The Ecology Center

Beautiful set of venues including an outdoor stage as well as The Peace Dome, built within a wonderful seaside farming community. Great dining options. Extremely cool environment. Grateful to have been welcomed there. One of those places where the Music Never Stopped.

I went there for the first time yesterday. Very interesting concept. We walked the super market and ordered food. The food was delicious and very fresh. I think they grown everything themselves and from other small farms. Definitely a great place to shop and eat. I am all about supporting small farms. They offer many activities as well. Movie nights, etc will definitely go back.

We come here for fresh veggies and bread from FKN Bakery. My son loves coming here and running around and seeing the chickens. Such a cute spot. Their fruit and veggies are labeled with the local farm they came from, and their pantry items are always the best version of whatever it is and usually a brand I've recently read about and wanted to try. I can't always get all the veggies I want for the week from here, but it's a good start!

Has some nice art pieces and plenty of fresh bread, fruits and veggies for sale. Butterflies abound!

Always have an amazing time coming here, so much to learn from and the food is amazing !

Wow, I am blown away by this place. I went there on a recommendation by a friend, he was spot on with what I was getting into. I took a bunch of the citrus in different flavors, not expecting much. I was mind blown that the freshness and flavor of these fruits were so on point. The staff of super friendly, and I had fun as soon as I walked in. I got the recommendation of a gentleman with a mustache and glasses on some healthy snacks, he was on point with his recommendation for his “trail cookie.” I walked around back to check it out and realized that it’s a whole event space, they probably do some really cool things here. I love the farm vibe with the freshness of produce that was picked that day if not moments ago. I would highly recommend checking this place out. It’s a little pricey, but you get what you pay for.

Absolutely LOVE the Ecology center, and especially their Eco Tots program. We had so much fun that we went twice in one week. My daughters and my nephew had so much fun they didn't want to leave. Jill made everything so interactive and fun. She walked around to all of the kids and engaged with them, taught them how to plant vegetables and flowers, made fairy wands with them, read them stories, and let their little minds wander. They got to pick and eat fruit straight from the vines, feed chickens, and learn about chicken eggs and farming. They were fully immersed in their surroundings, learning, playing, and having so much fun. We can't wait to go back!

Wow, this is a hidden gem. I went to do a notarization and was stunned to find out that this place exists! It's right in my backyard and I had no idea. It has an awesome store, a delish cafe, and 28 acres of goodness. If you haven't been, don't delay. It's a destination spot that no one should miss if you're coming to San Juan Capistrano! Colleen, and all the Ecology Center staff are warm and friendly!

This is our go to for everything delicious... breakfast has always been our favorite time and today because how many changes I had the blue corn waffles with fresh maple syrup they were outstanding! The breakfast burrito is so big it can be shared ... They've opened up a new flower Mart And people let me tell you it is straw season come and get the freshest strawberries you will ever find in SoCal ... along with their fresh strawberry preserves... (somebody decided to have a pizza at 10:30 in the morning and I thought to myself why not!)

The perfect place for young kids to explore! We have been strawberry picking and to the eco tots class and had a great time. Strawberry picking was such a fun experience and the kids loved seeing where strawberries came from. The eco tots class is also great and a fun 2 hours of learning and exploring. They mix free play with learning about the garden and different fruits and vegetables. Our 2 and 4 year old loved it. We also stayed for wood fired pizza, farm to table vegetables and delicious coffee. It's the perfect spot to spend an afternoon or more. They have a flower shop and food market to grab goodies on your way out. A must-do in Dana point!!

The Best Gluten-Free Pizza Ever! I can't say enough good things about The Ecology Center and Campesino Café! The place is such a gem--a regenerative organic farm with a true mission. Everything about the space is welcoming and filled with heart. I'm glad my friends insisted on taking me there for lunch. I had heard their gluten-free pizzas were great - but it was truly the most delicious pizza I've ever had, with toppings straight from the farm! As someone who eats organic and grain-free, trust me - I've tried a lot. This was next level. Where else can you even find that? The staff in both the café and the Farm Stand were incredibly sweet, helpful, and welcoming. This place is truly special, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit.

