Find special agricultural events offered on the Central Coast

When you plan your trip on the back roads of California's Central Coast keep in mind these annual events. Not much happens in the winter on ranches and farms. That's when we're all taking a rest if — you can call ordering seeds and repairing irrigation lines and equipment taking a break! All of the agriculture-related events start in the late spring with the beginning of the growing season and end in the fall with harvest. Ag Adventures members - Does your farm or ranch have an upcoming special event? Contact Joy at 238-3799 or e-mail to get your information posted on our website.

	March 2011
	Fiber Processing and End Product Production Workshop, Paso Robles Alpacas at Crossroads Ranch http://crossroadsranch.openherd.com Call or email for more information 805-237-9640 swallace@rain.org
	April 2011
	Beginning Natural Dye Class, Paso Robles Saturday, April 17, 10 a.m. to ? Alpacas at Crossroads Ranch http://crossroadsranch.openherd.com Bring sack lunch. Class size 6-10 maximum. Cost is $75.00 per person. Call or email for application. 805-237-9640 swallace@rain.org
	1st Annual Apple Blossom Festival Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. http://www.slocreekfarms.com SLO Creek Farms is holding their 1st Annual Apple Blossom Festival. This is a great event for the entire family to enjoy together. There will be pony rides, apple juggling contests, kids crafts, guided nature walk, Miss Apple Blossom Beauty Pageant, Adopt a Pet, Food Bank Donations, Apple Blossom Walk,Fundraiser Butterfly Release, yoga in the orchard, live music, petting zoo and much more. This event is held right in the SLO Creek Farms u-pick apple area. Come see the beautiful apple blossoms bloomed on the apple trees. Bring a blanket, a sack lunch and have a family picnic in the apple orchard. So many things to do, this will be a great day!

