The Ecology Center

Back to a healthier lifestyle and demeanor- The market has great fresh food to buy. There is a nice cafe there as well.

The farm is now the antithesis of what they originally stood for. They are turning into a grocery store - a weird farm version of an erewhon. They even have checkout stands like a grocery store, boxes and bags of processed food items. Their farm food on the shelves, such as the sauces, now has citric acid. The farm cafe pizza does not taste the same at all, it's not good anymore. A lot of the items in what is left of the "farm" sections of this "store" are not grown on the actual farm. They are from "up to 250 miles away" and do not have the same farming practices all around. The prices have gone up exponentially in the last few years, with some items even doubling in price. Most of the people that work at the farm are nice. I won't miss going here though. I go to other farms now. You will literally save money by going to an organic grocery store rather than this "grocery store" farm with its limited farm items.

Bitchy defensive comment from the owner. I have detailed how you're missing the mark. At least my review forced him to begin acknowledging negative reviews instead of ignoring them and smooching the backsides of people offering positive reviews. It's telling about his character as well as how they run their business. Pass.

$12 U Pick Strawberries! $8/lb for what you pick.Sunday 9 am, no crowd at all! 2 out of 3 crops ready for picking. There were 3 different varieties (out of 5+) that were available for picking.The kids basically ate everything they picked (2.5 lbs) instantly when we got back home! Will try to be back for their eco tots program!

Once you understand the process of how produce is grown in this country, you become skeptical about practically everything. It makes you less inclined to shop at supermarkets due to approved chemicals such as Apeel. The reason above (along with many) is why I have chosen to buy farm fresh and locally grown produce. The Ecology Center is an organic certified farm with a variety of produce, GF breads, farm raised eggs and more. As opposed to some farms in Orange Country, they don't bring in their produce from Mexico and pass it off as farm fresh.I highly recommend this farm. The people are extremely nice and helpful. They also have more produce and products than most farms in the area.The prices are steep, but worth it. Food = Medicine.

I wanted to love this place. I introduced so many people to The Farm Stand but the prices scared everyone away especially since the produce they bought didn't last. This place needs better management in all departments. Buyers, checkout people, hospitality. If you have a product that is incredible then stop setting it up for failure. Let's talk about the bread, if you have the ultimate best bread in Southern California then hire someone to help your baker. If you're only going to make bread on certain days then indicate that. Fresh cut flowers on certain days fine but let people know. Telling people to call the Farm stand phone number does not work if no one ever answers the phone. Sending it directly to voicemail doesn't help. I have at least 12 people who were excited about this place and now they all say forget it.

We always have such a wonderful time at the ecology center. They are making so many strides and all their advancements a new café beautiful community table dinners it is a fabulous place to visit.

We had a great morning picking strawberries and touring the property. There were two types of strawberries offered for picking that day. They were both delicious. They give you a cute little bag with a strawberry logo with your entrance fee ($12 per person...a bit steep)to the strawberry fields. Then, you pay per pound for the strawberries picked on top of the entrance fee. All of the staff members on the farm were helpful and polite.We will be back to eat at the Campesino! Everything coming out of the kitchen looked delicious from the breakfast sandwiches to the focaccia to a plate of farm grown fruits and vegetable crudites.Our child enjoyed the painted tractors and the chickens.

This is a lovely and organic "wide spot in the road" in old San Juan Capistrano. My urban sketchers group got together to draw and paint the sights - on a bright, sunny Thursday morning, and everyone was so nice to us. The people who work there have a passion for healthy, whole foods, and customers are drawn to this farm for a taste of wholesomeness. Once you step onto the property, you can't help but fall into a positive and happy frame of mind! There's a real sense of history rising up from this 28 acre old "certified organic farm." I was drawn to the old farmhouse, built by hand in 1860 by Joel Rathbone Congdan. (Before he came out West, he rode horseback for the Pony Express!) Things were different a hundred years ago; no one was afraid of hard work and laboring in the hot sun. I could feel the honesty of what they're doing out here, and I encourage you all to take a visit, eat something from the Campesino Cafe, and soak up the vibe. I know that I'll be back to sample more dishes from the Cafe, and get involved with some activities that they might offer. The Farm store is filled with beautiful greens, vegetables, fruit, flowers and local honey (to name a few items.) Try it sometime and step back into simpler times.

Please increase your bread supply. We drive so far to the Ecology Center and then we can only get one loaf! Please supplement from Rye goods so that we can stop driving for one single loaf! Let's protect our ecology and our children and reduce the number of drivers on the road!