Events Archive - Page 55 of 117 - Rancho La Puerta
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Violin and Cello Concert

Violinist Kate Hatmaker is the founder and Executive/Artistic Director of Art of Élan, a San Diego-based chamber music organization committed to bringing innovative classical music to diverse audiences (www.artofelan.org), and has been a violinist with the San Diego Symphony since 2006. She has played with a wide variety of American orchestras, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony. She completed her Master of Music degree at Carnegie Mellon University and her undergraduate training at both the University of Iowa and the Sorbonne University in Paris, France.

 

 

 

Cellist Alex Greenbaum enjoys a diverse and adventurous musical life. As a member of the Hausmann Quartet he is an Artist-in-Residence at San Diego State University.  As a long-time member of The Knights he has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe and appeared at various festivals.  He has recorded for Ancalagon, Bridge, Canary Classics, Cantaloupe, In a Circle, Koch, Naxos, Warner Classics and Sony records.  His varied interests have led to collaborations with dance companies, recordings for film, television and commercials, studies of early music and performances throughout Mexico. Alex is a founding member of San Diego Baroque, a mainstay on the Art of Élan series, an affiliated artist with San Diego New Music and appears regularly with Bach Collegium San Diego.

 

Food and Wine Pairing Dinner with Jill Silverman Hough

Experience all there is to love about food, wine, and enjoying them together in a fun, friendly dinner featuring 100 Perfect Parings cookbook author, Jill Silverman Hough, La Cocina Que Canta cuisine, and Valle de Guadalupe wines.

After a brief tour of the Tres Estrellas garden, we’ll start with an interactive tasting of different wines and different flavors, to give you a direct experience of how the “wrong” combinations can literally leave a bad taste in your mouth, as well as what does work and why.

The tasting will be followed by a multi-course meal prepared by La Cocina’s staff that perfectly pairs Jill’s recipes with luscious local wines.

You’ll leave with an understanding of the basic rules of food and wine pairing, the tools to create your own combinations at home, and a delicious food and wine experience.

 

 

Tuesday Food and Wine Pairing Dinner 4:00 PM Sign Up
Each class $150+tax. Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

Wednesday Food and Wine Pairing Dinner 4:00 PM Sign Up
Each class $150+tax. Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

Thursday Food and Wine Pairing Dinner 4:00 PM Sign Up
Each class $150+tax. Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

 

 

 

Jill Silverman Hough’s cookbooks include 100 Perfect Pairings: Small Plates to Enjoy with Wines You Love100 Perfect Pairings: Main Dishes to Enjoy with Wines You Love, and a mini e-book Finger Lickin’ Chicken. Other book projects include co-authoring The Clean Plates Cookbook and developing the recipes for New York Times’ best-seller Skinny Bitch in the Kitch. Her writing, recipes, and photography have appeared in magazines including Bon AppétitCooking LightNapa SonomaClean Eating, where she’s on the advisory board, and Fine Cooking, where she is a contributing writer. She creates recipes for brands and commodity boards including the National Pork Board, the California Milk Advisory Board, California Sweetpotatoes, Lindsay Olives, Annie’s Homegrown, Circulon, Anolon, and Grgich Hills Estate Winery. She also teaches cooking to home chefs around the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Want happy cooking and delicious food? Subscribe to Jill’s recipes and kitchen tips at www.jillhough.com and follow on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram.

Learning to Live with Less

Wishing you didn’t have so much clutter in your mind and your life? You will learn about the financial and psychological costs that clutter can have on your personal and professional lives.

 

 

Amy Carstensen, a San Diego based Professional Organizer, started her business to help busy professionals declutter their homes and their lives. Amy holds a Master’s degree from UCSD in International Relations. When she’s not encouraging her clients to let go of extra objects, she’s home torturing her family reminding them “to never leave a room empty handed.” www.organizingwithamy.com

Hands-On Cooking Classes with Jill Nussinow

Jill offers hands-on culinary experiences, 3.5 hours each, during which you will enjoy preparing your own meal along with fellow cooks. Classes take place at La Cocina Que Canta, our culinary center on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thurday at 4pm.

Tuesday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM Sign Up
Each class $125+tax. Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

Wednesday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM Sign Up
Each class $125+tax. Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

Thursday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM Sign Up
Each class $125+tax. Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

 

 


Jill Nussinow is a culinary educator, Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist and the author of four cookbooks. Her award-winning cookbooks feature plant-based recipes and include The Veggie Queen: Vegetables Get the Royal Treatment, The New Fast Food, Nutrition CHAMPS and her most recent, and most loved by the public book: Vegan Under Pressure. Jill is a pressure cooking (think Instant Pot), vegetable, fermentation and mushroom expert.  She has been helping people achieve better health through teaching them about improved nutrition through food. Jill has been teaching people about plants and how to cook with them for the past 30 years. She is an adjunct culinary instructor at Santa Rosa Junior College, teaches for the McDougall program and is a frequent cooking teacher and guest nutrition lecturer at Rancho La Puerta. Nothing makes Jill happier than teaching people how to cook and eat well and sharing her thoughts and health philosophy. She believes that her success stems from her passion and love of good health and how she infuses love into everything that she does. Her website is www.theveggiequeen.com

Health and Beauty

How to Use Essential Oils in Self-Care Rituals for Beauty, Balance and Well-Being
Learn the therapeutic properties of key essential oils, whose plants are grown on the Ranch, and the best self-care rituals you can use at home for stress relief, deep sleep, restoring energy, balance and well-being.

