The Capistrano Dispatch: Rancho Mission Viejo Aims to Bring Residents Together with Community Farms
By Kaila Mellos
Since 2015, Rancho Mission Viejo has made it part of its wellness mission to build and expand a community farming program within its different communities. With three different neighborhood gardens, Farmscape and RMV are working together to get residents involved.
“Community farms create a sense of belonging to the environment by providing opportunities to learn about healthy eating and responsible farming, and bring the community closer together,” said Amaya Genaro, Vice President of Community Services at Rancho Mission Viejo. “We are fortunate to have FarmScape, one of California’s largest urban farming companies, professionally manage Rancho Mission Viejo’s community farms.”
Within two of their communities, Sendero and Esencia, are the three community gardens that follow the seasons in terms of what is planted. Under Farmscape’s Matthew Geldin, Head Farmer of Southern California, the farms are always cared for outside resident help.
“There are three community farms located on The Ranch, and they include Esencia Farm, Sendero Farm, and Gavilán Farm. The farms create a lifestyle element encouraging social engagement, knowledge sharing, and relationship building,” Genaro said. “All three farms combined are roughly 1.5 acres and offer raised beds, row crops, fruit trees, a chicken coop, a children’s play area, and event spaces. Esencia Farm is half an acre, Sendero Farm is about an acre, and Gavilán Farm is roughly 6,500 square feet.”
If residents want to become involved in one of the three gardens, they can sign up for either spring/summer or fall/winter farming. They must participate in some form of work at any of the locations for only two hours monthly while paying a small fee.
“RMV Farms has two six-month growing seasons each year,” Genaro said. “Each household pays one membership fee to participate and commits to volunteer at least two hours per month. Residents learn specialty skills such as pruning, composting, propagation, and crop care and get to take home fresh produce. Weekly shifts are available at all three farms.”
As Genaro has witnessed, many residents – most during the spring/summer season – enjoy getting outside without the responsibility of keeping the crops alive. Residents can participate in a fulfilling experience of planting, caring for, and then eating the produce made without the full-time task.
“The Farm Program on The Ranch is a communal program that affords residents flexibility. We make it easy for residents to participate,” Genaro said. “By working together, residents have the freedom to do other things without the responsibility of tending to a personal planter bed. Residents enjoy sharing the responsibility with neighbors and our professional farm team while reaping the benefits of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as the added benefit of forming friendships and staying connected to the land.”
According to Genaro, more than 100 households are participating across all three farms. The community farms are also unique venues for other programs. Residents can also connect over food through programs that RMV offers through the farms, such as wine pairing events, tea blending workshops, and honey-tasting workshops.
“These community farms were developed with one thing in mind: to create an exceptional amenity and experience for our residents. These farms are an important and integral part of continuing the legacy and ‘Culture of Care’ at The Ranch – guided by the mantra, ‘Take care of the land, and the land will take care of you,’ ” Genaro said.
For any of the residents who want to become involved in the program, there is a spot to participate. The RMV Farms welcome anyone who wants to join in the food cycle.
“We have people of all different age groups engage with the farms,” Genaro said. “Whether you’re a mother with a toddler attached to your chest who comes out to harvest weekly as a volunteer or a Gavilán resident who loves to watch plants grow and the changing of the seasons, there is space for all to enjoy the benefits that come with being a part of the Farm Program on The Ranch.”
