Steamin’ Organic!

Several months ago, my friend & Sunday market manager Raquel asked me if I would style a lunch for 150 San Diego area Certified Organic Farmers. What was I to say~ Sure!

The event was held today, sponsored by CCOF, the leading trade organization which certifies organic farmers in the State of California.  See the CCOF link HERE.  We had a long list of speakers, covering relevant issues.  There are so many hurdles to being an organic farmer…..it is incredible…

I was given a modest budget, which bought inexpensive baskets and $4 worth of kale; to this I added grapes and apples donated by Paul Smit of Smit Orchards~

I have spent the last week at the laundromat, washing 40 yards of burlap for the table runners for 18 tables; UGH; but they looked perfect on the tables today, very class, with a smattering of leaves from the garden~

The centerpieces were quickly sold for $10 each and so were a “for profit” item; in addition to the Smit Orchards fruit, they contained hydroponic lettuces from San Diego’s fantastic organic B Street Growers, and were finished with burlap bows & moss~

I thought everyone had seen the “votive in the apple” trick, but apparently not.  Everyone commented on the pair on each table; Kerry pronounced me spacially gifted as I can carve an opening in an apple x 40 with precision and speed.  These were so cute on the tables! Try this if you can for fall; maybe I should do a tutorial….

Our venue was the Gas & Steam Engine Museum, see link HERE.  On about 50 acres in Vista, California, this was an amazing find for me, a mechanical paradise~

There are dozens of vintage tractors on the acreage~

Under the covered warehouses, you will find fantastic collections of rare farm equipment, including 19thC steam tractors~

As well as a few exotics, including a 1954 Sno-Cat~

Each building held a different collection of vehicles, all grouped by age or fuel type~

The highlight for me was the blacksmith shop~

They have a series of blacksmith classes!

For dudes only; they said “we’ve never had a girl in pearls come here!”

Can you think of a better way for the guys to spend Saturday mornings? 

Despite the testosterone, Raquel and I said we are signing up; doesn’t this look like FUN?~

This is sooo fascinating to me~ sign me up!

Three months is $40; here they are turning the crank, which stokes the fire through an air vent below; today’s project is a fireplace poker with a heart-shaped handle (beginners’ class)~

Here they are making a mallet head~

I can think of a few manly-men who would love this place~

Smoky, dusky, there are fans to pull the air out the vents, but it is completely atmospheric~

Outside, the view is very picturesque; I’m going to suggest to Dave that they hold photography classes here~

I got so many good photos today; too many to fit in one blog post~

The lunch was a great success and a collaboration among many people;  my thanks to all involved in the event and to all the California Certified Organic Farmers  who attended…..

Special thanks to John The Medicine Man…you made my day~~