 

How to Maintain Your Skin’s Radiance and Vibrancy at Any Age
What herbs and essential oils can be used to heal, nourish and restore the skin? Learn simple yet effective regimens for your own skin care needs and overall vital well-being.

 

 

Tara Grodjesk, winner of American Spa magazine’s Women in Wellness Visionary Award, president of Tara Spa Therapy, Inc., and emeritus founder of Green Spa Network, has devoted over 35 years of experience in Holistic Health and Wellness to bring therapeutic efficacy to spa treatments and products. Tara has been a consultant to world-class spas and is a master developer of high quality, holistic personal-care products. She is the expert behind the Rancho La Puerta Core Essentials line.  Ms. Grodjesk has a degree in Psychology with Honors from the Univ. of Michigan. She is a Certified Massage Therapist, Holistic Health Educator, Ayurvedic Practitioner and Aroma Therapist.  Her vision is to harness nature’s inspiration to create environments and experiences that support healing and which nourish the Divine within.

Regenerative Farming: Beyond Organic in the Garden and Kitchen

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

 

The Regenerative Farming 1⁄2 day program is a chance to experience another side of The Ranch, get hands-on time harvesting crops at the farm, gain new knowledge on land health, and learn preservation techniques to use in your kitchen. Our expert team comprised of Salvador Tinajero (Farm Manager), Lindsey Heathcote (Education Director), and Reyna Venegas (Executive Chef), will guide you through the day.

 

June Topics:
Regenerative Farming & Nutrient-Dense Foods
Preserving the Harvest in the Kitchen

 

Sample Schedule:
6:05 am – Organic Garden Breakfast Hike: meet at Gazebo, and hike to the Farm.
8:00 – 9:00 am – Harvest and tour in the garden with Salvador
9:00 – 9:15 am – Break with light snacks and refreshments
9:15 – 10:00 am – Presentation by Lindsey on Regenerative Farming
10:00 – 11:30 am – Demo with Chef Reyna: Canning & Pickling
11:30 am – Leave to head back to Ranch in time for Lunch & other classes.

 

To sign up: Go to Appointments Desk, or call extension 631 or 634
Cost: $69 + Tax

 

 

 

Lindsey Hethcote, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, currently works as the Director of Education at Tres Estrellas Organic Farm and Garden. She holds a BA in Environmental Science from the University of Denver and a Master’s in Sustainable Agriculture and Agroforestry from Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) in Turrialba, Costa Rica. Lindsey is extremely interested in the intersection of agriculture, food and culture and how they shape food systems around the world.  She has worked as the Production Manager on various organic farms throughout the US, as well as an Environmental and Sustainable Agriculture Educator throughout the Americas. She has spent time living and working in Peru, Costa Rica and Mexico and through her travels and experiences has grown extremely passionate about Latin American culture- it’s agricultural systems, food traditions and people!

 

 

Executive Chef Reyna Venegas prepares fresh and delicious food that energizes, inspires, and nourishes guests. She fuses the culinary and cultural heritages of her own Northern Baja roots with the nutritious “spa cuisine” pioneered 80 years ago by Rancho La Puerta co-founder Deborah Szekely. At La Cocina Que Canta, “The Kitchen That Sings,” Chef Reyna teaches healthy eating as a celebration of life in farm-to-table cooking classes.

As a lifelong learner, Chef Reyna attends the University of California, San Diego’s Integrative Nutrition program, which focuses on how food promotes wellness. She is also a graduate of the Culinary Art School in Tijuana, and holds a Pastry Degree from the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier de Monte-Carlo and Fondation Turquois.

 

 

Salvador Tinajero, is the manager of the Tres Estrellas farm, the gardens of Rancho La Puerta, created by the Ranch’s president Sarah Livia Brightwood, that stretch like a magic carpet beneath the slopes of Mt. Kuchumaa. During your visit you’ll tour the gardens with Salvador—unquestionably one of the world’s most talented and enthusiastic gardeners! Fruits and vegetables from Tres Estrellas (“Three Stars”) are mainstays in recipes at both La Cocina Que Canta and the Ranch’s main dining room.

Regenerative Farming: Beyond Organic in the Garden and Kitchen

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

 

The Regenerative Farming 1⁄2 day program is a chance to experience another side of The Ranch, get hands-on time harvesting crops at the farm, gain new knowledge on land health, and learn preservation techniques to use in your kitchen. Our expert team comprised of Salvador Tinajero (Farm Manager), Lindsey Heathcote (Education Director), and Reyna Venegas (Executive Chef), will guide you through the day.

 

June Topics:
Regenerative Farming & Nutrient-Dense Foods
Preserving the Harvest in the Kitchen

 

Sample Schedule:
6:05 am – Organic Garden Breakfast Hike: meet at Gazebo, and hike to the Farm.
8:00 – 9:00 am – Harvest and tour in the garden with Salvador
9:00 – 9:15 am – Break with light snacks and refreshments
9:15 – 10:00 am – Presentation by Lindsey on Regenerative Farming
10:00 – 11:30 am – Demo with Chef Reyna: Canning & Pickling
11:30 am – Leave to head back to Ranch in time for Lunch & other classes.

