home for sale, visit the property information page or contact Nora today. Right about now, you are likely harvesting the last of your spring and summer garden goodness and deciding what to plant next now that the temperature is dropping. To help you decide, here are four options that are easy to grow and do not take up much space. 1. Radishes The weather is finally cooling off enough to get radishes in the ground. Radishes are incredibly easy to grow and reach maturity in as little as 30 days, so this is a great vegetable for beginner gardeners. You will want to use succession planting so that you can enjoy radishes throughout winter, so plant one row now, another row in a week or two, and another row a week or two after that. Keep that up to extend your harvest through winter and into spring. To plant, push seeds about one-half inch into the soil about one inch apart in rows that are about three inches apart. Once your radishes begin to sprout, thin them out to about two to three inches apart. 2. Lettuces Lettuces are easy to grow and are the perfect addition to fall and winter salads. They do not take up much space, and you can extend your harvest by sowing seeds every two weeks. Lettuce seeds are tiny and need sun to sprout, so you will push these seeds just under the soil about one-quarter inch or less in rows that are about 12 inches apart. Lettuce requires regular watering and a sunny spot, but that is about it. You can plant it pretty close together to save space and crowd out weeds and can harvest leaves as they mature. 3. Spinach If you have limited space, I would recommend growing spinach over growing lettuces. Spinach is higher in nutrition than most lettuces and is much more versatile for salads, soups, pastas, sauces, and side dishes. It is also easy to grow, easy to harvest, and an easy way to cut down on plastic packaging if you are growing your own rather than buying it in clamshells. Bolting is an issue with spinach, so look for a bolt-resistant variety or make sure it is getting enough water and not too much heat or sun. To plant, push seeds about one-half inch into the soil a few inches apart in rows that are about 12 inches apart. To enjoy spinach throughout winter, practice succession planting by planting some of your seeds every two weeks. Harvest and enjoy as the leaves reach maturity. 4. Beets Every fall garden needs at least a row or two of beets. This is another root vegetable that is easy to grow and does not take long to mature. Sow the seeds about two inches apart and one-half inch deep in rows that are about 12 inches apart. Once they start to sprout, thin each row so that the remaining sprouts are about four inches apart. Plant seeds every two weeks to extend your harvest. Be sure to harvest your beets before they get too big, since bigger beets can be woody. Also, don’t forget that beet greens are tasty and nutrition, so harvest them as well for use in side dishes, salads, and soups. Once you have your fall garden squared away, don’t forget to change your HVAC filters and clean your gutters now that we are moving into the rainy season. If you prefer the help of a professional, support the local economy buy hiring local contractors. AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, green living and travel writing. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.
Rent: $8,500 per month
Deposit: $12,750 Date available: Now Features include: Four bedrooms + two offices Three full bathrooms, two half bathrooms Approximately 4,200+ square feet of living space Vaulted ceiling and brick fireplace in great room Formal living room with fireplace Remodeled kitchen with breakfast bar, Wolf range Separate Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer Wine refrigerator Formal dining room Soaking tub, walk-in closet in master bedroom Laundry and mudroom with office area Central vacuum system Soft water system and carbon filtration system Ample space to spread out and enjoy country living Security system Located on 16+ acres Gated entry Approximately 1,000-square-foot, attached garage Car lift Tennis court refinished in 2020 Balcony with views off master bedroom Spacious entertaining deck with amazing views Covered patio with outdoor kitchen Fountain with brick walkway Lush lawn and well-manicured landscaping 2020 roof and gutters Short drive to shops, restaurants, and farmers market Short drive to Lake Casitas This upscale Ojai home for rent is shown only by appointment. To schedule a viewing or request an application, contact Nora Davis. As we balance our desire to return to some sense of normalcy with the ongoing need to follow COVID protocols, we all need to figure out how we are handling Halloween this year. We certainly won’t be bobbing for apples, but there are plenty of other Halloween activities we can enjoy while staying safer. 1. Pick and carve pumpkins. Picking pumpkins at a local pumpkin patch is an outdoor activity that can be enjoyed with proper social distancing and wearing a mask. Once you get your pumpkins home, you can also carve them outside, which means maybe a small group of your kids’ friends can come over for an outdoor pumpkin-carving party. 2. Host a backyard movie night. Set up a backyard movie theater for an outdoor Halloween celebration. Spread out some chairs or blankets, distribute individual servings of popcorn and snacks, and pick your favorite scary (or not-so-scary) movies to watch with your family or friends. If you do not have an outdoor movie screen or projector, there is still time to order one for quick delivery before Halloween. 3. Tell ghost stories around the fire. Gather around your fire pit or patio fireplace to enjoy a socially distanced celebration filled with your favorite ghost stories. 4. Plan outdoor games and crafts. If you are hosting a small Halloween gathering, keep it outside and plan themed games and crafts to keep both kids and adults entertained. When including crafts, make individual craft kits for each guest with everything they need to complete the project. If folks are not sharing supplies, they can more easily maintain social distancing and will not come in contact with the same surfaces as much. 5. Make a plan for safer trick-or-treating. If you plan on taking your kids trick-or-treating this year, make it safer by having a plan and making sure everyone adheres to it. Your plan should include staying outside, social distancing, and wearing masks. You can make or buy masks to match your kids’ costumes to make this part more fun, but kids are so used to wearing masks at this point, that it probably won’t take much convincing. Keep your group small and determine a limited number of houses to go to before you head out so that your kids are not disappointed that they aren’t hitting every house on the street. 6. Give out candy safely. If you are planning on handing out candy, take steps to keep your family and the trick-or-treaters safer. Consider making individual treat bags to set out on a bench or table and replenish throughout the evening. This is better than having little hands grab candy from a communal bowl, but if you would rather set out a bowl filled with treats, be sure to set out some hand sanitizer with a note asking folks to sanitize their hands before taking candy. Either way, you can still enjoy the parade of costumes by greeting trick-or-treaters from your door while they pick up their treat bag at the end of your porch or in your driveway. AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, green living and travel writing. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.
