The Gardens At Heather Farm Inc

What The Gardens At Heather Farm Inc does

The Gardens at Heather Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public garden and nature education center (Tax ID 23-7072009) operating on 6.5 acres at 1540 Marchbanks Drive in Walnut Creek, California, since obtaining tax-exempt status in 1972. The organization maintains free public admission seven days a week and curates specialty gardens including the Cowden Rose Garden (1,000+ roses, 150 cultivars), Waterfall Garden, Children's Garden, Sensory Garden, Rockery, and Butterfly Garden. It serves the Contra Costa County and broader East Bay community across four primary functions: youth environmental education (NGSS-aligned TK-12 programs covering wildlife habitats, geology, plant anatomy, water conservation, and environmental stewardship), adult education (floral arranging, watercolor, food preservation classes), a community garden with 80 plots rented annually to Walnut Creek residents, and a private event venue hosting weddings and gatherings for up to 150 guests.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of earned and contributed streams. Earned revenue includes memberships ($50-$250/year across Individual, Family, Dahlia, and Rose Circle tiers), venue rentals, photography and garden use permits ($75-$300), community garden plot rentals ($100-$185/plot), seasonal plant sales, adult class fees ($20-$240 per class), engraved bricks ($350 each), and the annual Teddy Bear Tea fundraiser. Contributed revenue comprises individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants from a broad base of foundations (Dean and Margaret Lesher, Joseph and Vera Long, Goggio Family, Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, Marathon Petroleum Foundation, National Environmental Education Foundation, Pleasant Hill Community Foundation, William A. Kerr Foundation, Walnut Creek Civic Pride Foundation) and corporate and utility partners (Central Garden and Pet, F & M Bank, Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels, Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC, Contra Costa Water District, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, Mt. View Sanitary District, RecycleSmart, East Bay Municipal Utility District). Membership includes reciprocal admission benefits with 320+ botanical gardens and 1,000+ museums.

The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and operates with a limited core staff supplemented by a volunteer base contributing more than 6,000 hours of service annually to garden maintenance, plant propagation, education delivery, and event support. Strategic positioning rests on Certified Wildlife Habitat and Certified Green Business credentials, multi-decade community partnerships, and recognition in The Knot Best of Weddings 2025 and Best of Zola 2025. There is no parent company, no outside equity backing, and no disclosed revenue; the organization is self-supporting through its diversified revenue mix and continued community participation.

Name

The Gardens At Heather Farm Inc

Legal name

The Gardens at Heather Farm

Website

https://gardenshf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Gardens at Heather Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a free 6.5-acre public garden, NGSS-aligned youth and adult education programs, an 80-plot community garden, and a wedding and private event venue serving Walnut Creek and Contra Costa County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Walnut Creek

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Memberships: Annual membership program with multiple tiers ($50-$250/year) providing benefits including discounts on plant sales, classes, access to reciprocal admission programs with other botanical gardens and museums.
2. Donations and Annual Giving: Charitable contributions from individuals supporting youth education programs, garden maintenance, and community-based programs. Includes Donor Advised Funds, honorary/memorial gifts, gifts of stock, and employee matching programs.
3. Venue Rentals and Private Events: Revenue from hosting weddings, parties, meetings, memorials and other special events. Includes complimentary wedding ceremony rehearsal hour, tables/chairs setup, catering kitchen access. Capacity up to 150 guests.
4. Community Garden Plot Rentals: Annual rental of garden plots to Walnut Creek residents. Large plots (4x12') at $185/year, small plots (4x8') at $100/year. Features 80-plot community garden opened in 2019.
5. Photography and Garden Use Permits: Permits for professional photography sessions starting at $75/hour. Garden use permits for organized group activities at $300. Proposal permits at $200.
6. Plant Sales: Seasonal plant sales at the on-site greenhouse and nursery featuring perennials, annuals, edibles, herbs, succulents, CA natives, and water-wise plants. Members receive 10% discount.
7. Adult Education Programs: Fees for adult classes including Flower School (floral arranging at $135/class), watercolor classes ($240 + $25 materials fee), and food preservation workshops ($20/class).
8. Special Events: Annual fundraising events including Teddy Bear Tea, which sells out yearly. Proceeds support education and garden programs.
9. Engraved Bricks: Commemorative engraved bricks placed in Cowden Rose Garden pathways at $350 each, honoring loved ones or special occasions.
10. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship opportunities for annual fundraising events providing visibility for sponsors while supporting gardens and programs.
11. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Grant funding from foundations and corporate partners supporting youth education programs, garden development, and facility upgrades.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Gardens at Heather Farm operates a 6.5-acre nonprofit public garden with free admission in Walnut Creek, California, and sells paid programs built on that garden—youth environmental science education (NGSS-aligned, TK–12), adult classes (floral arranging, watercolor, food preservation), wedding and private-event venue rentals, community garden plot rentals, and seasonal plant sales from an on-site greenhouse/nursery. Revenue is rounded out through memberships, donations, foundation/corporate grants, sponsorships, and engraved-brick commemorations.