 

To sign up: Go to Appointments Desk, or call extension 631 or 634
Cost: $69 + Tax

 

 

 

Lindsey Hethcote, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, currently works as the Director of Education at Tres Estrellas Organic Farm and Garden. She holds a BA in Environmental Science from the University of Denver and a Master’s in Sustainable Agriculture and Agroforestry from Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) in Turrialba, Costa Rica. Lindsey is extremely interested in the intersection of agriculture, food and culture and how they shape food systems around the world.  She has worked as the Production Manager on various organic farms throughout the US, as well as an Environmental and Sustainable Agriculture Educator throughout the Americas. She has spent time living and working in Peru, Costa Rica and Mexico and through her travels and experiences has grown extremely passionate about Latin American culture- it’s agricultural systems, food traditions and people!

 

 

Executive Chef Reyna Venegas prepares fresh and delicious food that energizes, inspires, and nourishes guests. She fuses the culinary and cultural heritages of her own Northern Baja roots with the nutritious “spa cuisine” pioneered 80 years ago by Rancho La Puerta co-founder Deborah Szekely. At La Cocina Que Canta, “The Kitchen That Sings,” Chef Reyna teaches healthy eating as a celebration of life in farm-to-table cooking classes.

As a lifelong learner, Chef Reyna attends the University of California, San Diego’s Integrative Nutrition program, which focuses on how food promotes wellness. She is also a graduate of the Culinary Art School in Tijuana, and holds a Pastry Degree from the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier de Monte-Carlo and Fondation Turquois.

 

 

Salvador Tinajero, is the manager of the Tres Estrellas farm, the gardens of Rancho La Puerta, created by the Ranch’s president Sarah Livia Brightwood, that stretch like a magic carpet beneath the slopes of Mt. Kuchumaa. During your visit you’ll tour the gardens with Salvador—unquestionably one of the world’s most talented and enthusiastic gardeners! Fruits and vegetables from Tres Estrellas (“Three Stars”) are mainstays in recipes at both La Cocina Que Canta and the Ranch’s main dining room.

Regenerative Farming: Beyond Organic in the Garden and Kitchen

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

 

The Regenerative Farming 1⁄2 day program is a chance to experience another side of The Ranch, get hands-on time harvesting crops at the farm, gain new knowledge on land health, and learn preservation techniques to use in your kitchen. Our expert team comprised of Salvador Tinajero (Farm Manager), Lindsey Heathcote (Education Director), and Reyna Venegas (Executive Chef), will guide you through the day.

 

June Topics:
Regenerative Farming & Nutrient-Dense Foods
Preserving the Harvest in the Kitchen

 

Sample Schedule:
6:05 am – Organic Garden Breakfast Hike: meet at Gazebo, and hike to the Farm.
8:00 – 9:00 am – Harvest and tour in the garden with Salvador
9:00 – 9:15 am – Break with light snacks and refreshments
9:15 – 10:00 am – Presentation by Lindsey on Regenerative Farming
10:00 – 11:30 am – Demo with Chef Reyna: Canning & Pickling
11:30 am – Leave to head back to Ranch in time for Lunch & other classes.

 

To sign up: Go to Appointments Desk, or call extension 631 or 634
Cost: $69 + Tax

 

 

 

 

Lindsey Hethcote, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, currently works as the Director of Education at Tres Estrellas Organic Farm and Garden. She holds a BA in Environmental Science from the University of Denver and a Master’s in Sustainable Agriculture and Agroforestry from Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) in Turrialba, Costa Rica. Lindsey is extremely interested in the intersection of agriculture, food and culture and how they shape food systems around the world.  She has worked as the Production Manager on various organic farms throughout the US, as well as an Environmental and Sustainable Agriculture Educator throughout the Americas. She has spent time living and working in Peru, Costa Rica and Mexico and through her travels and experiences has grown extremely passionate about Latin American culture- it’s agricultural systems, food traditions and people!

 

 

Executive Chef Reyna Venegas prepares fresh and delicious food that energizes, inspires, and nourishes guests. She fuses the culinary and cultural heritages of her own Northern Baja roots with the nutritious “spa cuisine” pioneered 80 years ago by Rancho La Puerta co-founder Deborah Szekely. At La Cocina Que Canta, “The Kitchen That Sings,” Chef Reyna teaches healthy eating as a celebration of life in farm-to-table cooking classes.

As a lifelong learner, Chef Reyna attends the University of California, San Diego’s Integrative Nutrition program, which focuses on how food promotes wellness. She is also a graduate of the Culinary Art School in Tijuana, and holds a Pastry Degree from the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier de Monte-Carlo and Fondation Turquois.

 

 

Salvador Tinajero, is the manager of the Tres Estrellas farm, the gardens of Rancho La Puerta, created by the Ranch’s president Sarah Livia Brightwood, that stretch like a magic carpet beneath the slopes of Mt. Kuchumaa. During your visit you’ll tour the gardens with Salvador—unquestionably one of the world’s most talented and enthusiastic gardeners! Fruits and vegetables from Tres Estrellas (“Three Stars”) are mainstays in recipes at both La Cocina Que Canta and the Ranch’s main dining room.

Dinner and Dessert at La Cocina Que Canta

Join Chef Fran for three Hands-on Cooking Classes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at La Cocina que Canta.

**Dinner will be cooked by the LCQC Chefs and Culinary Team and Dessert by you!**

Register at any Health Center or at extensions 626, 631 & 640 / Fee / Meet at the Administration Building.

