On Saturday, September 23 we welcomed over 200 guests, artisans, chefs, teachers, sponsors, students & volunteers to the farm for our annual Fall Feast, Pollinate. It was a gorgeous sunny afternoon and evening on the hill, under the lights and stars. The event started with fantastic appetizers by Jessica Yarr and Assembly, wine by Storrs Winery, Beer by Discretion and a signature Venus Spirits cocktail we dubbed a Strawberry, Rosemary Bees Knees.
The silent auction was well curated with evening on the town baskets, massages, good wine and more. Santa Cruz Bats taught us about those cool pollinators while Santa Cruz Bee Company shared their observation hive and endless knowledge. We all enjoyed the fruits of past years events with visits by the goats and our BCS, for which funds were raised in 2015 & 2016.
The Lampel Brothers played some sweet bluegrass and we also had a lovely guest performance from MOSO (artists Morgen & Sofia), two students from the Santa Cruz Montessori. Campers and camp Jr. Staff speakers shared their stories of empowerment while dinner was served.
Our menu included Morris Grass-fed Chuck Roast with pureed poblano sauce with Live Earth Farm roasted baby carrots & beets, grilled summer squash, garlic & rosemary butterball potatoes & wilted spinach & arugula. For dessert we had Buttercup Cakes lemon ginger cupcake with honey frosting & crystallized ginger bits & Mission Hill Creamery vanilla ice cream topped with BB Hill Farm candied citrus peel.
Our dinner and dessert refreshments were provided by Chesebro Wines, Osocalis Brandy and Chaucers Meade. Thank you in addition to Blue Heron Farms, UCSC Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems, Geoff Caras and Marissa Swett for the flowers and their bee buddies.
We raised $45,000 for our empowering farm-based nutrition, and environmental education programs with $23,000 of that being raised that night! Your generosity is inspiring and contagious. Thank You!
Most of all, thank you to those of you who attended the event and made it such a lovely evening.