	May 2011
	Advanced Natural Dye Class, Paso Robles Saturday, May 7, 10 a.m. to ? Alpacas at Crossroads Ranch http://crossroadsranch.openherd.com Beginning Class a prerequisite (4/17/10). Bring a sack lunch. Class size 6 maximum. Cost is $75.00 per person. Call or email for application and details. For those who wish to bring 8 ox. of their own mordanted yarn to dye at the workshop, there will be a materials fees of $20. Call Sandra for more information at 805-237-9640 or e-mail: swallace@rain.org
	Pioneer Pearls - A Gala Evening, Paso Robles Saturday, May 14 Paso Robles Pioneer Museum This will be the Paso Robles' Pioneer Museum second annual gala fundraiser. Visit their website for more information about this exciting event.
	Growing Agritourism Workshop, Salinas Wednesday, May 18, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. UC Cooperative Extension Monterey County, 1432 Abbott St, Salinas http://ucanr.org/2011agtour Farmers, agricultural and tourism professionals, local officials and community leaders will sit down to talk about improving agritourism opportunities in the Central Coast region at a “Growing Agritourism” workshop coordinated by the University of California Small Farm Program. For more information contact: Penny Leff, paleff@ucdavis.edu, 530-752-7779 The “Growing Agritourism” workshops will include: Presentations from agritourism operators and other regional experts about the benefits, possibilities and challenges of California agritourism Resources and tools for marketing, agritourism association development and effective collaboration Facilitated discussions among local government staff members, agricultural professionals, tourism professionals and agritourism operators to share perspectives and help build regional networks The workshop is sponsored by the UC Small Farm Program and UC Cooperative Extension Monterey County. Major funding to support the workshops is from Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.
	Shearing Day, Paso Robles Sunday, May 24 Alpacas at Crossroads Ranch http://crossroadsranch.openherd.com Shearing will be done by Eddie Dunham. Let us know if you'd like to train as a fiber helper in exchange for fleece or end product or getting alpacas shorn here at cost (usually ends up at $24 per animal). We're going to sort into three bags this year...1sts (blankets), 2nds (neck), thirds (leg, britch,belly, etc.), plus recording weights. I will be purchasing Coarse Broads DVD to use in training sessions for all involved. For more information call Sandra at 805-237-9640 or e-mail: swallace@rain.org
	July 2011
	Third Annual Lavender Festival, Paso Robles Saturday, July 9, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Paso Robles City Park CentralCoastLavenderFestival.com Central Coast Lavender Growers Association is proud to announce its Third Annual Lavender celebration here in San Luis Obispo county. Together with our community co-sponsor the Paso Robles Main Street Association, this is sure to be an event to remember. Join us with free music, Lavender Oil Distillation, workshops and and tastings together with dozens of Lavender Farmers and Growers from around the state of California. Bring the kids for a day of Lavender with special kids events and crafts. Local restaurants and chefs will be showcasing their culinary lavender goods along with a juried arts show. Free parking, Free Admission. For more info. contact Lila with the Lavender Growers Association at info@centralcoastlavenderfestival.com or visit the Lavender Festival web site http://www.cclavenderfestival.com
	August 2011
Photo Courtesy of Scott Loy	Kids Day on the Farm, Templeton Saturday, August 6, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Jack Creek Farms www.JackCreekFarms.com $6 cost per child - all ages welcome Jack Creek Farms will be offering a series of guided mini interactive workshops for children to participate in various farm activities and old time skills. Children will be allowed to: Churn Butter Plant Sunflowers Press Cider Make a Cornhusk Doll Make a Gourd Birdhouse Grind Wheat Berries into Flour Pet Farm Animals Play on a Haystack Rope a Dummy Steer Play in a Hay Maze Pump Water the Old-fashioned Way Wash clothes with a washboard and hang them on the line Cost is $6 per child. A pre-paid wrist band will allow your child to particpate in all of the workshops. Children will get to bring home a finished corn husk doll, a sunflower seed planted in a paper cup, a gourd bird house, a small bag of wheat and memories to last a lifetime!
	3rd Annual Scarecrow Contest, Templeton Entries Due: Sunday August 12th Setup Begins:Thursday, August 16th thru Saturday August 18th Prizes Awarded and Winners Announced : Sunday, August 19th Jack Creek Farms www.JackCreekFarms.com We will be hosting our 3rd Annual Scarecrow Contest. We have moved the date up by a month hoping we can miss most of the rains that hampered the event last fall. There will be a special division for young people under age 14. The contest is open to all ages. There is no entry fee to particpate. To see last year's winners, and for an application and full information, click for here for more details or visit www.ScarecrowContest.com .
	Old-Fashioned Threshing Bee, Templeton Saturday August 27th, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. (please note the event is taking place in August this year) Jack Creek Farms www.JackCreekFarms.com FREE Admision. Jack Creek Farms will be hosting an Old-fashioned Threshing Bee. Starting with standing wheat, volunteers will bind, stack, thresh, sack, clean and grind the grain into flour the same way it was done in the early 1900s. Visitors may try their hand at grinding wheat using an antique grain grinder. There will be whole wheat bread samples to taste. For more information visit the farm website or call Joy at 238-3799.
	September 2011
	Heirloom Tomato Tasting, Templeton Saturday September 17th, 1 p.m. Jack Creek Farms www.JackCreekFarms.com If you have always wondered what an heirloom vine-ripe tomato tastes like, or wanted to experience the subtle and bold differences between all the bright colors, shapes and sizes; here’s your chance to find out. The farm will be sampling a dozen or so different varieties of heirloom tomatoes, picked fresh from the field an hour before the event. Sample some old favorites like Mortgage Lifter Radiator Charlie, Cherokee Purple and Aunt Ruby’s German Green. The farm will supply the tomatoes, plates and forks. You supply the appetite. Admission is FREE! For more information visit the farm website or call Joy at 238-3799.
	20th Annual Rockhound Roundup September 17 and 18, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Paso Robles Pioneer Museum The Santa Lucia Rockhounds will be holding their 20th Annual Rockhound Roundup, a rock, gem and mineral show, at the Pioneer Museum and Pioneer Park, 2010 Riverside Avenue, Paso Robles. There will be dealers, exhibits, drawing prizes, youth activities, food and fun for all. Free admission. For more information contact Dale at (805) 226-0719 or Richard at (805) 467-2966.
	October 2011
	Pumpkin Painting Workshop, Templeton Thursday October 6th, 3:30 p.m. Jack Creek Farms www.JackCreekFarms.com What could be more fun than a friendly Jack-o-lantern in early October? Instead of carving; paint your pumpkin and it will last all month! Children ages 7 and up are welcome. A $5 fee will includes a freshly picked from the field small sugar pie pumpkin and all supplies to paint and decorate it. Visit the farm website for photos and more details. Reservations are required. Call Joy at 238-3799.
	Paso Robles Pioneer Day, Paso Robles Saturday October 8th, 10 a.m. Paso Robles Spring Street www.pasoroblespioneerday.org Pioneer Day 2010 marks its 80th anniversary. The first Pioneer Day was held on October 12, 1931. The anual parade is filled with antique tractors, farm equipment, horse drawn wagons, equestian groups, bands, floats and more! The parade starts at 10 a.m. A free public bean feed in the park follows the parade at noon. It's Unique... THE WHOLE DAY IS FREE and entirely funded by the business people and dedicated citizens of our area who say: "Leave Your Pocketbook at Home".
	Paso Robles Pioneer Museum Annual Open House Saturday October 8th, 1 p.m. (following the Pioneer Day Parade) www.pasoroblespioneermuseum.org Some of the special activities that have taken place at past Open House events . . . enjoying the music, watching wool spinning and wheat weaving, listening to small gasoline engines, practicing cowboy skills --- roping a stationary target and branding a block of wood, seeing the huge Jeanesville Pump and viewing the tractors that were driven through the parade.
	Valley Harvest Festival, Arroyo Grande www.agharvestfestival.com The city of Arroyo Grande will be hosting their 74th Annual Arroyo Grande Valley Harvest Festival. It is a celebration of the community and its history. The festival will include a hometown parade, live entertainment, contests, a farmers’ market, arts, crafts, food and more! Some of the contests include: costume, chili, scarecrow, cow milking, cow chip throwing, a skillet toss, baking, pie and canning contests. Even an adult spelling bee! For more information visit the above website or call 458-3321.
	Halloween at the Farm, Templeton Monday October 31st, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Jack Creek Farms www.JackCreekFarms.com Bring your entire family to the farm on Halloween Day. Every person who shows up in costume and poses for a photo will receive a FREE Jack-o-lantern!!! (Quantities Limited – while supplies last).
	November 2010
	Heirloom Winter Squash Tasting & Workshop, Templeton Saturday November 5th, 1 p.m. (heavy rain cancels to following weekend) Jack Creek Farms www.JackCreekFarms.com It is so easy to transform winter squash into fabulous autumn dishes. The folks at Jack Creek Farms will give you tips and detailed instructions on how to make a variety of dishes using heirloom winter squash. You will have an opportunity to sample at least 6 different varieties of winter squash. Take home recipes and your dish will be the highlight of your family’s fall festivities. You’ll be so proud, and your guests will be impressed. You can do it . . . it’s easy! Admission is FREE! For more information visit the farm website or call Joy at 238-3799.