Sanitary Concerns The staff touch food with their bare dirty hands. They should consistently wear gloves when handling food. I noticed that while making and serving pizza--including picking it up and cutting it--they were also touching items like customer notes, pens, their own clothing, and who knows what else, all with the same ungloved hands. It's disgusting and disappointing. Please consider adopting better hygiene practices, like at other pizza places (for example, check out True Pizza in Dana Point--staff there wear gloves when handling pizzas). Since we're already paying a relatively high price, it's only fair to expect safe and sanitary food handling.

Here for a wonderful community dinner! Absolutely loved the farm, its leadership and team! It is so fabulous and exciting to see its success. We need more of these!!!

Beautiful outdoor setting of fresh flowers, herbs and vegetables. The cafe is very nice as well.

Really good experience, great for kids to learn about where their food comes from, the tour is really interesting (and free!), the boutique is adorable with a lot of their produce, the coffee shop is so nice and the food is delicious.

Great place for produce and visiting Many events. And just incredibly special. Healthy Good value for what you get And a real old feel farm store with a near cult edge of healthy knowledge in anyting good for you.

I have been a member of the ecology center for a few years and it is truly one of my happy places. Their pizza at campesino cafe is phenomenal and some of my favorite in all of Orange County. Their strawberries are the absolute best and I always look forward to when they're in season. Most importantly - I am deeply grateful for their values, especially now, of inclusivity, diversity, and caring about the planet!

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.

This place is magical! We volunteered to help clean the garden of weeds. So much fun. The staff is wonderful and very informative. We ate lunch at the cafe. From the pizza, bean soup, fresh bread - everything from the food to the smell of the garden was perfection. Go now!

$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!

Everything about the ecology center is truly EPIC level WOW-zah! From the signage in the p lot to the best fruits & vegetables in the OC- not to mention the curated LIVE really fabulous Grateful Dead music always playing all the people that work here are extra groovy & beautiful too super dog friendly I want to buy all the stickers & swag & tie dye hoodies to represent this great community . And don't get me started on the bjorn corn popcorn

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.

Delicious farm to table experience, check website. Great "farmstand" and coffee shop. Hidden gem!

5 stars An amazing, magical place. There's a sense of wonder woven into everything here--something quietly alive and deeply intentional. It's not flashy, just fun. It feels real. This is a place where time slows down, where hands meet soil, and where conversations feel meaningful. You're invited to participate, not consume. To listen, not scroll. It reminds you what it means to belong to something greater--and to care for it.

A unique comprehensive combination of regenerative growing , culinary experience and genuine love.

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.

Experience: I came here on a Saturday morning for a friends birthday. It was a wonderful way to start a weekend morning, on a beautiful farm, brisk at first but it eventually turned sunny. The 28 acre organic certified farm was filled with different nooks and crannies to explore. All very clean, open, and easy to navigate. Yoga: Yoga takes place past the rainbow walk way in the open field at 9am. For whatever reason, the yoga instructor never made it to class and staff never came out to check up on us or inform us that there was no class. This is why I give it a 4. There were maybe 15 of us waiting around for 15 minutes. Someone from our group actually lead the class, very spontaneous but it worked and we were all happy and supportive of the teacher. I'm not sure if the regular instructor or whoever they contracted usually informs staff that they are there, but there should be a check in system in place. We did get an apology via email days later about the no show. Cafe: I love the name, Campesino Cafe. My grandparents were campesinos so I know the symbolic meaning behind the word. I like how they pay homage to those special humans that tend to the land. The cafe serves breakfast, lunch, pastries, and coffee/beverages. I ordered a salted choco chip cookie and ordered a cup of almond milk with date syrup. Super good. My friends ordered an array of items and it all looked great. Tour: After yoga we went on the 10am tour of the land. Impressed with the care that goes into creating such wonderful organic produce. Shop: Small shop, pricey, fun selection of produce but also other little treats. Verdict: A wonderful space for the community. They host many events and give people the opportunity to learn about what they do, what they produce, and what they stand for. Bravo.

