Our farm events are created to connect children and grown-ups to the farm land through hands-on activities, and to bring the community together around art and music, a pot-luck and a bonfire. Each event has its own flow and dynamic based on Nature and its seasonal qualities, the farm and its rhythms, and the CSA community itself.
During the celebrations, children and grown-ups can run freely (we have a great hay bale stack and a swing set) or be engaged in a number of guided activities such as: picking and eating strawberries, planting seedlings, picking flowers, pressing apples for juice, carving pumpkins (in the fall) or petting the baby goats and "Peanut" the pony. CSA members volunteer to supervise and organize some of these activities, and often come up with new ideas. In 2001 we built a wood-fired bread oven, and ever since, baking of bread and pizzas is 'a must' at all farm gatherings. One year we made hand-cranked ice cream with freshly picked strawberries, and boy was it ever was a winner!
As part of our events, we like to give thanks to the Earth that nourishes us. We encourage the children to go into the fields and then come back and display what they have discovered and harvested. The grown-ups have a chance to share food, recipes and camaraderie during our pot-luck. Being appreciative for the land and its generosity is one way to give thanks.
Music always finds its place on the farm. When the bonfire is lit, drums, flutes and guitars emerge and make magical music to accompany the fire's own voice. Once a year, generally during the fall equinox celebration, a group of local musicians transforms our fire circle into a dance floor (When was the last time that you danced bare foot on the earth?).
The Banana Slug String Band, a local music group famous (especially among families with children) for their ecologically inspired lyrics, also come on a regular basis to share with us their uplifting beats. On occasion one musician transforms himself into a redwood ("Look Mom, its Plant Man!") to the delight of the crowd!
Our Children's Mini-Camp is another opportunity for CSA members to explore
the land in all its splendor. Time is spent harvesting and preparing the food,
and taking care of the animals, with lots of playing in-between. Once we played
hide-and-seek at night, in the corn field and in the orchard, with the full
moon looking over us. Suddenly, fears of the darkness disappeared to give space
for wonderful games with the moon shadow.
2008 Season Calendar
| (click here for directions to the farm!) |
SANTA CRUZ PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE
One weekend per month for 6 months, held on the 3rd weekend of each month starting
in February;
Note: the Weekends April 19/20 and May 17/18 to be in the Mataganza Garden
Sanctuary at Live Earth Farm
Topic for LEF weekends: "Natural building, sustainable restoration
techniques and the home ecosystem"
Taught by Larry Santoyo, Brian Barth and others
for more information or to register:
http://www.earthflow.com/santacruzPDC08.php
SPRING "SIX THURSDAYS" MATAGANZA
GARDEN INTERNSHIP
In the Mataganza Garden Sanctuary at Live Earth Farm
Thursday May 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th and June 5th
10am - 5pm
Be a part of a project on the land where the community
can discover, apply, and celebrate the universal principles and dynamics of Nature.
Come participate in the creation of a one acre Permaculture-inspired ethno-botanical
garden and gain practical experience.
*******************************************************************
** Permaculture
Design * Agroforestry * Aesthetic Design * Local Ecology * Terra-forming * Appropriate
Horticulture * Sustainable Water Harvesting, Storage, and Use Strategies * Soil
Farming/Growing Fertility On-Site * Implementation Techniques**
*******************************************************************
Cost: $60 (this is a $10/week contribution towards the materials needed
for our work in the garden)
Contact: Brian Barth at (831) 566-3336 or edenfruits2002@yahoo.com
HERBALISM CLASSES AT LIVE
EARTH FARM
Put on by the American School of Herbalism and Five Flavors Herbs
Herbal First Aid March 15-16
This fun and practical class will teach how to respond to commonly encountered
first aid and emergency situations with Western and Chinese herbal medicine and
other therapeutic strategies. Participants will develop an herbal first aid kit
for treatment of wounds, trauma, infections, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and
emotional emergencies. Basic assessment skills will be developed or refreshed
and attention will be paid to when a higher level of medical intervention may
be necessary. With Benjamin Zappin, L.Ac. and Ingrid Bauer.