Product overview

The Gardens at Heather Farm is a nonprofit public garden, education center, and special event venue operating 7 days a week on 6.5 acres in Walnut Creek, CA. The organization offers a unified portfolio combining free public garden admission with paid programs including Community Garden plot rentals, Greenhouse & Nursery plant sales, Adult Education classes (Flower School, Artistry in Bloom watercolor, Cultivate Grow Preserve canning), Youth Education programs (Natural Science Classroom, sewer science, wetlands education, composting, homeschool), Wedding & Private Events venue rentals, Teddy Bear Tea fundraiser, Photography and Garden Use permits, Membership subscriptions, and Engraved Brick commemorations. Revenue supports garden maintenance and educational programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Garden Plot Rental Annual rental of 80 garden plots to Walnut Creek residents for growing their own food and ornamental plants. Large plots (4x12') at $185/year, small plots (4x8') at $100/year, including ADA-accessible options.
• Greenhouse & Nursery Plant Sales On-site greenhouse and shade house selling perennials, annuals, edibles, herbs, succulents, CA natives, and water-wise plants. Members receive a 10% discount.
• Flower School Series of floral arranging classes led by local and renowned floral artists teaching techniques in color theory, texture blending, and spatial arrangement at $135/class.
• Artistry in Bloom Watercolor Classes Six Tuesday watercolor classes taught by Linda Sutton (35 years of experience), focusing on transparent color theory and creative expression. Total $240 plus $25 materials fee paid directly to instructor.
• Cultivate, Grow, Preserve Sustainable gardening lecture series with food preservation and canning classes (Canning 101, Jams & Jellies, Pickles) taught by UC Master Preservers Rachel Maldonado Aziminia and Janis Adkins at $20 per person.
• Youth Education Programs Environmental science education for students TK–12 including Natural Science Classroom, sewer science programs (Central Contra Costa Sanitary District), Contra Costa Water District field trips, MVSD Wetlands programs, RecycleSmart composting, and Science Explorers homeschool classes (Mt. Diablo Bird Alliance). NGSS-aligned curriculum.
• Science Explorers Homeschool Programs Homeschool science programs for TK-8th grade students at $30/month or $40/month with voucher, with separate time slots for younger (10–11 a.m.) and older (11 a.m.–12 p.m.) students.
• Wedding & Private Events Venue Event venue hosting up to 150 guests for weddings, receptions, parties, meetings, memorials, bridal/baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations. Includes indoor (Camellia Room) and outdoor spaces (Rose Garden, Gazebo, Meadow Lawn, Patio & Pavilion), complimentary rehearsal hour, tables/chairs, on-site parking, and catering kitchen access.
• Teddy Bear Tea Annual holiday fundraising event featuring a tea party with buffet snacks, fairy story time, bear-themed activities, raffle prizes, and winter wonderland photo opportunities. Recommended for children ages 3–9. Proceeds support education and garden programs.
• Photography Permits Permits for professional photography sessions: $75 for 1 hour or $150 for 2 hours. Non-refundable. Available Monday–Friday only due to private events on weekends. Maximum 10 people per group.
• Garden Use Permit Two-hour garden access permit for organized group activities including picnics, proposals, yoga sessions, tea parties, baby showers, and elopement ceremonies for up to 25 people. $300 per permit, non-refundable; 48-hour advance reservation required.
• Proposal Permit for Gardens or Gazebo Specialized permit for marriage proposals in the gardens or gazebo area at $200 per permit.
• Membership Program Annual memberships in four tiers: Individual $50, Family $75, Dahlia $100, Rose Circle $250. Benefits include 10% discount on plant sales, discounts on classes and special events, reciprocal admission to 320+ North American gardens via American Horticultural Society (Dahlia level and higher), reciprocal admission to 1,000+ museums via National Association of Reciprocal Museum Association (Dahlia level and higher), and advance ticket sales to Teddy Bear Tea.
