This centrally located Ojai horse property was built for outdoor entertaining and comfortable everyday living.

Two master suites make this home a perfect choice for those with long-term guests, while the barn, corrals and turnout area make it perfect for those who want to keep their horses at home.

Additional features of this property include two fireplaces, a total of four bedrooms, formal and casual dining rooms, balconies or patio off all bedrooms, swimming pool, river rock fire pit, built-in barbecue, mature landscaping, fruit trees, guest parking, expansive outdoor entertaining areas, tile and cork flooring, and custom doors, molding and paint.

All of this is just a few minutes from downtown Ojai and just a short commute to Ventura or Santa Barbara.

See more photos and read more on the property information page.

The ongoing drought may make rain barrels seem like a waste of space, but did you know that you could have filled an entire barrel just with the rain we received on the first rainy day of the season?
 
It’s true – it takes only one inch of rain on an average-sized roof to fill a 1,000-gallon tank, and most rain barrels only hold about 50 to 55 gallons.
 
That means that each of us could have filled multiple barrels just with the rain we have received so far this year. This is one reason so many Southern Californians are installing rain barrels as part of their efforts to conserve water and lower their environmental impact.
 
Rain barrels are not the only way to harvest rain water; however, they provide an efficient, convenient method for rain collection that requires very little effort on your part. Once they are installed, there is very little maintenance, which makes this a simple, nearly effortless way to take a step towards a greener lifestyle.
 
The best way to install a rain barrel for maximum efficiency is to reroute one of your downspouts to deliver the water from your gutters into your rain barrel. You can also connect a series of rain barrels together to collect even more water from a single downspout. However, you can start harvesting rainwater even before you get around to directing your downspout into your barrel system.
 
I bought my first rain barrel last year and decided to simply set it under a corner of my roof line where I usually have a steady stream of water. It rained later that day and, by the next morning, the barrel was too heavy to move. We got a little more rain that day, and my 55-gallon rain barrel was completely full. So that shows just how easy it is to capture 55 gallons of water that can then be used around your house and property.
 
The first step, of course, is to purchase and install a rain barrel or rain barrel system. If you would like to get a better idea of your catchment potential, The Ecology Center has a handy guide to help you determine the amount of water you can collect from your roof and how many barrels you may want to add to your system.

Once you have your system installed and begin harvesting rainwater, here are 10 ways you can use it as part of your water conservation efforts:
 
1. If you still have a natural grass lawn, you can reduce its water consumption at least a little by irrigating it with rain barrel water.
 
2. You can also use your harvested water to provide water for a drip system that irrigates non-food plants.
 
3. Use your rainwater to irrigate trees that do not produce food.
 
4. Use reclaimed water to  water houseplants and flowers.
 
5. Rinse your recyclable cans and bottles with rainwater instead of water from the tap.
 
6. Spray down walkways, decks, driveways and patios with reclaimed water.
 
7. Use recycled water to fill your toilet tanks to flush your toilet.
 
8. Rinse down dog houses, sheds and other exterior surfaces with harvested rainwater.
 
9. Wash your car with rainwater – and get extra points if you park it on your lawn or near other plants that can be irrigated with the water as you wash it.
 
10. If you replaced your natural grass lawn with artificial turf, you can use reclaimed rainwater for the occasional spraying off it needs to continue looking clean. You can also use rainwater mixed with vinegar in a spray bottle to spray down areas your pets use as a restroom.
 
Now…you probably noticed that I did not mention some obvious uses for water, such as drinking, filling your dog’s water bowl and irrigating your vegetable garden. While there are some studies that show it is safe to use collected rainwater for these purposes, it requires special care to minimize risks and it is generally considered best to avoid these uses. If you are interested in watering plants grown for food with harvested rainwater, read this fact sheet published by Rutgers, which includes best practices for doing this.
 
For the most part, it is best to use potable water for drinking, filling water dishes for animals, and irrigating plants and trees grown for food. At the same time, you can increase your water conservation efforts by using your collected rainwater for some of the purposes mentioned above.
 
How do you use water from your rain barrels? Let us know in the comments below!

Stop by this Sunday to see this Oak View home for sale that is on a large lot with a garage, workshop, carport and studio.

Features Include:

Three bedrooms
1.75 bathrooms
Approximately 1,102 square feet
Fireplace
Built-in corner hutch in dining room
Mud room with storage cabinets
Wrap-around, covered porch
Separate, one-bedroom, one-bathroom studio
Detached garage and carport
Workshop
Large lot
Ample guest parking
Mature trees
Large garden area
Walk to shops and restaurants
Short drive to downtown Ojai

Oak View Open House Details:

Date: Sunday, November 20
Time: 1:00 to 4:00pm
Location: 570 Old Ventura Avenue

This Rancho La Vista Estates home has lots of space for entertaining and a large backyard perfect for outdoor living with great views. The facade exudes southwest style, while the corner lot and block wall enhance privacy.

There is a sunken living room with a fireplace, casual and formal dining connected to outdoor entertaining areas, a master suite with an en suite bath and walk-in closet, and a remodeled kitchen with granite counters, travertine back splash, tile floor, alder wood cabinets and soft-close drawers.

Of the three spacious guest rooms, one is tucked away on the other side of the kitchen along with a bathroom and access to the garage and backyard. This may work well as quarters for a nanny or a long-term guest. The formal dining room with lots of natural light and French doors leading to the front porch could also make a great home office.

Community amenities include a swimming pool, tennis court, basketball court and outdoor entertaining area with BBQ.

Features Include:

• 4 bedrooms
• 2.75 bathrooms
• Approximately 1,664 sq ft
• Corner lot
• Block wall for privacy
• Low-water landscaping
• Open floor plan
• Fireplace
• Formal & casual dining
• Master suite
• Remodeled kitchen
• Granite counter tops
• Travertine back splash
• Alder wood cabinets
• Large backyard
• Pergola-covered patio
• Separate garden area
• Mountain views
• Community swimming pool, tennis court and basketball court
• Community BBQ area
• Short drive to downtown
• Easy access to Ventura 

Open House Details:

Date: Sunday, November 13
Time: 1:00 to 4:00pm
Location: 616 West Heather Street