Love love love this place and all it stands for. It's mission, quality of food, environment, etc. came for the pop up taco Tuesday. So nice and quiet outside with nature and lighting. Got to see a white owl. Reasonably priced and healthy tasting food. Been meaning to come for the tour and pick some fruits when in season and better weather. Would love to see this place get the support it deserves. Thanks

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

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.

Wonderful little place! We went for the concert and it was so much fun!! The farm Is beautiful we want to come back and pick strawberries, buy produce.

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.

This place has become surprisingly expensive and now seems to cater primarily to a more affluent, pseudo-bohemian crowd. It's disappointing to see something that once felt community-oriented shift toward exclusivity.

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.

The Ecology Center is such a beautiful and inspiring place! Was here for a volunteer event and we were tasked with deadheading flowers (picking them at the base of their floral heads) for purposes of drying and using them for natural dyes. We worked on fields of marigolds and scabiosas all the while enjoying the fresh air, beautiful surroundings, crisp weather, and soaking up some much-needed vitamin D. Highly recommend reaching out to the Ecology Center if you/your work colleagues are ever looking for any volunteer opportunities. We've heard that the assigned tasks are fairly random, but that they are always looking for help! For parking, there is a paved gravel lot in the front and around the back (for overflow). There's also a beautifully organized shop with fresh produce, flowers, and other sustainable items. Great for gift giving! Check out this place when you're in South OC and then stop by a local San Juan Capistrano restaurant for a happy hour or meal (e.g., Five Vines, Mayfield, Rancho Capistrano Winery, etc...).

I come here for the gf bread and vegan cheeses mostly some of the best damn bread I swear....

This is a hidden gem and could be a 5 star experience if we could pick our own strawberries. They have really beautiful flowers and produce that seems expensive but extremely fresh and organic. The orange tree smells so good!! I would definitely come back here for gluten free pizza and salad!!

The quality and variety of produce and products available. The restaurant and health foods offered is an added bonus.

I Absolutely Love doing my Grocery shopping at the Farm Stand. They Have the best kombucha, vegetables, greens, gluten free items, and awesome energy balls. Such a fun way to shop

Great atmosphere, clean environment, all gender restrooms, and delicious food! We will definitely be back :)

A small treasure for organic, local grown fruits & vegetables. The grounds & shop have a cool vibe with friendly helpful employees. Nice to get unique fruits like pluots that were very good. The lettuce heads were definitely on the small side. It is really expensive but if you value organic, non gmo then it's worth it.

This review is for Peace Pizza which is located in the Ecology Center.... Located in the Ecology Center at the farm in San Juan Capistrano is a hidden gem of a pizza place, but only right now on Thursday. As noted online the pizza from Peace Pizza is "Thanks to the efforts of our culinary team, we've obtained a legendary sourdough starter that comes all the way from Italy. Passed down through generations of Italian pizza chefs for over 100 years, this starter has brought new life (literally and metaphorically) to our crowd-favorite sourdough pizza crust. After mixing this starter with organic flour and water, we ferment the dough for over 20 hours to break down the nutrients for optimum bioavailability. Stretched thin, sauced up, and smothered in freshly harvested produce from our farm, this crispy, airy crust is a seriously good chew". My wife and I have enjoyed three pizzas from this location and they all have been terrific. Not the least expensive pizza but one of most tasty. The crust is amazing and it has a great chew with just the right amount of char and doneness. They only have two choices each week and selecting either one is a winner. This has become our weekly Thursday lunch item and we look forward to having many more.

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!

Such a hidden gem in San Juan Cap. The farm store offers fresh food and so much more! The cafe offers amazing breakfast and lunch. Cafe workers are always so friendly and helpful. The pizzas are truly amazing! It's a must try!

The Milpa Festival at the ecology center was such a dream. Small and personal, the festival was filled with music and fame tours the entire day. Wood fired ovens for handmade pizza, tamales and a salsa bar, craft beer and booch craft. They used a token system instead of money. The marigold lanyard portion of the night was especially dreamy, and they allowed for us to stay on the farm grounds after the tour was over and spend time with the plants. The ecology center puts organic food and education first, and it felt incredibly wholesome as an outsider from the music industry to experience something so close to the earth. The music was also incredible. Folksy, rock, and indie alt was played throughout the night at a high volume. The festival got healthily packed, we came early and ate before the sunset. One of the best experiences ever.

