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A Decade of Organic Local Food The Real Dirt Blog Annual Report 2012
   







 

Events

Grass-Fed Beef and the Paleo Diet
Stemple Creek Ranch
Sunday, June 23
10:00a.m. - 2p.m.

BBQ lunch, farm tour, book signing and talk with Pauli Halstead, executive chef and author of Primal Cuisine. She will explain why exclusively grass-fed meat best replicates the diet of our ancestors, which included wild meat and fish, gathered plants, nuts, seeds and berries. Pauli's cookbook is grain free and free of added sugars. She will explain how raising grassfed beef and pastured animals is also key to sustaining our environment. Tour Stemple Creek Ranch, meet rancher, Loren Poncia, and learn more about rotational grazing and restoration techniques. Lunch will feature recipes from Pauli's book, a Blue Cheese Burger with a Butter Lettuce Bun, using Stemple Creek's grass-fed beef and Pt. Reyes Blue Cheese. Dessert will feature berries with Straus cream. Books and meat will also be available for purchase.

Price (per a person):
$75 Marin Organic Members
$85 non-members

Register for Grass-Fed Beef and the Paleo Diet

Family Fun on the Farm and Adventures in the Wild
Green Gulch Farm and Watershed
Saturday, July 13
10:00a.m. - 2p.m.

Join us for this experiential, nature-based day designed to help us remember our deep connections and learn how to apply them to our modern communities. Connecting with nature and eating healthy, fresh foods can help children succeed in school and in life. This workshop is designed for parents, uncles, aunts and grandparents to explore and have fun with children in nature and on the farm. This day includes strategic mentoring practices, community gleaning and potluck, small group discussions, storytelling and music...all while having a great family day on a local, organic farm! Led by Marin Organic’s farm educator and naturalist Scott Davidson.

Price (per person):
$20 Marin Organic Members
$25 non-members
$5 for children

Register for Family Fun on the Farm and Adventures in the Wild

Marin Organic Summer Day Camp—For Ages 10–14
Green Gulch Farm and Watershed
July 15–18 (Monday – Thursday)
9:00a.m. – 3p.m.

Children will learn about biodiversity and resiliency; how to turn waste into resource, plant and harvest food in the fields, listen to the language of birds, track wildlife, explore pond life, and become the solution while celebrating life. The summer camp is guided by Farm Educator and Naturalist Scott Davidson of Marin Organic with assistance from Quayyum Johnson of Green Gulch Farm and other nature connectors. We will maintain a 6:1 student to teacher ratio for small groups and tons of fun! Our curriculum focuses on the principals of ecology and conscious citizenship through investigations of local organic farming and the thriving wildlife ecologies near the farm.

Price (per camper)
$240

Register for summer camp!

Restoring our Relationship to Place
Paradise Valley Farm, Bolinas
Saturday, July 20
10:00a.m. - 3p.m.

Spend time with Rachel Kaplan author of Urban Homesteading, exploring physical, philosophical and permacultural ways to restore your connection to place. Rachel is a gardener, psychotherapist, and mother who spends a lot of time in the intersection of gardening the earth and gardening the soul. Our time together will be a chance to understand our own relationship to place and to learn some earth and body centered strategies for deepening our connection and commitment to the places we call home. 

Picnic under the apple trees of Paradise Valley Farm with owners, Sandy and Dennis Dierks. You will tour this gorgeous place and learn from Dennis about his organic growing techniques using beneficial indigenous microbes from the forest. 

Price ( per person)
$60 Marin Organic Members
$70 non-members

Register for Restoring our Relationship to Place

Past Events

 

What Can the Farmer Teach the Doctor?
Toby's Feed Barn, Point Reyes Station
Saturday, June 15
7:30 - 9:00p.m.

Presented by Point Reyes Books and Marin Agricultural Land Trust, a benefit for Marin Organic's education programs. What Can the Farmer Teach the Doctor? with Dr. Daphne, author of Farmacology in conversation with sheep farmer, cheesemaker, and former science writer, Marcia Barinaga of Barinaga Ranch. Dr. Daphne Miller, part clinician, part ecologist, and part anthropologist approaches medicine with the idea that opportunities for health and healing are found not only in the medical system but in such unexpected places as home kitchens, school gardens, community organizations, spiritual centers, nature trails, and farms. In Farmacolgy, the San Francisco family physician writes that learning from sustainable farmers made her a better doctor.