• Engraved Brick Personalized engraved brick placed in the pathways of the Cowden Rose Garden to honor loved ones or commemorate special occasions at $350 each. Order-to-installation may take several months.
• Free Public Garden Admission Free public access to the 6.5-acre garden including Cowden Rose Garden (1,000+ roses, 150 cultivars), Waterfall Garden (11 waterfalls), Children's Garden, Sensory Garden, Rockery, Butterfly Garden, and Community Garden. Open 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer opportunities in garden maintenance (Wednesday mornings), propagation/nursery (Tuesday mornings), special event support, and administrative tasks. Volunteers contribute over 6,000 hours annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6,000 volunteer hours donated annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Central Contra Costa Sanitary DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn partnership with Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, The Gardens schedules in-classroom programs on wastewater and environmental topics. Programs are provided free of charge for teachers in the sewer service area. The goal is to help students understand what happens to water after it goes down the drain. Programs are aligned with NGSS curriculum for grades TK-12.
• Contra Costa Water DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn partnership with Contra Costa Water District, The Gardens offers free field trip programs for grades 3-4 focusing on the water cycle from snow pack to kitchen sink. Programs take place at the Interpretive Center at Los Vaqueros Watershed in Brentwood. Schools must be selected through a lottery system.
• Mt. View Sanitary DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn partnership with Mt. View Sanitary District, The Gardens offers wetlands education programs for grades 3-6 including field trips to Moorhen Marsh and classroom programs. Programs are provided free of charge with support from the Mt. Diablo Wetlands Funds.
• RecycleSmart (Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn partnership with RecycleSmart, The Gardens offers free composting programs for grades K-8 at schools in the CCCSWA service area. Focuses on bringing composting and recycling education to local schools.
• Mt. Diablo Bird AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Mt. Diablo Bird Alliance partners with The Gardens for the Science Explorers Homeschool Programs, providing expertise and assistance for bird-focused educational sessions including native bird identification and bird nesting material projects.
• Dean and Margaret Lesher FoundationmajorOthersFoundation supporter of youth education programs at The Gardens.
• Joseph and Vera Long FoundationmajorOthersFoundation supporter of youth education programs at The Gardens.
• Goggio Family FoundationmajorOthersFoundation supporter of youth education programs at The Gardens.
• Marathon Martinez Renewable FuelsminorOthersCorporate supporter of youth education programs.
• Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCminorOthersCorporate supporter of youth education programs.
• F & M BankminorOthersCorporate supporter of youth education programs and Teddy Bear Tea event sponsor.
• Central Contra Costa Solid Waste District/RecycleSmartcoreOthersGovernment district partner for youth composting and recycling education programs.
• Contra Costa Water DistrictcoreOthersWater utility district partner providing grants for field trip education programs on water conservation.
• East Bay Municipal Utility DistrictminorOthersMunicipal utility district supporter of youth education programs.
• Mt. View Sanitary DistrictcoreOthersSanitary district partner for wetlands education programs.
• Walnut Creek Garden ClubminorOthersLocal garden club supporter of youth education programs.
• Lafayette Garden ClubminorOthersLocal garden club supporter of youth education programs.
• Orinda Garden ClubminorOthersLocal garden club supporter of youth education programs.
• Walnut Creek Civic Pride FoundationminorOthersLocal foundation supporter of youth education programs.
• Marathon Petroleum FoundationminorOthersCorporate foundation providing grant funding for programs.
