“The Ecology Center was a seed that was planted and it just started slowly birthing itself,” Marks says. “None of this stuff happens overnight. But when you put the patterns together and the hard work and intentions — we’re counting our blessings.”
to be built in the area — separate from the farmed land, with the intention of perhaps converting it to a museum, visitor center, or something of the like, but at that moment, nothing was happening with it.
to a team of 75 staffers and 500 volunteers — hosts 11 programs with a focus on education, volunteering, and more. “The Ecology Center was a seed
As his partner at The Ecology Center, Jonathan Zaidman, tells The Rooted Journal, Marks “had this lightbulb mo- ment” and a vision for this small plot of land — which, at the time, wasn’t much
that was planted and it just started slowly birthing itself,” Marks says. “None of this stuff happens overnight. But when you put the patterns together and the hard work and intentions — we’re counting our blessings.” Of course, there were still challeng- es along the way. “The reality of agri- culture is that it’s the most humbling expression of human life, and also it’s
to look at. “Evan wanted to know what it would look like to build an ecology center in Southern Califor- nia,” Zaidman says, adding that Marks wanted to “model and demonstrate the values of” eco-
always [revealing] itself to you,” Zaid- man says, speak- ing of the obsta- cles they faced, which he says in- cluded learning to steward the land, create a profitable and sustainable business, and nav-
logical design there “through hands-on learning, community events, activa- tions, and experiences.” It occurred to Marks that doing this kind of work in the U.S., one of the richest countries in the world — and one that, Zaidman says, is largely disconnected from our food system — could have a great impact. So, they leased the land from the city, and, between 2008 and 2018, they got to work, planting native landscapes and growing edible plants, medicinal plants, and dye plants, among other things. Soon, the blossoming Ecology Center had local schools reaching out to ask about field trips. Artists inquired about film screenings. There were farm- to-table dinners, workshops, and festivals,
HIRTEEN MINUTES FROM the beach, five minutes from the freeway, and nestled between housing developments, elementary schools, and various strip malls, you’ll find one of the most vibrant and ecologically diverse regenerative organic farms in the United States. Southern California’s Ecology Center, celebrating its 15th year in operation, is located in Orange County, one of the most developed and densely populated
organic practices have long been inextricably linked to indigenous wisdom, and continue to be adopted today by many in the agricultural community — including Evan Marks. It was Marks’ interest in the organic food movement that inspired him to create The Ecology Center. In the late ’90s, Marks attended school at UC Santa Cruz, where he majored in agroecology. After graduating, Marks taught permaculture and ecology design, consulting on and building farms
igate as a new nonprofit. “As cliché as it may sound,” Zaidman says, those chal- lenges were “all opportunities.”
On a trip back to Southern California to visit his parents in 2008, Marks stumbled across a historic farmhouse on a small, three-quarter-acre dirt lot that’s now home to The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. Surrounding the house were 28 acres of land, which the city leased to an organic farm operation called South Coast Farms. The city had kept the home — considered the oldest wood- frame house
Top to bottom: Partner Jonathan Zaidman in front of the Peace Dome. The Ecology Center offers weekly workshops to deepen the community’s connection with seeds. The farm stand not only offers pantry items but also fresh- cut flowers. The property includes a milpa, which highlights the indigenous practice of polyculture.
Previous page: (Left) Founder Evan Marks started The Ecology Center 15 years ago with dreams that are still being realized. (Right) Artist Cody Hudson designed the massive Rainbow installation inspired by one of his drawings. Above: Members of The Ecology Center farm crew. Right: Marks wears one of the nonprofit’s branded T-shirts, which help tell The Ecology Center’s growing story.
regions in the country. While it sits smack-dab in the midst of modernity and progress, The Ecology Center embraces centuries- old indigenous principles of respecting and working with the land; regenerative
and eco villages in Central America and West Africa.
and a real sense of community growing. Today, The Ecology Center — which has grown
106
107
ISSUE 01
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online