So we decided to go to the Northern California Permaculture Institute in Bolinas, I have been wanting to go there for what seemed like years but I never had the ride or the money (Classes being around 350-600$).
I knew it wouldn't work because we would have to wake up early and one little Redhead who shall remain name-less is cranky unless she sleeps until twelve classes started at that time and G-D knows it takes atleast another hour before they will fully be ready to go; plus the hour commute doesn't help so we decided to go camping for the night up in Point Reyes State Park!
We go to Fairfax where Redhead knew of the greatest little grocery store on earth; way better than any old Whole Foods and way more down to earth with no need to be "green", you just knew the people who owned the place cared about the world but didn't need to broadcast it out; plus hipster-free!
Bought some chevre from the Humboldt area, store made kefir, dried mangoes, and some carob spirulina protein bites that were amazing! So from there we go to the camp ground.
It was FILLED with trailer campers and loud beer drinkers so we drive around searching desperately for a place to sneak in and camp out, Couldn't be done and after 3 hours of searching return to the terrible place. Set up camp & after some rude drunk people and some stuck-up yups I slept with nothing but a thin sewn blanket not noticing I was sleeping on a sleeping bag; cold night though none-the-less magnificent (albeit the cars driving 2 minutes away on the road).
At sun rise John and I go hiking; as if we are going back in time we move from the grasslands to a moist temperate cloud forest. Ferns and various trees clamor around second growth Redwoods stories high; Creek Nettle, broadleaf plantain, and false Indian strawberries gather around the clear crystal creeks. We move towards the end with chaparral, crossing another creek we trek up a seacliff to the magnificent view of the ocean.
the first time I see a beach with no other people around
Wonderous and somewhat mystical with seal and kelp bobbing up the water's surface.
We talk as we go back down into some more forest; politics and social class ofcourse; sprinkled in with history and some agriculture for good measure (plus childhood cartoons). By this time the sun has risen to its morning position and its like I was around emeralds. While we get back on the trail to the car we walked past some 4 dozen people along the way (it would have ruined the experience if so many people showed up).
We pick up Redhead and scram to Bolinas; stop at a little stand that at first only looked like it had a tiny garden. When we ask to see it he tells us to go past the stove and buckets filled with fermenting grape juice and a utter majestic farms sprouts up after the 4+ inch rain we got everything is so lush we are at a second winter this time of year and everything is filled with life.
Then we go next door to a nursery and I meet a fascinating woman whose name I can't remember, I ask if she has mashua and we get on the discussion about edibles. I list off some plants I would want, they being PERFECT for the Maritime Mediterranean climate; then I ask for the strawberry guava. Its the most delicious little berry packed with such flavor mixtures of strawberry and pineapple, citrus and a distinct taste that may be guava but am not sure since I've never tasted teh real thing.
We talk about Bolinas and the fact that a certain institute was built on a electronic waste dump :-/ interesting.....
So we go through the various houses all of with surrounded by the ocean and the mountains and filled with food and ornamentals, stately hundred year old manors with rustic influences dot, then get denser.
We arrive at the institute and meet some folks from the Sac. Permie guild and some Berkeley people. Being impatient and all around curious we look around the place.... alot of construction and half finished projects. A nice microfarm but all together not so interesting, met some residents and interns; ate some nasturtium and rose hips and we began the tour.
We got tired of all the people asking simple questions; snickering in the back about jokes and the tofu burgers people ate and overall being more read on the subjects were the reasons we decided to see the exhibits at the Bioneers Conference or what I call the Smug-All.
On the way we go to San Rafael's Cafe Gratitude; which i different than anyone I saw before. Not crunchy in the least, open and bright; they even had food the other places didn't have yet. I broke a glass (ofcourse) which I wanted to clean myself but they wouldn't let me. After much blushing in sheer embarrassment, I had the Bueno~Something which was the rice bowl (my favorite 'cept this one didn't have the Bhutanese rice I love)
In the other city of Marin County in the middle of a city; we saw a coyote/fox and took some pictures; redhead screamed at me for possibly scaring it *rolls-eyes*
At 375.00$ for a 3 day event the Bioneers patrons were only the well-off could afford this; it was near the end so they opened it to the public. I regret going;everything was way over priced, everyone was so dressing the bohemian, and it was just corny!
But I digress
We decide to go to Berkeley in search of Redhead's old "spiritual group" ('It's not a church Lee!')
we circled for an hour and choice to wonder around the Yup/"Green" part of town. Read abit at a book store went inside Whole Foods and we all bought food to eat outside. Ofcourse I bought the buffalo wings :D Best ones I've had in a long time.
It was an amazing experience and an awesome weekend;
totally love just hanging out acting so free.
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