The Ecke Ranch property is surrounded by the San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG), SDBG Hamilton Children's
Garden, San Dieguito Heritage Museum, Magdalena Ecke YMCA, future ALTA development, Silverado
Congregate Care Facility and Seacrest Retirement Village. There is also a trail system that connects to the
ranch property and will provide pedestrian access to the beach when complete. The beach is only 1 mile to
the west and the town of Encinitas is less than 2 miles away to the southwest. The La Costa Resort and Spa is
about 3.5 miles to the northeast and the City of Carlsbad is about 9 miles due north. The City of San Diego is
about 25 miles south and is the nearest international airport.
Garden, San Dieguito Heritage Museum, Magdalena Ecke YMCA, future ALTA development, Silverado
Congregate Care Facility and Seacrest Retirement Village. There is also a trail system that connects to the
ranch property and will provide pedestrian access to the beach when complete. The beach is only 1 mile to
the west and the town of Encinitas is less than 2 miles away to the southwest. The La Costa Resort and Spa is
about 3.5 miles to the northeast and the City of Carlsbad is about 9 miles due north. The City of San Diego is
about 25 miles south and is the nearest international airport.
ā¢ Agricultural production: The primary goal is to provide a venue where organic farmers can grow their
enterprise, rent space from the foundation and add to the overall vibrancy of the property. The farmers on the
property should be able to work together by sharing knowledge, resources and distribution channels to help
each other succeed. It would be wonderful if the farmers all share in the success of the overall property and
work together to create meaningful educational and agri-tourism experiences available to the public. These
programs can be revenue-generating opportunities in which people pay for workshops, tours and courses.
Similar programs can also be offered for free or at a discount for people who cannot afford them.
enterprise, rent space from the foundation and add to the overall vibrancy of the property. The farmers on the
property should be able to work together by sharing knowledge, resources and distribution channels to help
each other succeed. It would be wonderful if the farmers all share in the success of the overall property and
work together to create meaningful educational and agri-tourism experiences available to the public. These
programs can be revenue-generating opportunities in which people pay for workshops, tours and courses.
Similar programs can also be offered for free or at a discount for people who cannot afford them.
Ā
ā¢ Agricultural Education: The goal is to serve as a farm incubator for organic and sustainable farming initiatives.
A farm education program will use both a managed education and demonstration farm in addition to leveraging
the other farming activities happening on the property to provide students with a rich learning environment.
A farm education program will use both a managed education and demonstration farm in addition to leveraging
the other farming activities happening on the property to provide students with a rich learning environment.
The educational farm consists primarily of the fields along Saxony Road as well as some adjacent greenhouses,Ā which will be used to grow food and flowers for sale through a CSA, on-site farmers market, restaurants andĀ other local markets as well as for donation to people in need. The farm will include intensive production rowĀ crops, educational gardens, pollinator bioswales, permaculture areas, animals and more. The farm will also serveĀ as a venue for a wide variety of programming for people of all ages.
The Leichtag Foundation considers social entrepreneurship and outreach as well as wise land stewardship
as important goals for the project. The foundation would like to help grow the Jewish agricultural and
environmental movement by supporting and bringing together key individuals, organizations and businesses thatĀ share these values.
as important goals for the project. The foundation would like to help grow the Jewish agricultural and
environmental movement by supporting and bringing together key individuals, organizations and businesses thatĀ share these values.
Ā
Key site sustainability goals include:
ā¢ Green space connectivity: Facilitate preservation and walking/biking connectivity to adjacent green spaces,
public trails and facilities.
ā¢ Land preservation: preserve the majority of the property for direct agricultural production with a minor
portion of the property used for agricultural supportive uses such as on site farm based housing, a farm
to table restaurant, agricultural and bio-research facility, agri-wellness and education retreat center and an
entrepreneurial hub to incubate start up farm and artisan based businesses.
ā¢ Transportation to site: increase options for the use of transit, shuttles and car pooling for access to the site.
ā¢ Transportation on site: provide clustered parking at the edges of the site (no cars beyond) and on-site multimodal areas to orient pedestrians provide cart taxi access and access to micro-vehicles - electric carts, bicycles and service vehicles.
ā¢ Soils: optimize composting on site and use of organic soil amendments and eliminate use of toxic chemicals.
ā¢ Water use: optimize the collection and re-use of water and develop model water conserving systems. Water
that is used on the property for farming will be collected, filtered and reused.
ā¢ Energy: produce the majority of energy on site through solar, geothermal, cogeneration, bio-mass and
other alternative energy systems. Conserve energy through effective transportation means and appropriate
proximities and adjacencies to destinations on site.
ā¢ Sustainability monitoring: Develop a sustainability assessment strategy to insure appropriate tracking and
implementation of sustainability measures towards the goal of being carbon neutral.
Storm water and irrigation water runoff will be drained into a dry stream bed which will divert the water into
bio-swales and into collection tanks at the lowest point of the site. The water will then be pumped back using
wind or solar powered pumps into storage tanks at the high point of the site. Sediment beds, ozone and UV
equipment will further clean the water to prepare it for the next cycle of water use.
bio-swales and into collection tanks at the lowest point of the site. The water will then be pumped back using
wind or solar powered pumps into storage tanks at the high point of the site. Sediment beds, ozone and UV
equipment will further clean the water to prepare it for the next cycle of water use.
Automobiles are parked at the perimeter of the site with access off Saxony Road and at the eastern parking
deck entry. A portion of the parking will be dedicated to carpool parking, shuttle and bus/transit drop off.
The internal site is designated as a cart, bicycle and pedestrian zone designed for access by cargo and taxi carts,bicycles and service and emergency vehicles. Site multi-modal stations at the perimeter parking areas will havecharging stations for electric carts and access to cart taxis and bicycle rental.
deck entry. A portion of the parking will be dedicated to carpool parking, shuttle and bus/transit drop off.
The internal site is designated as a cart, bicycle and pedestrian zone designed for access by cargo and taxi carts,bicycles and service and emergency vehicles. Site multi-modal stations at the perimeter parking areas will havecharging stations for electric carts and access to cart taxis and bicycle rental.