• National Environmental Education FoundationminorOthersNational foundation supporting environmental education initiatives.
• Stanley Smith Horticultural TrustmajorOthersHorticultural trust providing funding for Climate Discovery Garden and other garden projects.
• Pleasant Hill Community FoundationminorOthersLocal community foundation supporter.
• William A. Kerr FoundationminorOthersFoundation providing grant funding.
• Central Garden and PetmajorOthersCorporate partner providing funding for Climate Discovery Garden design and implementation.
• City of Walnut CreekcoreOthersCity partner adjacent to Heather Farm Community Park. Supported creation of Community Garden with funding and resources.
• Sunrise Bistro & CateringminorOthersEvent sponsor for Teddy Bear Tea.
• Fantasy Sound ProductionsminorOthersEvent sponsor for Teddy Bear Tea providing audio/lighting services.
• Cinderella CompanyminorOthersEvent sponsor for Teddy Bear Tea.
• Jodi Foucher PhotographyminorOthersEvent sponsor and photographer for Teddy Bear Tea.
• Chairs for AffairsminorOthersEvent sponsor for Teddy Bear Tea.
• Elegant Occasions CateringminorOthersEvent sponsor for Teddy Bear Tea.
• American Horticultural SocietyminorOthersReciprocal admissions program partner providing GHF members access to 320+ botanical gardens across North America and The Cayman Islands.
• National Association of Reciprocal Museum AssociationminorOthersReciprocal admissions program partner providing Dahlia-level and higher members access to 1,000+ museums and cultural institutions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Brooklyn Botanic Garden: 52-acre nonprofit public botanical garden in New York City offering memberships, education programs, plant sales, and event venue rentals. Closest national-scale peer with directly comparable revenue mix, mission, and programming breadth.
• San Francisco Botanical Garden: 55-acre public botanical garden adjacent to Golden Gate Park offering free admission for SF residents, plant collections, education programs, memberships, and event rentals. Closest direct peer by scale, Bay Area footprint, and nonprofit operating model.
• Ruth Bancroft Garden: Walnut Creek-based nonprofit public garden specializing in drought-tolerant and succulent plant collections. Strongest hyper-local peer given shared geography, similar nonprofit operating model, and overlapping plant-sale and community-program revenue mix.
• UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley: Public university-affiliated 34-acre botanical garden in the East Bay with curated plant collections, education programs, memberships, and event venue rentals. Directly comparable to GHF as a Bay Area nonprofit public garden offering free/low-cost admission, education, and event programming.
• Filoli Historic House & Garden: Historic 654-acre estate in Woodside, CA operating as a public garden, historic house museum, and premier wedding/event venue with education programs and memberships. Directly comparable nonprofit model blending public garden access, event rentals, and educational programming in the same Bay Area market.

Broad incumbents

• The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Garden: Larger California cultural institution operating extensive botanical gardens alongside a library and art museum, with memberships, education programs, and event venues. Overlapping programming but at meaningfully greater scale and a wider mission portfolio.

Regional players

• Lotusland: Santa Barbara-based nonprofit botanical garden offering curated exotic plant collections, memberships, education programs, and limited special events. Comparable nonprofit garden business model operating in a different California region.
• Descanso Gardens: 150-acre nonprofit public garden in La Cañada Flintridge (Southern California) offering memberships, education programs, event venue rentals, and plant sales. Comparable business model across a different California regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gardenshf
• Facebookfacebook.com/gardenshf
• Instagraminstagram.com/gardenshf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-gardens-at-heather-farm

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Gardens At Heather Farm Inc