Fun weekend event :-)

If you're looking for something to do this Saturday, our CSA farm is hosting a summer solstice celebration at their farm. It's in Watsonville so it may be a little bit of a drive for you, but it sure seems like fun... Here's the information:

This is a great day for getting to know the farm. We have many activities planned for everyone to enjoy. From tractor rides with me touring the fields, to milking the goats, to making cheese and ice cream, to learning how to bake in our traditional cob-oven; you can help plant pumpkins, or visit the animals (goats, chickens, and sheep) grazing on the pasture. Kuzanga, an eight member marimba band, will be playing again as they have for the last 10 years, with incredible music we can all dance to, as we light our traditional bonfire at dusk and enjoy the wonderful spread food everyone brings to the potluck (see schedule below for more details).

Summer Solstice Celebration this Saturday June 18th!
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Here is the nitty-gritty - everything you need to know about our celebration. But first, some answers to the most frequently asked questions! (Please don't call the office Saturday with questions - no one will be there; we'll all be outside for the event!) ;-)

<> YES, both members and non-members (friends of the farm!) are welcome; we just ask for a $10 - $15 donation per carload for non-members. Donations benefit our non-profit education arm, the Live Earth Farm Discovery Program.

<> NO, it doesn't otherwise cost anything to attend - except everyone should bring something to share in our potluck (more details below)

<> NO, you don't need to RSVP ;-) Just come!

<> And PLEASE do not bring your dogs with you to the farm. Leave them at home.

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When: this Saturday June 18th, from 2 - 9 pm
(You're welcome to arrive a little early, but please do not come before 1pm as we will still be setting things up! - thanks!)

Parking: Please follow the signs. We have two parking areas, one at 172 Litchfield Lane (main farm entrance), and an overflow parking area at 1275 Green Valley Road. Parking at 1275 Green Valley Road means you will have to walk a ways - about a quarter mile, including a short distance up a fairly steep hill - to get to the main area of events. Save gas and carpool!

Directions: https://www.liveearthfarm.net/locateus.aspx

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Farm tours with Farmer Tom (there will be two tours): 3pm and 4pm
Take a tractor ride and visit the fields, orchards and the farm's renovated redwood barn. Learn about our growing practices, the crops, and how our produce makes it from the fields to your dinner plate. Your chance to meet the Farmer himself, bring your questions, stories, and don't be shy to give feedback.

Self-guided walking tours: all afternoon (map will be provided)
You are welcome to visit at your own pace the animals, the children's garden, our Permaculture garden and solar areas, our native grass and hedgerow plantings, the farm equipment, and of course, the ever-popular all-day-long Straw Bale Climbing Fort!

Strawberries:
No U-pick, however you are welcome to browse (pick and eat) as you walk the farm or are on tour with Farmer Tom :-)

Ongoing Games and Activities (for children of all ages!): 2pm - 6pm
? Scavenger hunt - please bring your own tote bags or baskets for collecting in!
? Tours of the farm animals
? Strawberry chocolate-dipping - pick berries from the field and dip them in melted chocolate ganache from The Buttery! YUM!
? Face painting
? Climbing on our straw-bale fort
? Ice-cream making
? Popcorn shucking and popping
? Planting in the LEF Discovery Garden - visit our Education Garden, help plant this year's pumpkin patch and learn about our farm's educational programs.
? and more... there are always a few surprises!

Bread-baking in the Farm's traditional wood-fired cob oven: 2pm - 5:30pm
We will have dough on hand but you are encouraged to also bring your own yeast or sour-dough to bake with.

Milking and Cheesemaking: 2:30 - 5:30pm
Participate and learn more about goat husbandry, milking and basic cheese-making techniques.

Music with Kuzanga Marimba: Starts at 6:00pm to bring us all together for the potluck dinner, and continues until 9pm.

Welcome Circle: 6:15pm

Potluck Dinner: 6:30pm
(details below)

Bonfire: lit at Sundown
Tradition dictates that the children gather with Farmer Tom, and all get to help him light the fire. Music and dancing around the fire continues until the end of the evening!

Remember to bring jackets and sweaters as it gets cool after dark, and a flashlight for navigating back to your car if you stay until after dark!

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Potluck Details
<> Everyone please bring something to share - an entree, a salad, a dessert - whatever you like! We never organize it more than that and always seem to have a nice variety.
<> How much to bring? If in doubt, bring more, as we always seem to eat it all up! ;-) In all my years at Solstice Celebrations I have not seen folks going home with lots of left-overs!
<> Please bring a serving utensil to go with your dish!
<> Put your name on your dish and serving utensil with some masking tape or something, in case they get separated, and so we know who they belong to if they get inadvertently left behind.
<> Please provide an ingredient list for your dish on a piece of paper or 3x5 card so folks with food allergies or special diets will know what they can and cannot eat.
<> Where to put your pot-luck items when you arrive? We will have several tables for placing your pot-luck items on out near the fire circle. If you have something that needs to be refrigerated, you can pop it into our walk-in cooler to the right of the breezeway in our "upper barn". If it just needs to stay cool (not in the heat of your car), you can also put it on a table inside the breezeway/classroom area until pot-luck time. If you arrive closer to pot-luck time, simply bring it to the table area. We have extremely limited facilities for re-heating anything, so please don't plan on that if you can help it.
<> There will be water and lemonade, but feel free to bring additional beverages for your own consumption or to share.
<> We encourage you all to bring your own picnic plates, cups, bowls, silverware etc. in order to minimize unrecyclable garbage. We will have a washing station, where you can rinse them when you are through eating.
<> And bring a blanket to picnic on, or your own chairs if you prefer.

 Sorry the writing is so small - I copied/pasted and don't know how to adjust the font size...