 

Tuesday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM Sign Up
Each class $125+tax. Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

Wednesday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM Sign Up
Each class $125+tax. Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

Thursday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM Sign Up
Each class $125+tax. Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

 

 

 

Fran Costigan, chef, cookbook author and Director of Vegan Pastry at the Rouxbe Online Culinary School is internationally renowned as the authority on vegan desserts. Professionally trained, Fran was a chef in both traditional and vegan pastry kitchens before moving into teaching 25 years ago. Her unapologetically luscious confections lack nothing — except dairy, eggs, white sugar, and cholesterol. Fran’s vegan desserts are appropriate for everyone who loves dessert, whether or not dietary restrictions are an issue. Fran loves teaching and enjoys mentoring students of all levels, from beginner to pro in The 90-day Essential Vegan Desserts Course she developed and leads at Rouxbe, the world’s leading online culinary school.

Fran’s cookbook, Vegan Chocolate Dessert: Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy-Free Desserts, is available in German, French and Italian editions, and follows the classic, More Great Good Dairy Free Desserts.

You can find Fran sharing her knowledge and passion across North America and Europe, at schools, conferences, festivals, and corporations at resorts and on cruise ships too, and online.

A professional member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, Les Dames d’ Escoffier, and American Culinary Federation, Fran is a proud to be an advisory board member of the New York Coalition for Healthy School Foods, and Main Street Vegan Academy.

For more information and recipes, newsletter sign up, visit www.francostigan.com.

Follow @goodcakesfran on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn

Fran Costigan Vegan Pastry Chef on Facebook

Essential Vegan Desserts at Rouxbe

Violin and Cello Concert

Violinist Kate Hatmaker is the founder and Executive/Artistic Director of Art of Élan, a San Diego-based chamber music organization committed to bringing innovative classical music to diverse audiences (www.artofelan.org), and has been a violinist with the San Diego Symphony since 2006. She has played with a wide variety of American orchestras, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony. She completed her Master of Music degree at Carnegie Mellon University and her undergraduate training at both the University of Iowa and the Sorbonne University in Paris, France.

 

 

 

Cellist Alex Greenbaum enjoys a diverse and adventurous musical life. As a member of the Hausmann Quartet he is an Artist-in-Residence at San Diego State University.  As a long-time member of The Knights he has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe and appeared at various festivals.  He has recorded for Ancalagon, Bridge, Canary Classics, Cantaloupe, In a Circle, Koch, Naxos, Warner Classics and Sony records.  His varied interests have led to collaborations with dance companies, recordings for film, television and commercials, studies of early music and performances throughout Mexico. Alex is a founding member of San Diego Baroque, a mainstay on the Art of Élan series, an affiliated artist with San Diego New Music and appears regularly with Bach Collegium San Diego.

 

Sand and Water Volleyball

Suzanne Hebert has loved and played sports since she got her first volleyball at five years old in Bellingham, MA. While on the varsity volleyball team in high school, playing in a small town, the Junior Olympics recruiters discovered her talents and picked her to play for two Junior Olympic teams. College-bound she was recruited to play for several Division 1 teams. Choosing to stay close to home, Suzanne played Division 1 for the University of Rhode Island and made it to the Final Four, defeating USC, UCLA, and Pepperdine and earning first place in the U.S. for blocking.

Today, Suzanne can be found passing a few balls with high school students in between classes in her role as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Los Angeles schools. She also has a thriving in-person and virtual private therapy practice.

Whether teaching volleyball or in life in general, Suzanne loves helping people learn and grow. She approaches everything with unflappable patience and a great sense of fun.

Autobiography and the Memoir

Writing Workshop
A memoir writing workshop that may change the way you feel about writing? It’s possible. A chance to get to know people in a more intimate way? Very possible. The Ranch offers so many ways to explore oneself physically, spiritually and, with a workshop like this, mentally as well. Have you ever thought of writing about your life, but just haven’t found the time or discipline to begin? Come make the time. Treat yourself to the opportunity to express yourself through the written word. It’s challenging, but not hard. Rewarding, but not demanding. You’ll be presented with choices. A memoir can be many things—a snapshot or a portrait. You decide.

An Evening with Truman Capote, Miles Davis, Allen Ginsberg, John Huston, Norman Mailer, and Debbie Reynolds
Writer Larry Grobel shows video interviews he did with these icons and discusses what he’s learned from four decades of talking to such people.

Storytelling
Writer Larry Grobel will read from his three books of Short Stories (The Narcissist; Stuck; Schemers, Dreamers, Cheaters, Believers)

 

Larry Grobel is the author of 30 books. Among his honors are a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship for his fiction; Special Achievement Awards from PEN for his Conversations with Capote, and Playboy for his interviews with Barbra Streisand, Marlon Brando and Al Pacino; and the Prix Litteraire from The Syndicat Francais de la Critique de Cinema for his Al Pacino: In Conversation with Lawrence Grobel. He has been a Contributing Editor for Playboy, Movieline, World (New Zealand), and Trendy (Poland) and has been called “A legend among journalists” by Writer’s Digest. He served in the Peace Corps, teaching at the Ghana Institute of Journalism; created the M.F.A. in Professional Writing for Antioch University; and taught in the English and Honors Departments at UCLA. Since 2007 he has served as a jury member at the annual Camerimage Film Festival in Poland. He has appeared as himself in the documentary Salinger and Al Pacino’s docudrama Wilde Salome. His books have been translated into 14 languages.

