MenuThe Ecology Center - San Juan Capistrano
WebsiteMission Statement
The Ecology Center models creative solutions for thriving on planet Earth.
Our non-profit organization believes in a culture that gives more than it takes. We believe everyone should have access to the tools, knowledge, and skills that promote healthy communities in the 21st century. Our farm is designed to inspire interaction with our ecosystem and transform our relationship with each other.
Description
The Ecology Center’s headquarters is located in the 140 year old, historic Congdon Farmhouse in San Juan Capistrano, CA. For more than a decade, The Ecology Center has successfully served many thousands of children and families; hundreds of progressive educators; and dozens of farmers from Orange County and surrounding areas.
In 2018, the San Juan Capistrano City Council unanimously voted to allow the Center to extend operations from its original 1-acre facility to encompass the city’s entire parcel of 28-acres, granting us both the opportunity and responsibility to become the long-term stewards of the city’s last remaining farmland. This larger leaseholding allows the Center to greatly expand its educational offerings and capacity while ensuring the future of organic farming in this region.
The Ecology Center seeks to provide a blueprint for living abundantly on planet Earth - to explore what it looks, tastes, and feels like when humans live in harmony with nature and one another. We are in business to shift culture. By curating ecological experiences for everyone, we provide creative yet achievable solutions for thriving on planet Earth.
Program Details
Experiences and community offerings include:
- Farm Stand: Nourishes our community with organic produce sourced from our farm or from farmers within 250 miles, bulk products, dry goods, and tools for change.
- Farm Share: A community supported agriculture (CSA) program that showcases weekly and bi-weekly boxes filled with seasonal, organic produce.
- Farm Raised: An daily enrichment program showcasing parent cooperatives and a homeschool site where children experience interconnectivity, collaboration, imagination, and inspiration.
- Farm Tours: Every Saturday, we invite our community out to learn about regenerative agriculture practices and how to contribute to a healthy future.
- Eco-Tots: Every Saturday, kids and their parents enjoy a sensory, hands-on learning experience of the wonders of the garden.
- Feast Verde: Engaging local families and underserved youth on the farm and in the kitchen in hands-on creative workshops learning where food comes from and how to prepare a healthy meal with fresh ingredients.
- DIY Workshops: Providing tools and education to learn valuable skills to take home and use every day.
- Community Table Dinners: An opportunity to join our community over a meal and engage in meaningful conversations around creating an ecological food future together.
- Taste Festival: A seasonal celebration of farm ingredients starting with the Strawberry in the spring, through a multisensory experience of interactive art installations, an educational u-pick, and a vibrant exploration into our favorite summer ingredient.
- Volunteer: Dig in to learn new skills in agriculture, culinary, and the arts as we Grow, Eat, and Make together.
- Encinitas Farm Lab: A partnership with Encinitas Union School District where we are growing organic ingredients to provide healthy school lunches and facilitating problem-solving, project-based learning for children.
- Primary Issue
- Climate Change
- Address
- 32701 Alipaz Street
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
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