Price (per person): $15

Register for What Can the Farmer Teach the Doctor

Marin Agricultural Institute for Teachers
Learning from the land & teaching from the farm
Spring and fall 2013—free for bay area K–12 teachers
Starts Tuesday, May 28, 2013
4:30p.m. - 8:30p.m.

Visit beautiful Marin County farms and ranches and meet local producers. Discover multidisciplinary lessons related to health, language arts, social studies, science and math that correlate to State Standards. Connect with organizations and programs that provide access to bringing your classroom out on a farm or nearbly farmers' market. Deepen your understanding of your landscape and the people and the processes that protect it. Two evenings and two all day field trips, 24 contact hours for 1.5 CEUs. Dates: May 28, June 20 all day TBD: Weekend day in September, Field trip visiting local farms and ranches, TBD: October, evening 4:30 - 8:30p.m. final presentations and graduation.

Register online at http://ucanr.edu/aginstituteforteachers Call 415 663 9667 for more information or visit http://ucanr.edu/growninmarin.org/ait $50 to register - $50 stipend for completion - 1.5 Dominican University credits offered Institute Partners are Agricultural Institute of Marin, Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Marin County Farm Bureau, Marin County Office of Education, Slide Ranch and University of California Cooperative Extension.

Family Day at Toluma Farms
May 4, 2013
11:00 - 2p.m.

Your whole family will enjoy a visit to Toluma Farms and Tomales Farmstead Creamery. You can see cheese being made and pet the baby lambs and kids. You will explore the barn and milking parlor, ride in the tractor, go for a hike and get a glimpse of what a sustainable goat and sheep dairy operation is all about. Taste the cheese being made, bring a picnic, and enjoy the MALT protected rolling hills and stunning views.

Toluma Farms is located outside the town of Tomales, nestled above Marshall and the Tomales Bay estuary. Owners Tamara Hicks and David Jablons have spent significant time restoring the creeks and watersheds located on the property. 

Come meet these stewards of the land and enjoy a day of family fun on the farm!

Price (per person):
$20 for Friends of Marin Organic
$25 for Non-members
$10 for Children 2 - 16 years old (under 2 free)

**$5 for children that have attended Farm Field Studies

Register for Family Day at Toluma Farms

McEvoy Ranch Tour
Friday, April 19th
9:45 - 12:00p.m.

McEvoyJoin Marin Organic on a walking tour of McEvoy Ranch's beautiful grounds and olive orchards. Learn about the ranch's history, commitment to environmental responsibility, and how they make their organically certified, extra virgin olive oil. We'll venture into the state-of-the-art milling room to hear about their unique olive oil production process, and wrap up the tour with an oil tasting and sensory evaluation, as well as insider's tips on how to best enjoy McEvoy's olive oil.

Price (per person):
$30 for Friends of Marin Organic
$40 for Non-Members
~This tour is restricted to persons 10 years of age or older~

Register for the McEvoy Ranch Tour

Japanese Farm Food Book Event and Dinner
Saltwater Oyster Depot
Friday, April 19, 2013
Two seatings: 5:30pm and 7:30pm

Point Reyes Books, Saltwater Oyster Depot and Marin Organic present: Japanese Farm Food Dinner, Talk and Book Signing with Nancy Singleton Hachisu, Farm To Table Prix Fixe Dinner featuring True Grass Farm. Prepared by Nancy Singleton Hachisu and Saltwater staff using recipes from her book, Japanese Farm Food. Japanese Farm Food offers a unique window into life on a Japanese farm through the simple, clear-flavored recipes cooked from family crops and other local, organic products. The multitude of vibrant images by Kenji Miura of green fields, a traditional farmhouse, antique baskets, and ceramic bowls filled with beautiful, simple dishes are interwoven with Japanese indigo fabrics to convey an intimate, authentic portrait of life and food on a Japanese farm. With a focus on fresh and thoughtfully sourced ingredients, the recipes in Japanese Farm Food are perfect for fans of farmers’ markets, and for home cooks looking for accessible Japanese dishes. Personal stories about family and farm life complete this incredible volume. For reservations: saltwaterdepot.com

Windrush Family Farm Day
April 6, 2013
10:30 - 1:30p.m.

Come feed the barn animals, milk a goat, hold a chicken, pet a spring lamb, and experience the magical process of transforming wool to yarn and cream to butter!