Over the last few months, I have written about tips for starting a vegetable garden and the basics of growing peppers. This time, I thought it might be nice to expand on this a bit and talk about five other vegetables anyone can grow. So, if you have been wanting to start a garden but are intimidated by the idea of actually having to keep things alive, or if you did start a garden and have not yet had much success, this one is for you. Starting with just a few easy-to-grow options allows you to build your gardening skills and confidence. It allows you to focus on really learning how to grow these few vegetables first before you expand your garden and increase the variety of food plants you grow. So, let’s get started with the first five vegetables you should plant in your garden. 1. Bell Peppers – Most peppers are easy to grow, but to help ensure your success even more, start with bell peppers and start with seedlings from a local nursery. You can start peppers from seeds, but bell pepper seedlings are inexpensive and easy to find, so get a jumpstart on your garden with starter plants instead. Pick a sunny spot, plant them about 18 inches apart, place cages to help support them as they grow, and water frequently until established. Once established, you can back off to watering once per week in most conditions. The plant tag will let you know when they will be about ready to harvest. For a more detailed guide to growing peppers, check out my column in the May issue, which is available online. 2. Radishes – Radishes are, hands down, the easiest vegetable to grow. They are great for beginner gardeners or for teaching kids about growing food, since some varieties go from seed to harvest in just three weeks. Plant your seeds one-half inch deep in rows that are about four inches apart. Once you begin to see growth, thin them to about two inches apart in each row. Water once or twice a week, and simply pull them up when it is time to harvest. Radishes are also great for practicing succession planting for a longer harvest. 3. Kale or Chard – Kale and chard are equally easy to grow, so choose whichever you like best and think you will use most. Either of these options can be grown from seed or from starter plants from a nursery. Plant your seeds or plants about one foot apart, water frequently until established, and then water once or twice a week depending on how hot and dry it is. Once the plants are producing well, you can start harvesting the outer leaves to use in soups and salads and to encourage the plant to continue producing leaves for later harvests. 4. Carrots – Carrots are just as easy to grow as radishes; they just take longer to go from seed to harvest. Plant seeds a few inches apart in rows about four inches apart – or, to make it even easier, lightly scatter the seeds in the area where you want your carrots to grow, and then thin them out to about three inches apart once they start growing. Water frequently at first, and then once or twice per week once they are growing well. The seed packet will tell you about how many days it will be from the time you plant them until it is time to harvest. When it is time to harvest, gently pull them out of the ground. This is another crop that is ideal for succession planting, so consider planting one row per week over several weeks to enjoy fresh carrots from your garden longer. 5. Green Onions – Green onions are easy to grow in containers, in raised garden beds, or in the ground. You can even grow them from the scraps of old green onions in a jar of water in your kitchen. If starting form seeds, plant the seeds about one-half inch deep and about one-inch apart. If you are starting from onion sets from a nursery, plant them about two inches apart. When planted in the ground or raised beds, you will usually need to water them once or twice per week. When it is particularly hot or dry, you will need to water them more often. You will also need to water them more often if you grow them in containers. They will be ready to harvest when the greens are about eight inches tall. AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, green living and travel writing. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.
Escape to the serenity of a secluded retreat tucked away in Wheeler Canyon and surrounded by beautiful mountain and canyon views.
Enjoy sprawling, single-story living on more than 33 acres where you can collect eggs from the chicken coop, harvest fruit from your own trees, grow vegetables and herbs in raised garden beds, and take your morning coffee by your private pond. Here, you can also view abundant wildlife, entertain guests in multiple outdoor living areas, pick wildflowers in the spring, and curl up in front of the stone fireplace. Interior features include Wolf range, Thermador double ovens, terra cotta tile flooring, multi-room owner’s suite with a walk-in closet and jetted soaking tub, built-in cabinets and shelves, and vaulted, exposed-beam ceilings. Additional outside features include a two-car garage, two two-car carports, two dog runs, private well and water storage tanks, stone pumphouse, rose garden, and separate meditation studio or writer’s retreat. Visit the property information page for more photos and information. To schedule a showing, contact Nora today! |
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