Autobiography and the Memoir

Writing Workshop
A memoir writing workshop that may change the way you feel about writing? It’s possible. A chance to get to know people in a more intimate way? Very possible. The Ranch offers so many ways to explore oneself physically, spiritually and, with a workshop like this, mentally as well. Have you ever thought of writing about your life, but just haven’t found the time or discipline to begin? Come make the time. Treat yourself to the opportunity to express yourself through the written word. It’s challenging, but not hard. Rewarding, but not demanding. You’ll be presented with choices. A memoir can be many things—a snapshot or a portrait. You decide.

 

An Afternoon of Stories
Larry Grobel will talk about what he learned from interviewing people like Robin Williams, Barbra Streisand, Marlon Brando, Lauren Bacall, and Farrah Fawcett and share a few short stories from his books, The Narcissist and Schemers, Dreamers, Cheaters, Believers.

 

An Evening with Truman Capote, Miles Davis, Allen Ginsberg, John Huston and Debbie Reynolds.
Writer Larry Grobel shows video interviews he did with these icons and discusses what he’s learned from four decades of talking to such people.

 

 

Larry Grobel is the author of 30 books. Among his honors are a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship for his fiction; Special Achievement Awards from PEN for his Conversations with Capote, and Playboy for his interviews with Barbra Streisand, Marlon Brando and Al Pacino; and the Prix Litteraire from The Syndicat Francais de la Critique de Cinema for his Al Pacino: In Conversation with Lawrence Grobel. He has been a Contributing Editor for Playboy, Movieline, World (New Zealand), and Trendy (Poland) and has been called “A legend among journalists” by Writer’s Digest. He served in the Peace Corps, teaching at the Ghana Institute of Journalism; created the M.F.A. in Professional Writing for Antioch University; and taught in the English and Honors Departments at UCLA. Since 2007 he has served as a jury member at the annual Camerimage Film Festival in Poland. He has appeared as himself in the documentary Salinger and Al Pacino’s docudrama Wilde Salome. His books have been translated into 14 languages.

 

Matters That Matter® Standing At The Threshold: An Invitation to Transformation

Transformation is what happens when we allow ourselves to learn from and be changed by our experiences. As we step into a new year, we stand at a threshold, that space that stands between what has been and what could be. Every threshold is an invitation to growth and transformation. 

Join Molly Davis & Kristine Patterson for an inspiring and engaging week of reflection, exploration, and imagination. A time to take stock of where we’ve been, where we are, and where life might be calling us.

The Ranch offers that kind of rare spaciousness that makes room for slow wanderings and quiet pondering, leaving guests refreshed, renewed, and ready to step out with more clarity, courage, and grace. Every Matters That Matter® session is designed to serve and enhance that renewal process.

 

Evening Program
Threshold Moments
There are such things as “threshold moments”. Those times when we are invited to step over fear and uncertainty, and venture out into the unknown. Such moments call upon our courage. When we accept the invitation being offered, we find our way to an even more authentic and wholehearted life. Come listen, reflect, and consider your own threshold moments…past, present, and future.

 

Workshop #1: Standing At The Threshold
If transformation is what happens when we are changed by our experience, then taking the next right step begins with a right understanding of where we’ve been and where we are now. Our lives don’t happen by accident. We participate in creating them every day and one step at a time. Join Molly & Kristine as they create a safe space for you to engage in courageous thinking and thoughtful action planning. 

 

Workshop #2: Discernment: The Practice of Choosing Wisely
Regardless of life chapter or circumstance, we are inundated with responsibilities, challenges, opportunities and possibilities. Where to invest our time, energy, money, skills, and gifts? Where, how, and to whom do we offer what we have to give? This workshop introduces you to a practical discernment framework that will help you choose wisely.

 

Workshop #3: The 3×5 Card
Transformation often invites us to speak up in new ways, and in situations that test our ability to hold onto ourselves, say what we mean and mean what we say. Come discover how a small 3×5 card can become a mighty tool to help you find your voice.

 

 

 

 

Kristine and Molly are the founders of Matters That Matter®, a partnership providing keynotes, retreats, and workshops to inspire people to connect who they are with how they live. Their powerful message has been heard at national conventions, annual fundraisers, and spirituality and wellness retreats. They co-authored the internationally published book Letters To Our Daughters, which was highlighted on the Oprah Show.

They have been best friends for over 45 years. 

 

 

Molly Davis is a writer, speaker, and coach. Author of the award winning BLUSH: Women & Wine, a book in which she explores why she often used wine as a classy looking way to cope with stress, dull pain, and avoid discomfort, and why others might do the same. And yes, she still loves good wine. The founder of Trailhead Coaching & Consulting, she helps people courageously step more fully into their own lives. 

 

 

 

 

Kristine Patterson is a potter, author, maker, and storyteller. A few years ago she launched beanpole pottery in a quiet studio in her backyard. What started out as a hobby and way to process life, became a full-time business. She now ships her gorgeous, custom work all over the world. Each piece has a soul that, like ours, is perfect in its imperfection.  

Love Food That Loves You Back With the L.O.V.E Food Plan for Longevity

Meet Registered Dietitian and Culinary Nutrition Educator, Gerri French and her L.O.V.E Food plan. Come to these 4 enthusiastic talks to learn how to feel better and live longer by eating foods that love you back! L (Local and Luscious) O (Organic, when available), V (Vital and Vibrant) and E (Earth Friendly). Gerri enjoys translating the latest scientific information into practical information. Her passion is talking to people about foods that fight inflammation and keep our microbiome healthy. Each class has a different focus, however the series of 4 classes complete L.O.V.E.  Guests who attend all 4 talks will receive The LOVE Food guide.

