Our Story
We came looking for a home...
...and accidentally bought an avocado farm.
It still makes us laugh.
We grew up in Canada, spent several years living in Massachusetts, and dreamed of finding a place where we could slow down a little. We wanted space. Nature. A home where family visiting from Toronto could stay comfortably. Somewhere with a guest house, room to breathe, and hopefully a beautiful view.
When this property in the hills above Watsonville came up for sale, we couldn't hop on a plane for a showing. Instead, our local realtor walked us through the entire property over FaceTime.
We knew it needed cosmetic work, but he reassured us that the home had been lovingly maintained, the layout was fantastic, and the setting was unlike anything he'd seen.
The listing mentioned avocado trees.
"A few really neat ones off the back deck," he told us.
That sounded pretty cool.
So we bought it.
Sight unseen.
Then we got the keys...
After selling our home, packing everything we owned into our car, and driving across North America, we finally arrived in California to see our new home for the very first time.
The listing agent met us at the property.
We wandered through the house before stepping onto the back deck to admire the incredible valley view and the avocado trees scattered below.
Then he reached into his folder.
Out came irrigation maps.
He began pointing.
"You can see a few trees here..."
"...the orchard continues over there..."
"...and then there are about a hundred more this direction."
We looked at each other.
Neither of us said a word.
We simply nodded and smiled, hoping not to reveal that this was the first time either of us realized...
...we had accidentally bought an avocado farm.
In fact, it was also the first time either of us had ever seen an avocado tree in person.
Learning as we grow
The orchard had incredible bones, but years without consistent care had taken their toll.
Many trees had become shaded by invasive oaks. Irrigation needed attention. Some trees had stopped producing altogether, while others had died and needed replacing.
Since then we've been slowly bringing the orchard back to life.
We've cleared oak trees to let the sunlight return.
Repaired irrigation.
Learned more about avocado care than we ever imagined.
Pruned damaged trees.
Applied fertilizer.
Planted new young trees.
Today, around fifty trees are producing fruit again, with plenty of room for the orchard to continue growing alongside us.
Like everything here, it's still a work in progress.
More than an orchard
We very quickly we realized this place wasn't just special to us.
It was something we wanted to share.
The ridge has an incredible feeling to it.
You're high above the valley, watching hawks, falcons, and turkey vultures glide silently at eye level on the afternoon thermals. It feels peaceful, protected, and tucked away from the world.
The feeling reminded us of a bird's nest.
That's where the names for our stays came from.
VacatioNEST
Our guest house became the first place we opened.
What looks cozy from the outside surprises almost everyone once they walk inside.
With three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a colorful interior, and sweeping views from the balcony overlooking the orchard—and even our neighbors' sheep grazing below—it's become a gathering place for family vacations, reunions, girls' weekends, and quiet escapes.
SilverBIRD
The spot where our vintage Airstream now sits was once nothing more than an overgrown hillside.
But every time we walked past it, we couldn't stop looking at the view.
It took nearly a year to transform that little patch of land.
We found a 1986 Airstream on Facebook Marketplace, built the deck, created the outdoor kitchen, upgraded the interior, and finally welcomed our first guests in July 2025.
Since then we've watched people celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, honeymoons—and even proposals—all beneath the stars.
Looking ahead
As we've continued restoring the property, another special place has slowly revealed itself.
Two enormous oak trees stand side by side, surrounded by avocado trees and overlooking the valley below.
Seeing them, it feels like they're waiting for something.
That's where the next chapter begins.
One day they'll become BirdHAUS—our dream treehouse tucked among the branches.
Our promise
The Avocadery isn't just a farm.
It's an evolving place.
A place where orchards are restored.
Gardens grow.
Guests become friends.
And every season brings something new to discover.
We're so glad you found us, and we hope one day you'll experience this little ridge for yourself.