A seaside farm in Cape Cod, the biggest in Barnstable County, with an organic tree farm, freshwater ponds and a private beach is headed to market for $8 million, Mansion Global has learned.
The 35-acre expanse in Sandwich, Massachusetts, includes a four-bedroom home, a guest cottage, a barn and other agricultural buildings in addition to the 6 acres of homegrown trees, 5 acres of native blueberry plants and abundant fresh water on the property.
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About half the property had been a cranberry bog since the mid-19th century, but owner and arborist Peter Wild replaced part of that section with an organic tree farm, a more sustainable use of the land than cranberries, he said.
“We spent the last 20 years building and healing this property,” he said, referring to himself and his wife, Betsy Wild, who purchased the site in 2004, after raising a family outside Boston, to realize Peter’s longtime vision.
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“It was always a dream of mine to have a tree farm and have it organic, a permaculture-type farm,” Peter said.
The Wilds built the primary two-story home, spanning 2,400 square feet, in 2015, creating a modern farmhouse with a screened-in porch. The couple paid special attention to sustainability, utilizing natural materials like bamboo and recycled glass, as well as wood salvaged from Peter’s tree jobs to create custom-milled features, such as beams, railings and a cherry mantle for the fireplace.
The 2,200-square-foot guest annex, a classic Cape Cod cottage, was built in 1971 and relocated by the Wilds to its current location. The second floor offers ocean views, and the first-floor living room and deck overlook a retention pond, full of plants and wildlife, according to the Wilds.
“Between the frogs and spring peepers, it’s like a constant symphony right out the back door,” Peter said.
While the majority of the property backs up against North Shore Road, a little slice extends to the ocean, offering 80 feet of private oceanfront land. Its proximity to the ocean also allowed the owners to create 5 acres of freshwater ponds by clearing some of the peat bogs and accessing the filtered ocean water beneath them.
The grounds also include irrigated food crop gardens, a small solar farm, three deep-water wells, extensive water rights, and a 7-acre lot with additional buildable space.
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Over the years, neighbors and local officials have taken issue with some of the changes the Wilds have made, and both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were involved at one point—but the couple said the changes were all for the benefit of the land.
The agreement with the EPA means that the 17 acres that once held cranberry farms are under an agricultural protection restriction and can only be used for certain conservation or agricultural purposes, rather than let it run afoul.
“We’re very proud of the conservation restriction that’s been placed on this property in perpetuity,” Peter said.
A new owner will have many options, from choosing to maintain the farm, using the land for solar and wind energy production, or even operating it as an event venue.
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“Somebody creative who wants to do the next thing on this property would have a very clean slate now that we’ve done a lot of due diligence,” per Peter.
George Sarkis and Johnny Hatem Jr. of Douglas Elliman Real Estate are marketing the property, which will hit the market on Friday.
Read More: At 35 Acres, the Biggest Seaside Farm on Cape Cod Is Selling for $8 Million