The Ecology Center

San Juan Capistrano, CA

Situated on a historic agricultural property surrounded by urban sprawl, The Ecology Center is a 28-acre Regenerative Organic Certified™ farm and education center at the forefront of southern California's ecological movement. Their holistic approach revolves around the pillars of Grow, Eat, Make, and Peace, integrating agriculture, culinary arts, education, and community-building. Over their 14-year history, The Ecology Center has welcomed 300,000 on-site visitors, trained 300 culinary leaders and farmers, and donated over 100,000 lbs of site-produced food.

An apprentice at The Ecology Center can expect a comprehensive and hands-on learning experience in sustainable agriculture, growing over 250 varieties of vegetables, and helping manage a flock of over 150 chickens. The apprentice will engage in soil-building techniques, including crop rotation, cover cropping, amending, and composting, to foster healthy and fertile soil, as well as the management of irrigation systems and water conservation practices. The apprentice will co-lead weekly plantings and harvests, gaining practical insights into crop cycles. Hands-on experience with a range of tools, including hand tools, broadforks, walk-behind tractors, and collinear hoes, will be part of the training. Apprentices will help in post-harvest activities such as wash-and-pack and cooler management.

Nestled in Orange County, California, The Ecology Center occupies land that has been thriving with the rich heritage of the Acjachemen Nation for over 12,000 years. Historically, this region served as a central hub for the Acjachemen people to gather, trade, and uphold kinship ties. In the present day, the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians/Acjachemen Nation actively contributes to the vitality of this region by celebrating their cultural heritage, preserving traditions, and nurturing their ancestral lands, ocean, and waterways.