Schickes Schaf-Retreat ~ Rettungstiere + Ausblick + Ballard

A DIFFERENT KIND OF WINE COUNTRY ESCAPE

There’s a particular feeling to waking up here. Morning light across the pasture. Hummingbirds working the wisteria. Figueroa Mountain in the distance. And, before long, a small committee of sheep, goats and alpacas gathering at your garden fence to see if you’re awake.

Anavo is a private Carriage House tucked into six acres of regenerative farmland in tiny Ballard — designed for slowing down, reconnecting with nature and experiencing a side of Santa Ynez Valley that most visitors never get to see.

Private garden • Rescue animals • Mountain views • Fireplace • Walk to Bob’s Well Bread • Minutes to Los Olivos



YOUR PASTURE FRIENDS

• Meet them at your garden fence — Rescue sheep, goats + alpacas are trained to come for visits and treats. Your animal treat bin is waiting for you.

• Fresh eggs at arrival — From our pasture-raised hens (beyond organic — you’ll taste the difference), with additional eggs available to take home.

• Go deeper — Private farm tours can be arranged in advance with a donation to our nonprofit.

• Picnic with the animals — Reserve time in the small pasture adjoining your private garden and we'll bring in some of the animals for a pretty unforgettable picnic. Advance scheduling + a small nonprofit donation required.

Damascus, our gentle livestock guardian dog, and his sidekick Biscuit the corgi roam the main farm but don't enter your private yard. They do occasionally appear outside the screened French doors to say hello. If simply having resident dogs nearby would make you uncomfortable, Anavo may not be the right fit.



THE CARRIAGE HOUSE

What guests can’t capture in photos — and try, they really try — is the feeling of this place.

1,200 square feet • Two levels • Private garden • Fireplace • Balcony • Mountain + pasture views

Renovated with an eco ethos by your host, a regenerative designer with an obsession for heirloom finds, high-end materials and a “buy next to nothing new” philosophy. Every piece has a provenance. Nothing is cookie-cutter. Nothing is an afterthought.

Downstairs

• Queen sofa pull-out behind a sliding barn door

• Gas fireplace for ambiance and warming up a cozy living room for a night in

• Custom bar carved by a local artisan from a fallen Santa Barbara mountain tree

• Full kitchen + organic coffee beans, grinder, traditional coffee maker, French press + pour-over + all the fixings

• High-end propane BBQ

• Expansive wisteria-covered porch frequented by hummingbirds

• Screened French doors for letting the country air in



Upstairs

• Queen bed with luxury eco-friendly mattress

• Two XL twins

• 10-foot reclaimed-wood desk with panoramic farm + mountain views

• Second living room

• Yoga + meditation corner — mat, blocks, acupressure mat + yoga blankets for yoga

• Large private viewing balcony + throw blankets for stargazing



YOUR OWN LITTLE WORLD

• Completely private — Your fully fenced drive, yard + garden are entirely yours

• Fire pit with a view — evenings facing the sun set against Figueroa Mountain

• Gardens — Roses, historic gazebo, year-round cutting lavender + seasonal fruit orchard

• Wildlife — Hummingbirds in the wisteria, owls in the oaks + occasional appearances by Loki, our majestic white barn cat



Also: A small adjacent pasture with a picnic table adjoins your private garden. (Private farm to table meals with pasture animals available through our nonprofit experiences.)

It’s not staged farm life. It’s just farm life.



THE ANAVO WAY

Anavo is rooted in a simple idea: generate more life by living in harmony with nature.

• Sheep + goats help regenerate the land

• Chickens turn food scraps into tomorrow’s eggs

• Composted lawn and landscaping clippings, and animal waste, turned into soil

• Pollinator plantings support bees, butterflies + birds

• Old materials + furnishings are restored and given another life

We don’t expect you to come here for a lesson in regenerative living.

We just hope you feel the difference.



BALLARD + WINE COUNTRY

Ballard is the sweet spot of Santa Ynez Valley — old-growth trees, authentic ranches, country roads and absolute quiet, yet almost nothing is far.

• Walk to Bob’s Well Bread for breakfast or lunch

• 3 miles south of Los Olivos, north of the town of Santa Ynez.

• Farm stands, lavender farms, olive-oil tasting, hiking + cycling nearby

• Easy day trip to Refugio Beach + the coast

Spend the day exploring central coast country, then come home, open the treat bin and watch your new pasture friends come running.



A FEW LOVELY EXTRAS

• Welcome Basket — Local wine, sheep’s-milk cheese, olives, crackers, chocolates + sparkling water

• Cutting Garden + Orchard — Lavender year-round + fruit when the trees are producing

• Remote Work — 10-foot reclaimed-wood desk, panoramic views + fast internet

• Animal Experiences — Private farm tours + animal picnics available in advance with a nonprofit donation

• Proven Hospitality — Top 1% globally, featured in Forbes, Guest Favorite, Superhost for over a decade + hundreds of five-star reviews



WHAT GUESTS SAY

“This was the most delightful rental we’ve ever had the pleasure of staying in. The animals, the location, the kind and efficient host — it all added up to a most perfect stay.”

— Arthur, Washington DC

“Beautiful setting, beautiful cottage. Jen was an incredible host — best welcome guide of any place we’ve ever stayed.”

— Rachel, Los Angeles

“Extremely clean and so well thought out. Anavo is best in class.”

— Tyler, Wisconsin



Come for the vineyards and Santa Ynez Valley. Come because you need to slow down and reset. Come because feeding sheep in your pajamas sounds considerably better than checking an itinerary.



BUT MOSTLY, come see why guests keep telling us the same thing: they are definitely coming back. ;-)