San Juan Capistrano, CA We learned of this nonprofit farm from Rich Mead, the Chef and owner of Farmhouse Restaurant at Roger's Gardens, Newport Beach, CA. The Ecology Center has quite a bit of land which is used for cultivating fruits and vegetables and even flowers. They have a beautiful farm stand store, check their website for hours of operation. We were not there when they make pizzas in their outdoor stone oven but they also are trying to open a cafe on site. Many chefs, including Chef Mead, host fundraiser farm to table alfresco dinners here, check out their website for more info. I loved my 1st visit here even though it was towards the end of day and the farm store was closing up. The property is well maintained and I would love to take a tour of the garden or join a special event when I have better planning. We picked up some produce and flowers and lip balm and had fun looking around. I hope to attend a dinner sometime in the near future and visit the property many more times.

I recently started coming to their farm stand (open 9-6 daily) to purchase organic produce. Not only do they sell what they grow directly on their 28 acre farm but they also feature items from other local farms (Arnett Farms being one I saw listed). I appreciate the diversity of fruits and vegetables they showcase - most recently when I stopped by there were probably ten different tomato varieties (their tomatoes are so flavorful) as well as an array of stone fruits and unique cucumber options to name a few. They even have eggs (priced $1.25 per egg) and some dairy/refrigerated items. While the vegetables are always tasty and flavorful the fruit can sometimes be hit-or-miss (not that sweet). I did have a great experience with two various melons, plums and raspberries. I also applaud them for growing watermelon WITH seeds which is rare to find now-a-days. Everyone is super helpful when I ask questions about a particular item I'm not familiar with and they're eager to share with me their "favorites" of the season when I ask. I always appreciate their input. They do have a yearly membership option of $150 which gives you 10% off every purchase at their farm stand. It could be worth it if you come enough. Additionally they have a Harvest Box which is a bi-weekly produce/pantry subscription box for $55 per box which is filled with their pick of the week and includes a recipe card related to the items they gave you. The Ecology Center also has a cafe open everyday 9am-3pm. Mon-Tues they have coffee & pastries and Wed-Sun features breakfast & lunch. Note: The café does not have to-go packaging so everything you order will be served in "for here" serveware, even a cup of coffee will be in a pottery cup. So bring your own glass/cup for beverages if you want to take it to go or plan on enjoying it on their plentiful picnic benches taking in the beautiful surroundings.

Wow, just wow. These prices are off the charts!!! $12 for a box of figs? $9 for 4 oz of salsa? I really want to support this small business and organic farm stand, but there are limits to what is acceptable. I'm no newbie to organic, I have been purchasing farmer's market organic produce for over 25 years. Considering my former markets were Hollywood and Santa Monica, I am accustomed to paying for quality. But this place feels like price gouging, which is in direct conflict to their mission statement of desiring that everyone have what it takes to build healthy communities. At these precious prices, most will be turned off, or unable to partake.

This review is specifically for the wednesday night "peace pizza"...hands down, the best I've ever eaten...the crust is, in texture and in flavor, excellent and perfectly charred. Coupled with the innovative toppings; buttermilk pesto with fresh herbs and toppings....again, best! Take friends, get a salad and a drink, enjoy the sunshine and beauty of the surrounding farm...the pizza takes a little time, but you will understand how worth the wait is when you taste the pizza!

Although I purchase a few things here because it's the Best option locally...OVERALL IM not convinced everything is healthy here and organic..here's why ; -I purchased tomatoes last summer which were 'seedless'-- Certainly not organic! - Some items such as the dates and corn tortillas etc are Not Organic - New Coffee Bar NOT ORGANIC which means Chemicals and GMOs -Nobody seems to know the exact names of the sprays this farm uses-- SHOULDN'T IT BE POSTED?