 

Class 1 – Enjoy food that is Local and Luscious
Eating seasonal foods grown in your region can have amazing health as well as environmental benefits; are you curious to know why? Let’s talk about it.  How and when we eat will also change our health and longevity. Class will review mindful eating and timing of meals.

 

Class 2 – Eat foods that are Organic, when available
You may be familiar with the word organic but do you know the requirements for labeling food as “organic” and “made with organic ingredients”? Are you interested in learning why we should eat organic foods and which foods are especially important to eat organic? Information about organic meat, dairy, and eggs will be discussed including terms such as pasture-raised, grass-fed and certified humane.

 

Class 3 – Savor foods that are Vibrant and Vital for our longevity
Colorful plant foods contain beneficial substances that are essential for our longevity. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds and their oils contain bioactives that can change the expression of the genes we are born with. Combinations of foods and fermented foods can make a difference.

 

Class 4 – Taste foods that are Earth Friendly
What is the meaning of eating “clean” foods? We will answer this and more about the benefits of earth-friendly foods that are grown with the least amount of chemicals and natural resources to heal us and our planet. Learn the definition of Regenerative farming which encompasses these traits and more.

 

 

 

Gerri French, MS, RDN, CDE, has been a dietitian, cooking instructor, and nutrition educator for the past 40 years. Gerri is the creator of the Santa Barbara Food and Farm Adventures Meetup where people tour farms and attend food events together. She teaches nutrition for the culinary program at Santa Barbara City College. Gerri is the former Food and Nutrition editor of Diabetes Health Magazine. Gerri graduated with a BS in nutrition and an MS in Physical Education.

Gerri enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, swimming, and yoga as well as gardening, films, and music. She is the mother of two daughters and a dog.

 

Cutting Edge Nutrition

Nutritional Resilience &  Performance
Our food choices also impact anxiety levels and stress, both of which can impair the inner shield of our resilience. Saliva is really the first defense to elevate our level of digestion, immune strength and overall resilience. Learn some of the silent and hidden foods that damage our resilience and alter our saliva production. Discover the importance that saliva is for recovering from illness and bringing about homeostasis.  Learn tips and tools for helping you detect if you have a saliva output that is beneficial to you and how to correct if it is not optimal.  Have an opportunity to be on the cutting edge of what emerging research is saying for its impact with immune system and digestion.

 

Unlocking the Keys to EAT this WAY and FEEL That!  Part I & II
We know nutrition and what we eat can affect us greatly. However many of us haven’t made a good awareness link to Eat THIS, Feel THAT and Perform like THIS. Can you eat for better sleep? Can you choose foods to maximize your energy midafternoon and minimize the fatigue dip? How about eat to calm nerves, alleviate jet lag and even build immune system resilience. In two sessions, explore all the links of great high performance eating to create the state you want for your day. Forty percent of the way you FEEL right now is due to your last meal. What IF we could think ahead  —  what do you have to do in the next two hours — you could design your eating!!

 

 

 

Patti T. Milligan, PhD, RD, CNS, has been in the nutrition field for 38 years. She just completed her doctorate in Neuroscience of Taste with her thesis on saliva and its impact on jet lag and kids’ taste buds.  She has conducted nutritional research with US national athletes, as well as created and taught corporate wellness programs throughout the US and Europe. She has authored hundreds of articles and has appeared on numerous national TV news segments. She consults with high level executives and C level leadership on human resilience, performance brain nutrition and regenerative nutrition protocols.

https://www.amazon.com/Why-Shirley-Unusual-Story-Nutritionist/dp/1533554714

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patti-tveit-milligan-phd-rd-cns-a844329/

Hands-On Cooking Classes

Join Chef Deborah for three Hands-on Cooking Classes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at La Cocina que Canta.  Register at any Health Center or at extensions 626, 631 & 640 / Fee / Meet at the Administration Building.

Tuesday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM Sign Up
Each class $125+tax. Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

Wednesday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM Sign Up
Each class $125+tax. Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

Thursday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM Sign Up
Each class $125+tax. Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

 

 

 

 

Chef Deborah Schneider is a working professional chef and baker, and co-author of the Ranch’s beautiful cookbook Cooking with the Seasons at Rancho La Puerta, which was nominated for a James Beard Award. Deborah has over 30 years of professional cooking experience, and her popular Ranch classes will inspire you to go home and cook something wonderful. She is the author of eight cookbooks that explore her fascination with Mexican food and culture: best-sellers Mexican Instant Pot and The Mexican Slow Cooker, Salsas & Moles, Amor y Tacos and Baja! Cooking on the Edge (an adventurous trip through the foods and wines of Baja California that was chosen by Food & Wine Magazine as one of the best cookbooks of its class.) S

he is co-author of Williams Sonoma Essentials of Latin Cooking and Rustic Mexican.  Currently Deborah is working as an artisan baker in the San Diego area. Previously she was Executive Chef and part-owner of the award-winning SOL Mexican Cocina restaurant group, with six locations in California, Arizona and Colorado. Through her restaurant work and writings, Deborah has been influential in the Southern California farm-to-table movement and in supporting sustainable fisheries in California and Baja. She has mentored many chefs and supports community groups and culinary fund-raising efforts. She received her CEC ranking (Certified Executive Chef) in 2001 from the American Culinary Federation, recognizing over 20 years of professional cooking and other accomplishments.

