Earlier this month, the Aliso Viejo City Council unanimously approved the construction contract for our city’s 7-acre Aliso Viejo Ranch plan. This new, one-of-a-kind historic project will preserve the last remaining parcel of the 22,000-acre Moulton Ranch.
The Aliso Viejo Chamber of Commerce is a proud partner, and we look forward to working with Capistrano Unified School District, Aliso Viejo Middle School, Soka University, Aliso Niguel High School, Saddleback College, Moulton Family Foundation, Orange County Historical Society, and numerous private-sector businesses on this historic project.
The Purpose Behind the Historic Project
The purpose of the project is to have the Aliso Viejo Ranch demonstrate the future of sustainable agriculture and aquaponics. The Aliso Viejo Ranch project preserves and restores historically significant buildings, artifacts, and farming implements from the 1800s. Preserving these historic areas highlights the importance of the agricultural past of Orange County, the state of California, and the Western United States as a whole.
Rehabilitation & Adaptive Reuse Project
The plan includes the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the existing barn and bunkhouse. Additionally, the project will be working with farms to harvest fruits, nuts, vegetables, and fish to donate to local food banks. Everything from nut tree orchards, to numerous raised-bed vegetable gardens and several fish ponds each with approximately 2,000 tilapia are to be harvested biannually. Grown on-site, the food can be donated at no cost to provide farm-to-table food for school culinary programs, community classes, and other local functions.
“This is an exciting and invaluable agricultural, historical and educational amenity for the residents of our city, county, and state of California,” said City Manager Dave Doyle. “This community benefit will be a major landmark promoting sustainability and historic preservation. I am proud of the diligent work our residents, community partners, and the City Council –in a 5-0 vote – have done to make this one-of-a-kind project a reality.”
The hope is that the City of Aliso Viejo becomes inspired to rehabilitate and reuse our lands. That being said, the site will also feature hands-on community educational programs on sustainable farming operations and will provide an opportunity for onsite STEM, biological science, horticultural and urban educational classes and community programs, farm-to-table dinners, and special events. It will showcase Orange County’s development – from its agricultural roots to becoming the world’s 45th largest economy – and highlights the agricultural history of the United States.
About the Aliso Viejo Chamber of Commerce
The Aliso Viejo Chamber of Commerce creates member-to-member and member-to-community connections through in-person events throughout the year. We are proud members of the Aliso Viejo community and always do our best to help raise up the local business owners and organizations to foster new relationships and make the City of Aliso Viejo a desirable place to live and work.
To learn more about the Aliso Viejo Chamber of Commerce, please visit our About page.