Thursday, May 26, 2011

A lonely orange grove

Elaine Cali writes:


"I'm helping get the word out to help save one of the last orange orchards in all of Orange County.

"The Grain Project is the group trying to save it and they have some great creative ideas to turn this orchard into an urban community garden and save the orchard at the same time.

"The land is currently owned by Concordia University and they've turned it over to a developer who plans to bulldoze it and build 24 homes on this 5 acre orchard site. I'm trying to connect them with the foodie community, historic societies and media outlets and any like-minded bloggers. Here is their Facebook for more information: Save the Sexlinger Orange Orchard. They need more awareness and people to sign petitions to Save the Orchard.

"I'm a 7th generation Orange Countian and I would hate to see this piece of our County's history disappear forever. [The Grain Project has] ideas to create a community garden in this location and retain the orchard and are looking for solutions, as the clock is ticking and the city council will soon decide its fate."

Yes, I'd also rather see oranges than more housing. (Don't we have ENOUGH people in Orange County already?) And I like the folks I've met at the Grain Project too. But I still have to point out this picky detail: Aren't they usually called orange "groves?"

11 comments:

Capt. Tomorrow said...

I believe your are correct sir; oranges grow in groves while apples grow in orchards.

Connie Moreno said...

I'll help spread the word!

Doug said...

Did some work at this property in 2008.
Wish the community group the best, with their preservation efforts.
The grove looked like it could sure use some regular irrigation, pruning fertilizer and new trees.
A unique property hidden within the middle of an urban landscape.
Noted another, well maintain (small) grove a few blocks from the subject property.

Doug said...

Believe there is a small, healthy orange grove at the NW corner of Old Grand Street and E. Santa Clara Ave. This is a few blocks west of the Sexlinger Property.

Chris Jepsen said...

Yes, there are definitely still a few orange groves scattered around the county -- but they are few and far between. I know of some very small groves in Tustin, Santa Ana, Orange, Yorba Linda and Irvine. There are probably a few more.

findingmyatomicglory said...

How can the media not be all over this? Does OC not have enough foreclosures that new housing should be a NO GO? And new home sales are so off and in April alone canceled contracts for sale of existing home rose! I mean seriously this is so dumb!

Anonymous said...

How did Concordia University end up owning this land? It is nowhere near them. What is the point in buying a piece of farmland if you're just going to sell it to a developer? And yes, it's true: the last thing we need in Orange County is more housing.

Doug said...

The estate of Martha Sexlinger made the donation to Concordia University. Martha was one of two daughters born to George & Sophia Sexlinger. George passed away on Nov. 17, 1929. He was the one who built the existing home. Daughter Martha was born c.1909 and she died in July of 2006.

Doug said...

It is believed that oranges from the five acre Sexlinger property were packed out through the Santiago Orange Growers Association.

In 1918 the SOGA constructed a massive facility on South Cypress Street in Orange. It was reported, that in 1929 the SOGA shipped more citrus than any other packing plant in the world (Sleeper 1968).

David J said...

Hi
I Know I am coming a little late to the party but I have just read a piece on CNN about the last Groves in Orange county and how Elaine Cali is desperately trying to save Hers.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/27/california.dream.census.slump/index.html.

A couple of Question
Is this the same grove ?
If not can this issue be made a bit more cohesive as it really affects a lot more than just the corner close to home.
And Regardless of whether these are same or different lots, what can the common man (such as myself do about this)
I am not complaining I am Genuinely interested in helping and really don't know where to begin.

Bob Chaparro said...

Groves vs. Orchards
Typically oranges are said to be grown in “groves”, however, the term “orchard” also has been used. A Southern California example is Villa Park Orchards.
The people who grow citrus typically are called growers or ranchers, rather than farmers. The concept of the “rancher” goes back to the ranchos of the early California era.
Bob Chaparro
Hemet, CA
Moderator
Citrus Industry Modeling Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/citrusmodeling/