South Orange County neighborhoods help launch national urban farm movement.
Participating households pay $100 per 6-month growing season and pitch in at least four hours of work each month.
By Martin Wisckol
Orange County Register
February 19, 2021
Excerpt:
Unlike traditional community gardens, the farms at Rancho Mission Viejo are fully integrated into the neighborhood from the outset of planning and are centrally located. Rather than individuals controlling their own plots, everything is communal. There are fruit trees, greenhouses for seedlings and, at the nearby Sendero Farm, a chicken coop tended wholly by residents.
There are also a host of related activities. These include twice monthly farm stands, where anyone in the community can buy produce, farming workshops, monthly harvests donated to the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano, potlucks for the resident farmers (currently in virtual mode) and family days on Saturdays.
“We’re trying to teach the kids where food comes from,” said Amaya Genaro, the development’s vice president of community services.
But, at its core, the allure is farming.
“I like clean, fresh food. That’s the best part, seeing it all laid out in front of you,” said Tricia Reyes. She’d never gardened before moving to the Ecensia village from Houston in 2018 with her husband and two young daughters, both of whom are now also fledgling farmers.
“We get to learn about gardening, get fresh food and, being new to the area, (the farm) gave us a good way to meet other residents. Food makes us happy and it helps build community.”