 

Autobiography and the Memoir

Writing Workshop
A memoir writing workshop that may change the way you feel about writing? It’s possible. A chance to get to know people in a more intimate way? Very possible. The Ranch offers so many ways to explore oneself physically, spiritually and, with a workshop like this, mentally as well. Have you ever thought of writing about your life, but just haven’t found the time or discipline to begin? Come make the time. Treat yourself to the opportunity to express yourself through the written word. It’s challenging, but not hard. Rewarding, but not demanding. You’ll be presented with choices. A memoir can be many things—a snapshot or a portrait. You decide.

 

An Afternoon of Stories
Larry Grobel will talk about what he learned from interviewing people like Robin Williams, Barbra Streisand, Marlon Brando, Lauren Bacall, and Farrah Fawcett and share a few short stories from his books, The Narcissist and Schemers, Dreamers, Cheaters, Believers.

 

An Evening with Truman Capote, Miles Davis, Allen Ginsberg, John Huston and Debbie Reynolds.
Writer Larry Grobel shows video interviews he did with these icons and discusses what he’s learned from four decades of talking to such people.

 

 

Larry Grobel is the author of 30 books. Among his honors are a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship for his fiction; Special Achievement Awards from PEN for his Conversations with Capote, and Playboy for his interviews with Barbra Streisand, Marlon Brando and Al Pacino; and the Prix Litteraire from The Syndicat Francais de la Critique de Cinema for his Al Pacino: In Conversation with Lawrence Grobel. He has been a Contributing Editor for Playboy, Movieline, World (New Zealand), and Trendy (Poland) and has been called “A legend among journalists” by Writer’s Digest. He served in the Peace Corps, teaching at the Ghana Institute of Journalism; created the M.F.A. in Professional Writing for Antioch University; and taught in the English and Honors Departments at UCLA. Since 2007 he has served as a jury member at the annual Camerimage Film Festival in Poland. He has appeared as himself in the documentary Salinger and Al Pacino’s docudrama Wilde Salome. His books have been translated into 14 languages.

 

Soul and Blues

Sandi King and Joshua Taylor join voices in a swirling chemistry that is the core of King Taylor Project.  Rock guitar swells over swaggering R&B rhythms.

The feisty and colorful daughter of a jazz trumpeter, Sandi King grew up in San Diego singing in front of her dad’s big bands and soloing in school choirs and musicals. She spent several years as a chef in San Francisco, moonlighting in a rock opera cast and haunting karaoke joints before moving back to San Diego in 2012 to pursue music full-time.

 

Joshua Taylor grew up in Oklahoma City and first picked up the guitar at the age of 13. His mother, a classically trained singer, encouraged his brazen noisemaking and timid bedroom singing. For over a decade he kept music an obsessive private hobby as he meandered through life in the Navy and later trained as a therapist. After a few years as a part-time singer-songwriter in his eventual home of San Diego, Josh self-released his debut solo album in 2015, marking his shift to a career fully invested in music.

Sandi and Josh met on the San Diego music scene early in 2015, were engaged later that year and started King Taylor Project together in 2016. They married in the fall of 2017.

www.kingtaylorproject.com

Integrative Nutrition for Brain Balance and Gut Health

The Great Microbiome: Our Greatest Ally for Optimal Health
Did you know that you carry more bacteria in your gut than the number of human cells in your body?  Scientists are discovering that bacteria in your gut impacts so much more than just your digestion.  Gut bacteria are connected to aspects of health that we never suspected, including inflammation, body weight, cancer, immunity, brain function, and more.  Norma will discuss the benefits of gut bacteria and its impact on our health when out of balance, including how it prepares us for novel viruses such as COVID.

 

The Top 10 Ways to Heal Your Gut & Maximize Your Microbiota!
Considering the amazing benefits of our gut bacteria and its implications on our health, how can we be sure we are eating to maximize our microbiota?  Our gut bacteria is influenced by our diet, environment, age, activity, hygiene and stress level.  Norma will discuss better foods, supplements and lifestyle choices that heal and support a healthier gut.

 

Epigenetics: Your DNA is NOT Your Destiny!
Our DNA was originally thought to be pre-programmed and could not be changed.  We were stuck with what we got!  That has all changed with the new understanding of Epigenetics, which is the ability of nutrition and other environmental factors to turn human genes on or off.  In other words, our food intake and lifestyle behaviors have an effect on how our genes are expressed!

How about those “bad” genes that run in your family?  There is new hope!  Learn how genetic testing can point out deficiencies that can be supported with nutrition, supplements and changes in your environment.

 

Bringing it all together!  How does Functional Medicine help YOU?
Do you experience more brain fog or anxiety?  Feeling chronic fatigue and stress?  Struggle with digestive issues, joint pain or migraines?  Do you simply want to handle life better during these uncertain times?  Norma will share the Functional Medicine Matrix that allows you to assess the parts of your life that may be out of balance and feed into your current symptoms or feelings of imbalance.  The key is getting to the ROOT of problems, versus the “Western” approach of only treating symptoms.

 

 

Norma Flood, MS, RDN, delves deeper to treat problems where they start.  Motivated by her own health challenges and those of her clients, she applies functional nutrition therapy to effectively treat or support digestive health, mental health, and eating disorders.  Life coaching is also central in her practice.