Windrush Farm is a 25-acre mixed-use farm lovingly shared by goats, chickens, flocks of Shetland and Corriedale cross sheep, llamas, alpacas, and of course, owner Mimi Luebberman. Wool from Mimi's sheep, along with fleece from the llamas and alpacas, provide fine wool for local fiber artists. 

Each guest will take home their own hand-spun bracelet!

Bring a picnic to complement bread spread with your handmade butter and local jams.  

Price (per person)
$20 for Friends of Marin Organic
$25 for Non-members
$10 for children 2 - 16 years old (kids under 2 free)

**$5 for children that have attended Farm Field Studies

Register for Windrush Family Farm Day

On-Farm Volunteer Training for Adult Tour Leaders
Saturday, March 30th, 10am to 12pm
Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, 5300 Nicasio Valley Rd. in Nicasio

Learn how to lead Marin Organic farm tours for adults while touring the Nicasio Valley Cheese Company's organic ranch, dairy and cheese factory. You are welcome to join the Windrush Farm training and tour as well from 1pm to 4pm.

Register for Adult Tours Training here.

On-Farm Volunteer Training for Farm Field Studies

Saturday, March 30th, 1pm to 4pm, led by farmer Mimi Luebbermann
Windrush Farm, 2263 Chileno Valley Road in western Petaluma

Learn to assist with the K-12 school groups on Farm Field Studies trips. School field trips take place on weekday mornings at several Marin Organic farms.

 -At Indian Valley, we'll learn the fun games, hands-on activities and discussion points that we use on farm field trips! Please consider staying for the Gleaning Training and pot luck from 4pm to 6pm.

 -At Windrush Farm, you will learn how to host a farm visit and how to run the different hands on activities such as butter making, goat milking and pond explorations! Bring your lunch and we will picnic together at the farm and later celebrate your completion of the training. 

 -Both training days are required for  volunteers interested in working with the Farm Field Studies Program. 

Register for Farm Field Studies Training here.

On-Farm Volunteer Training for Farm Field Studies

Tuesday, March 19th, 2pm to 4pm, led by educator Scott Davidson
Indian Valley Organic Farm, College of Marin, 1800 Ignacio in Novato

Saturday, March 30th, 1pm to 4pm, led by farmer Mimi Luebbermann
Windrush Farm, 2263 Chileno Valley Road in western Petaluma

Learn to assist with the K-12 school groups on Farm Field Studies trips. School field trips take place on weekday mornings at several Marin Organic farms.

 -At Indian Valley, we'll learn the fun games, hands-on activities and discussion points that we use on farm field trips! Please consider staying for the Gleaning Training and pot luck from 4pm to 6pm.

 -At Windrush Farm, you will learn how to host a farm visit and how to run the different hands on activities such as butter making, goat milking and pond explorations! Bring your lunch and we will picnic together at the farm and later celebrate your completion of the training. 

 -Both training days are required for  volunteers interested in working with the Farm Field Studies Program. 

Register for Farm Field Studies Training here.

On-Farm Volunteer Training for Glean Team Leaders
Tuesday, March 19th, 4pm to 6pm
Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden, College of Marin
1800 Ignacio Blvd. in Novato

Learn to lead the Marin Organic Glean Team which harvests extra foods for donation to local schools and food banks. A community potluck follows this training, so please bring some yummy food to share.  

Register for Glean Team Training here.

Igniting the Green Fire: Finding Hope in Aldo Leopold's Land Ethic
Point Reyes Station
March 15,16 and 17th 2013

Point Reyes Books and the Geography of Hope present the first West Coast gathering of the world's foremost Aldo Leopold experts and the only opportunity to meet and hear from the creators and stars of Green Fire, the first film about Leopold's life and legacy.

The author of Sand County Almanac, Leopold is regarded by many as the most influential conservation thinker of the twentieth century. His legacy continues to inform and inspire in West Marin where the conference is held and where his themes of community-based conservation and a land ethic are evident in preserved parklands, working landscapes, and protected farmland.

The weekend also features spirited conversations and presentations by prominent authors, naturalists, and conservation leaders, including Aldo Leopold biographer Curt Meine, Aldo Leopold Foundation director Buddy Huffaker, Leopold scholars Susan Flader and J. Baird Callicott, poet Robert Hass, authors Gary Nabhan and John Francis, and Center for Whole Communities founder Peter Forbes (partial list).  Details at www.ptreyesbooks.com.

