Urban Agriculture New Orchard Development Neff Ranch has studied the feasibility and developed, managed and re- habilitated orchards in Southern California over the past 20 years. The settings for these orchards are typically residential neighborhoods and provide a viable alternative to traditional ornamental landscaping by generating revenue for a Homeowner Association. These orchards also conserve potable water for household use by utilizing either natural untreated ground water or tertiary treated reclaimed water from the local water district. Permanent crop orchards located close to markets significantly reduce travel miles and the carbon footprint typically associated with fresh fruit production and distribution. The dense green tree canopies also reduce the urban heat island effect created from hard surfaced streets, city walks and building rooftops. They become ecosystems of their own by attracting various beneficial and pollinating insects like bees, ladybugs and butterflies, particularly during the spring bloom. Properly engineered and graded planting beds are a critical component of successful orchard programs. Planting trees and other permanent ornamental landscaping in highly compacted manufactured slopes can result in the failure of the plantings. While mass grading and soil compaction to 90-95% is routinely required for 2:1 slopes in residential communities, this disturbs the natural soil profile and removes the most fertile and nutrient rich top soil. Remedial steps will be required prior to tree planting to maximize survival rates and future growth potential. Key steps may include cross ripping along the tree lines, up and down the slopes, and/or excavating oversized tree wells depending upon the site conditions, topography and underlying soil geologic structure. Without this pre-planting bed preparation, trees will become root bound and tree canopies will not develop. Thus, fruit production and revenues will be delayed or non-existent. These planning, design and construction requirements including access and mobility for all routine field operations requires an experienced and thoughtful agri-business design team. Through this process clients can manage their development risks and assure productive orchards. Developing orchards in Southern California for over 20 years