Medicine Making May 10-11
Learn the basics of making effective herbal remedies from harvesting to finished
product. In this hands-on weekend we will make teas, tinctures, syrups, oils,
salves,
and other topical preparations. Participants will go home with a variety of medicines
they've made in class. With Benjamin Zappin, L.Ac. and Ingrid Bauer.
Cooking with Herbs July 19-20
Learn to incorporate healthful herbs and medicinal foods into your diet during
this delicious weekend. We will discuss, prepare, and taste examples of traditional
Chinese dietary therapies, dishes that highlight wild and garden-grown herbs
and seasonal vegetables, and the medicinal uses of common culinary herbs. With
Benjamin Zappin, L.Ac. and Ingrid Bauer.
All classes held at Live Earth Farm, Watsonville, CA Sat 10-4:30, Sun 10-4:30
Cost for each class: $150 for licensed acupuncturists (10 CEUs for licensed acupuncturists
pending), $130 general public. Vegetarian lunch provided.
***Sign up for all three classes for $400.00 (licensed acupuncturists) or $350
(general public)***
Contact: Benjamin Zappin, L.Ac.
(831) 420-0124
5flavors@fiveflavorsherbs.com
American School of Herbalism CEU provider #538
SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION
Saturday June 21st (field tours 2 - 5; celebrations 5 - 9)
Children's games and activities, of couse!
Help bake (and eat!) pizzas and bread in our wood-fired oven.
Meet your fellow CSA members over a big wonderful pot-luck.
Kuzanga Marimba will be playing for us again!
(click
here to see what 2003's celebration was like!)
(and here for a lovely
video of 2007's Solstice Celebration! Be sure to have your sound
turned on!!)
(click here for more information
about our Celebrations)
CHILDREN'S MINI-CAMP
July 11th - 13th (Friday evening through Sunday noon)
An educational & fun overnight stay for parents & budding farmers.
(click here for more information about
Mini-Camp)
FALL EQUINOX COB BUILDING WORKSHOP AND CAMPOUT
Saturday and Sunday September 20th and 21st
Join us on the farm for the Fall Equinox and help us build a new cob oven and
bench! Live Earth Farm will be
hosting a cob building workshop and camp out. We will offer hands-on lessons
in cob building techniques using materials available right here on the farm. A
three year resident of the farm, Brian Barth will teach us how to build using
natural materials and longtime friend of the farm, Charles Limbaugh will provide
the oven engineering expertise. If we are lucky, our very own CSA coordinator
Debbie will lead the artistic pursuit of a new oven guardian to finish it off. Participants
are then invited to share a potluck dinner, camp out on the farm and enjoy a
farm breakfast in the morning before we finish the oven on Sunday. Your
participation fees for this event will help fund the farm’s fledgling nonprofit,
the Live Earth Farm Learning and Discovery Program. If you are interested
in a hands-on learning experience in the art of cob building please contact Jessica,
Live Earth Farm’s Education Programs Coordinator at:
831-763-2448
LEFeducation@baymoon.com
FINE FARM FEAST: Fine Food, Fine Wine, Fine
Music, Fine Company and a Fine Cause
Saturday October 4th
This is a new event for Live Earth Farm! Local
chefs, artisans and vintners will come together to create a fresh, local feast
to be served in the fields of Live Earth Farm. Under a warm October sky
guests will be treated to a five course meal, live music and a local wine paired
with each course. The
proceeds from this event will help fund the farm’s fledgling nonprofit,
the Live Earth Farm Learning and Discovery Program. If you are interested
in tasting the season’s freshest produce, while seated at an elegant table
in the very fields where the produce was grown please contact Jessica, Live Earth
Farm’s Education Programs Coordinator at:
(831) 763-2448
LEFeducation@baymoon.com
FALL HARVEST CELEBRATION
Saturday October [date TBA] 3pm until dark
This will be a combination of our old Fall Equinox Celebration and Pumpkin
Palooza. Much like
the summer solstice, with our traditional pot-luck, bonfire, and activities,
but geared for the changing of the season. Apple pressing and pumpkin carving.
The Banana Slug String Band (hopefully!). And you can pick up your halloween
pumpkin and take it home with you at the end of the evening!
(click
here to see what 2002's celebration was like!)
(and here for a lovely
video of 2007's Harvest Celebration! Be sure to have your sound turned
on!!)
(click here for more information
about our Celebrations)
