I spent much of my twenties traveling around the world and seeing how other cultures lived outside of the United States. To my dismay, I was shocked by the immense amounts of corruption and poverty that existed outside the wholesome beach town where I was raised. My worldview and perspective on life changed immediately. I had no idea how fortunate I was to have grown up in such a safe, peaceful, and beautiful place.

I saw how many people in other parts of the world struggled to do the simple things I had always taken for granted, like feeding their families, putting their children in school, or even having access to clean drinking water. It felt unfair, and I wanted to help.

My buddies and I decided our travels would now have a purpose. We began getting to know the communities we were visiting and learning about their needs. We then started inviting others to join us on our trips, and before we knew it, we were leading philanthropic ecotourism groups around the world.

One of the most heartbreaking problems I saw during my travels was the overwhelming amount of malnutrition and starvation that existed in many of these communities. Growing up in a place where a giant burrito was never more than a stone's throw away, the issue of food scarcity became my new vocation, and I decided to become a farmer.

My mission was simple: if I could learn how to grow food, I could teach others to do the same wherever I went. This new passion quickly became a full-time job as I found myself traveling from place to place, eager to share what I had learned about agriculture.

I spent years learning everything I could and building farms wherever I was able. About five years into my journey, I began assessing the sustainability and impact of my efforts and came up with a new idea. There was only one of me building and teaching. What if I had my own farm where I could train others to go out and do what I was doing?

The mayor of Anaheim at the time had commented on a photo of a farm I had built for the Salvation Army, and I used the opportunity to introduce myself and share this new idea. The city loved the concept of creating an urban farm in the heart of the community—a place that could feed, educate, and bring life to the neighborhood around it.

In 2014, Renewable Farms and the City of Anaheim signed a contract to build Orange County's first Community Urban Mega Farm. The good people at a local business called Control Air heard about the new venture and decided they wanted to contribute financially.

I was, and still am, filled with joy that all the pieces of my dream came together so harmoniously. Through blood, sweat, and tears, the farm was built in about six months, and Riverbed Farm was born.

— Aaron

Renewable Farms is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and our mission is to enhance communities through events, agriculture, and education. There are two parts to our organization: on the farm and off the farm.

Outside of the farm, we provide consulting for schools, hospitals, and homeowners on responsible agricultural practices. Regardless of how much land or how many resources they may have, we love teaching others how to implement life-giving systems in their spaces.

Within the farm, we educate and mentor schoolchildren, provide internship opportunities for college students, offer job training and educational workshops, host events, provide programs for individuals with special needs, and grow tons of fresh food for local families.

Both on and off the farm, we are also honored to provide job opportunities for veterans, individuals coming out of incarceration, and anyone who has hit a rough patch and is willing to try again and get back on their feet.

If you would like to learn more or partner with us, please feel free to send us an email anytime. Thanks!