Slow Food Nation '08

Sunday, August 31 | 8am – 6:30pm (10.5 hrs)

Dazzling benefits of the sun – solar energy, olive, food and wine! Hosted by Slow Food Mendocino.

Meeting Location + Time: 7:45 a.m. at the Civic Center Slow Food Nation Welcome Center at Larkin and Grove. Bus will leave from the steps of the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

General Itinerary

• Real Goods Solar Living Institute – Tour the gorgeous 12-acre demonstration site and join a discussion of alternative energy for agricultural, industrial and residential applications with the country’s leading experts in this field.
• Olivino Olive Mill – Tour and discussion of emerging olive cultivation, especially biodynamic and organic production, then taste the results!
• SIP! Mendocino – Local Mendocino County wine tasting and picnic lunch featuring local foods.
• Golden Vineyards – Located in a restored hop barn, tour the biodynamic vineyard and discuss growing practices with owner Julie Golden and her vineyard manager.
• Bonterra Vineyards – Last stop is the site of a conservation easement, for a short tour and talk with the Executive Director of the Mendocino Land Trust and from the Sustainable Winegrowers’ Alliance.

6:30 pm Return to the Welcome Center

This Slow Journey is limited to 50 people and will be filled first-come, first-served.

Cost: $119

Disclaimer: Due to changing conditions (harvest times, etc.) we reserve the right to change the producers/content and/or order of the itinerary to similar producers/content if necessary.

For a longer, slower description, please read on:

Though the journey is a little longer than some, this trip to Mendocino is well worth the time. You will ride in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach and arrive mid-morning at the unique Real Goods Solar Living Institute in Hopland. The Solar Living Center (SLC) was designed as a model of sustainable building practices, including renewable energy and energy efficiency, self-sufficiency, and the use of environmentally friendly building products and recycled-content products. The gorgeous 12-acre demonstration site is visited by nearly 200,000 people annually. Here, you will have a tour and discussion of alternative energy for agricultural, industrial and residential applications.

From Real Goods, you’ll pop over to Olivino olive mill, just a few minutes away. Founded in 2004 by Italian, Swiss, and American partners, Olivino brings together traditional know-how, precision technology, and a determination to excel in quality and service. Olivino’s management team combines decades of experience in agriculture, ranching, land conservation, manufacturing, business management, finance, and marketing. Every member is also a down-to-earth green thumb with a passion for growing and nurturing plants and trees. There will be a tour and discussion of emerging olive cultivation, especially biodynamic and organic production as well as an olive oil tasting (of course!)

From Olivino, you go to SIP! Mendocino for local Mendocino County wine tasting and boxed lunches featuring local foods (veggie or sausage sandwich, salad, cheese, breads & cookies).

Fully nourished and rejuvenated, you’ll head over to Golden Vineyards, located in a restored hop barn where you’ll tour their biodynamic vineyard and discuss growing practices with owner Julie Golden and her vineyard manager.

For the last stop of the day, you’ll visit the Bonterra Vineyards site of conservation easement, for a tour and talk with Mendocino Land Trust Executive Director James Bernard and Dr. Ann Thrupp of Brown-Forman and the Sustainable Winegrowers’ Alliance.