Finding Hope in Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic is presented by Point Reyes Books and co-sponsored by the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the Center for Humans and Nature, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Become a Marin Organic Volunteer!
Help us connect students and adults to local food and farms.
March 9th, 19th and 30th on various Marin Organic farms

We believe that every person has the right to local, organic agriculture.  Together we will build a healthy local food system for all.  Please join us!  

Attend an orientation and learn about Marin Organic's new strategic plans and programs. Become a trained volunteer with our farm educators and farmers so you help us connect school groups and adults to local organic food and farms. You will also learn to lead the Marin Organic Glean team which harvests extras food for local schools and food banks.  If on farm educating is not for you, there are many ways to help with projects in the office, at farmer dinners and out in the community.    

Become the solution ~ Register for trainings below!

Marin Organic Volunteer Orientation
Thursday, March 7th, 6:30pm to 9pm
Indian Valley Campus, College of Marin
1800 Ignacio Blvd., Building 27, in Novato

Meet new friends and community members as you learn about local organic agriculture, the trends in organics both locally and nationally, as well our new programs and volunteer opportunities.  Hear from Marin Organic's new Education Director Constance Washburn and from Marin Organic farmer and board member Sara Tashker of Green Gulch Zen Center & Farm about the history of Marin Organic and exciting new programs in 2013.  

 

Volunteer Orientation is required. If you are interested in volunteering but unable to attend the Orientation, please contact Constance@MarinOrganic.org. 

Register for Orientation here.

Art Works Downtown Presents: A holiday exhibit and fundraiser for Marin Organic's Farm Field Studies, Nov. 30 - Jan. 17
Art Works Downtown, 1337 4th Street, San Rafael
Opening Reception, Friday, December 14, 5-8p.m.

Join us for the opening reception at Art Works Downtown featuring appetizers from Arizmendi Bakery and wine from Point Reyes Vineyard as well as samples from Marin Organic producers. 25% of the art sales will go to our Farm Field Studies Program. Also on display are farm artifacts from the Marin History Museum and photos and lesson plans from the Farm Field Studies Program. It is a great exhibit for the whole family and a great opportunity to do your holiday shopping!

On-farm Innovation Workshop
Farming innovations from the soil to product sales
Gospel Flat Farm ~ 140 Olema-Bolinas Road, Bolinas
Thursday, December 13th, 12:30 - 3p.m.

Please join us for a workshop dedicated to farming innovations, from the soil to product sales. the afternoon will include a presentation by host mickey murch, farm tour, and discussion of innovative on-farm tool making, farm resource recovery, sales strategies, and more. this workshop will inspire creative problem solving, create time for discussion with fellow growers, and give you the opportunity to strategize for your own operation.

Topics Include:
Custom-built farm machinery and what you need to build your own
Resource recovery and feeding the soil
Extending seasons to bring in a year-round harvest
Innovative marketing strategies

Register online at: http://ucanr.edu/on_farm_innovation

$5 donation requested, payable by credit card through online registration, or by cash or check at the door. Refreshments and warm drinks will be provided. For more information, contact Juliet Braslow at jnbraslow@ucanr.edu.

A Grown in Marin workshop hosted by Mickey Murch of Gospel Flat Farm and Marin Organic and organized by UC Cooperative Extension, Marin

Food for Thought

"Symphony of the Soil” Film Screening and Director Q&A
Friday, November 16 at Dominican University of California
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

A multi-film project by director Deborah Koons Garcia, Symphony of the Soil delves into the complexity and mystery of soil. Filmed on four continents and sharing the voices of some of the world’s most esteemed soil scientists, farmers and activists, the film portrays soil as a protagonist of our planetary story.

Using a captivating mix of art and science, the film shows that soil is a complex living organism, the foundation of life on earth. There will be a Q&A immediately following the screening.

Deborah Koons Garcia

About the Director
Deborah Koons Garcia has a Master of Fine Arts from The San Francisco Art Institute. She has made fiction, educational and documentary films. Her film production company, Lily Films, is located in Mill Valley, California. For the last ten years, she has focused primarily on films about agriculture and the food system.

Location: Dominican University of California
Guzman Lecture Hall
50 Acacia Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901

Price (per person):
$15 for Friends of Marin Organic **
$20 for Non-Members

**Marin Organic Friend Memberships start at just $40 per family.
Click here to become a Member!

Register for the November 16th “Symphony of the Soil”Film Screening and Director Q & A.

2012 Food for Thought Sponsors:

Food for Thought sponsor logos

 


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