
Established in 1998, Pacifica: A Garden in the Siskiyous has primary commitments to education, to plants and the environment, to local arts and to the communities and people of southwestern Oregon. It is a nature center, botanic garden, school of practical horticulture, and community center. About half of its 500 acres is substantially unaltered native habitat (including riparian, mixed conifer forest, oak savannah, and chaparral) that serves as a Nature Center, a laboratory for study and observation. The Botanic Garden, a living museum, is in the process of obtaining over 5000 species and varieties of plants thanks to the recent donation of Forestfarm Nursery, one of the foremost mail-order nurseries in the country. Forestfarm’s migration to Pacifica will provide a financial base and opportunities for horticultural training. New nursery facilities to re-circulate irrigation water and establish energy-efficient buildings are currently being constructed. One of Pacifica’s proudest achievements is the beloved Caterpillar Mobile Science & Nature Center, a traveling classroom that takes hands-on programs to K-5 schools in Josephine and Jackson Counties.
For members of the local community, Pacifica is a lovely place to go hiking, relax with catch-and-release fishing, or just bring a picnic and enjoy! Visitors looking for a longer stay are welcome to plan a retreat at the beautiful Lippincott house. Our scenic location has become a natural choice for weddings, with ceremonies held in our pond-side wedding garden and receptions in the Great Hall built by Steve Miller. This central building has become a gathering place for community events and celebrations of all kinds, including classes and workshops hosted by our very own Pacifica Arts Guild. Miller’s recording studio is now being operated by a partnering educational non-profit, the Dragon Family Foundation.