With a background in Pharmacology & Toxicology, Norma’s journey started in research at Viagene-Center for Gene Therapy.  Personal health issues then moved her to get a master’s degree in nutritionand then complete her clinical training in a highly competitive dietetic internship at the UCSD Medical Center. Norma was awarded the Outstanding Graduate Student for her major, and the Outstanding Dietetic Intern for the state of California.  Her 20+ years of experience as a dietitian include UCSD Cancer Center, UCSD Medical Center, Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, SDSU Student Health Services and Athletics, and finally Private Practice as an Integrative and Functional Nutritionist.

 

Norma also has a passion for reaching out to youth, which inspired her to start a school garden program at Painted Rock Elementary School, as well as establish Poway Unplugged, which included a tween/teen day camp to teach positive coping tools and balanced health to young girls.

 

Norma is a mother to a 17-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old son in Poway, California.  During her free time, she loves hiking, yoga, gardening and time with family and friends.

 

Meditation and Human Flourishing

Meditation is not what you think it is. It’s much more. Perhaps you’ve tried meditation, but you just couldn’t do it. Perhaps you couldn’t fit it into a hectic schedule, or you were overcome by a restless monkey-mind. You gave up more than once in frustration or boredom. In the news, media, and from friends you hear about the benefits of this practice, but you never experienced these for yourself. Dr. Elliott Dacher will share his unique perspective as a trained physician and lifelong meditator. He will demonstrate, with clear scientific evidence, personal experience, and precise instructions what wise women and men have long understood – effective meditation has the power to heal the body at gross and subtle levels, awaken your mind, and ignite your spirit. It offers that illusive “more to Life.” This experiential and five-session progressive program will provide you with the understandings and skills that will enable you to develop a successful meditation practice, experience its full benefits, and effectively integrate it into in your daily life.

  • Meditation: The Meeting of Science and Spirit
  • The Technique, Practice, and Three Stages of Meditation Practice
  • Overcoming the Overactive Mind Cultivating and Abandoning: Creating a Healthy Human Life
  • The Cause and Final Remedy for Mental Stress, Distress, and Suffering
  • Human Flourishing: Enduring Happiness, Serenity, and Freedom. Resources to Take Home to Progress in One’s Practice

 

 

 

Elliott S. Dacher, M.D. practiced internal medicine for 20 years before pursuing an extensive education in Eastern psychology and practices amongst the wise healers of Asia. His last book –Aware, Awake, Alive is the course text. He is a past fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences and a past advisory board member of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. A frequent presenter and seminar leader, his previous books include: Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing (Basic Books, 2006), Whole Healing(Dutton/Plume, 1996), and Intentional Healing(Marlowe, 1996). Currently he teaches and counsels individuals seeking a larger health and life.

 

Everyone Has a Story to Tell: Writing the First-Person Essay or Opinion Piece

Stories help us understand life and create meaning in our lives—and everyone has a story to tell. Would you like to tell yours? This program will guide you through the process of writing a compelling essay or opinion piece, using language and narrative structure to evoke emotion and create stories that matter.

 

Writing the First Person Essay
This 45-minute presentation will be about why telling our story is important and how we can create moving first-person essays or opinion pieces.

 

Crafting a Compelling Idea
This workshop will explore what kinds of ideas make for the best personal essays and help participants hone their ideas.

 

Structuring and Writing the Essay
We’ll write drafts of essays, with an eye towards narrative structure and elegant, clean writing.

 

Writing the Opinion Piece
This will build on the previous workshops, but with an added discussion about how to write an opinion piece.

 

 

 

Laura Hilgers is a Bay Area writer whose articles have been published in The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, LitHub, and Southwest Airlines Magazine, among other publications.

www.laurahilgers.com

 

Concert + Writing Workshop

Writing Workshop for Poets, Songwriters or Prose Writers
Laura Veirs’ writing workshops are aimed at songwriters, poets and prose writers. She has taught these for years on her own and through Stanford University’s Continuing Education Series. She will use a deck of her Kaleidoscope Creativity Cards which is a prompt-based system for unlocking people’s creativity. People should bring paper, pencil, recording device (phone fine) and an instrument if they are planning on writing a song. For more info,  see lauraveirs.com.

 

 

 

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Laura Veirs will be performing songs from her 12-album catalog in a solo concert. Veirs plays nylon finger style guitar and her lyrics draw from nature and her life experience. She has toured internationally for over 20 years and has collaborated with luminaries such as kd lang, Neko Case, Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists and My Morning Jacket. Her work has been praised in the New York Times, The Washington Post, at NPR, in The Guardian, The Independentand many more publications.  Veirs is also an author, podcaster, painter and single mom. This is a family-friendly concert.

 

 

Trail Running

Tom and Donnie Flahavan

Tom and Donnie Flahavan have been running, competing and coaching for over 30 years. Their coaching style is fun, educational and they have introduced hundreds of people of various levels to trail running.

This week you will learn basic run form drills, uphill and downhill skills, hiking transitions along with tips on safety, gear and how to take it all home to enhance your workout routine. The classes are designed for all levels whether you are beginner or advanced runner.  There is a morning run option which will precede the same hike routes. We will be hiking most of the uphills so if you want to learn how to become a better power hiker this could your opportunity. Demo trail running shoes will be available in various sizes prior to each class.