Great place to check out for anyone looking for farm fresh ingredients~ My Bf and I came to check out the farm, market, and peace pizza on a Saturday late morning. Farm itself is huge including green house, seed house, visitor center, and a farm shop. The farm shop sells fresh produce, condiments, and bakery items, little pricey than normal grocery store but well worth the quality. We tried the peace pizza, salad+pizza combo ($30), although price is steep, flavoring is simple to enjoy the natural flavors of the produce. Pizza is baked on the spot in a pizza oven, plates, water glasses, and utensils are self serve style at table seating near by. The cashier gives you a veggie card and servers bring the food to you when finished. Pizza was more sauce heavy and and lighter on the cheese, with simple tomato sauce with onion and lemon zest, wish the dough was on the thinner side but you can really taste the fresh sourdough. Portion size is shareable within two people. Salad was simple, yet you get the fresh taste of butter lettuce and grapefruit, with it was seasoned with more salt but overall a healthy meal that won't leave your stomach feeling bloated. Overall, very pleased with our fresh outdoor experience. Would love to tour the farm in season.

Lovely spot!! So glad we found it. We came on a Saturday and they had a flower vendor selling seasonal blooms, which was a plus!

When we lived in the OC we really enjoyed shopping weekly at this farm stand. Best variety of Heirloom tomatoes ever in the day. Today the stand is better than ever providing fresh produce, either certified organic or pesticide free from farmers in a 250 mile radius. We like supporting farmers who care about the soil and the quality of produce they grow. I want that on my table. As scratch cooks in our kitchen we like working with the freshest produce we can find to cook-it-up that so it tastes garden-fresh and is most healthy. The Ecology Center farms about 30 acres and practices ecological agriculture. Part of the mission educates kids of all ages about sustainable agriculture practices and how to prepare and preserve foods. Also, teaches how to conserve and manage precious resources like our water and soil. They also have a store to buy garden tools, art, kitchen gizmos, jams, honey, pickels, knifes, apparel and lots of stuff to bring in a buck to support the bigger mission. We once attended a farm dinner "slow food style" prepared by local professional chefs and seated about 200 with 1 super-long row of tables set up in the farmers field. That was a great social-food event. Food out-of-this world. Wherever you are, support your local farms competing at some level with capitalistic monoculture farm giants pushing GMO "SHIT" food at us. Real foodies don't want that! People who want to eat real healthy food don't want that! I do not want that. You want that? Wherever I am livin or travelin I'm looking for the farmers markets to spend my dollars to get me real food on my table. If you live in SJC, give this farm a look. Buy some produce rather that going into Ralphs or some mega-grocery chain. We need more small famers like the Ecology Center to preserve the farm practices of past generations. Power to the small farmer! Praise to the Ecology Center! Provides fresh ingredients I can trust in my salad bowl, juicer, veggie stir fry and egg frittata.

incredible farm to table experience. dress comfortable. Tables are for eight. our group of four really enjoyed our dinner company!

Quaint hidden gem in San Juan Capistrano. We bought some fresh produce from the farm stand and flowers. Great staff, friendly and informative.

We came here for the strawberry festival that happens each year and had a blast getting some tasting and learning more about farming! They even have a whole shop with fresh organic vegetables and fruit. It is super fun and definitely worth the stop!

This place is amazing! Even though it has been around for 10 years or so, I had no idea it was here. They have really ramped up their community outreach and programs. I found out about them through instagram and I'm so glad I did. I took my kids (2 and 6) to the Eco-Tots class they hold on Saturdays. I recommend signing up ahead of time, which I did not do, but the woman doing the class was so kind to let us join despite the large class size. I can't remember her name, but the woman who does the Eco-Tots class is so sweet and genuine. You can tell she loves what she does and she loves children. She just radiates happiness in the best way possible. My kids loved being at The Ecology Center. We got to do lots of different things, such as learn about the plants, water the plants, feed soil to the trees, pick vegetables to feed the chickens, have story time and snacks freshly picked from the garden, make art with paints made from vegetables, etc. It was a couple hours and truly an enjoyable time. It is so affordable and is a one price for the whole family. Even though my older daughter is 6, she still loved the "eco-tots" class. The Ecology Center has many other community events (for adults and children) happening, so stay tuned to their website and social media. Their produce they grow is delicious and fresh! High quality food and high quality facility. I agree with Jocelyn, this place is a dream!