Rich millennials are buying homes where they can live near their parents and grow their own avocados
"Although the agrihood program resonates differently with each person, it continues the legacy and 'culture of care' of this historic ranch," Johnson said. "'Take care of the land and the land will take care of you,' was the decree of Rancho Mission Viejo matriarch, Marguerite 'Daisy' O’Neill."
"Agrihood creates a sense of connection to both the environment and to others in the community," said Amaya Genaro, director of community services for Rancho Mission Viejo.
"The age range at the farm is generally a wide variety, anywhere from newer families to retired seniors," Alverson said of the Sendero farm, adding that it's a great community builder, especially for the kids who visit. "The farm really brings it back to the roots of, 'It takes a village.'"
The Esencia farm has raised planter beds, 26 fruit trees and nine avocado, mulberry, walnut, and bay trees, plus a harvest and prep barn, greenhouse, tool shed, composting system, and chicken coop.
There's also a workshop area, pictured here, which offers seasonal farm-to-table cooking classes and demonstrations for members.
About 65 families are currently part of the farm program at Esencia, which requires a $100 fee every six months and a total of four volunteer hours a month per household. In exchange, residents can pick flowers and herbs during open farm hours and gather weekly baskets of crops.
The farm locations in each village are carefully plotted to ensure easy access for residents, said Johnson. Most importantly, "they cannot be an afterthought," he said.
One of the best perks of having a farm virtually in your backyard, Alverson said, is being able to pick out fresh and delicious produce at any time.
Marissa Alverson, a twenty-something who lives with her mom in the Sendero village, was working in software sales when she moved to the agrihood. She found the farm was a "huge stress reliever" for her, she told Business Insider. She soon started volunteering and now visits the farm regularly.
In addition to three community farms, The Ranch also has public swimming pools, hiking trails, parks, club houses, and even a coffee shop.
Because the land was used for cattle ranching for over a century, the developers coined the term "agrihood," short for agricultural neighborhood, and placed community farms at the center of each village to preserve the area's history.
Newly-built homes range from the low $400,000s to more than $1 million. Both villages also offer homes available exclusively to folks 55 and older to promote intergenerational living.
The first two villages, Esencia and Sendero, have a combined 3,411 residences, including townhouses, single-family homes, and apartments.
The Ranch at Rancho Mission Viejo is California's largest new master-planned community. Upon completion, there will be 6,000 acres of homes and nearly 17,000 acres of habitat reserve. To date, The Ranch construction is about 25% complete.
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