In 2014, Lynette Sonne founded FarmsteadEd, an organization whose goal is not just to get people to buy locally made products, but to see the small farms and ranches where the goods are grown and made. This is what’s called “agritourism,” and it has its spiritual home in Italy, where staying overnight on a farm and experiencing its culture up close bonds visitors to the work being done there in a special way. I had met Lynette several times in the past, and knew that FarmsteadEd had developed a SLO County Farm Trail for visitors to use, but I really saw her efforts up close during the 2023 Open Farm Day, wherein small family farms along the trail opened their gates to the public. That day, my son and I made tea in the garden at Niner Wine Estates, tasted olive oil at Olea Farm, learned about the honey-collecting process at Sierra Honey Farm, and swooned over lavender at Hambly Lavender Farm. Recently, Lynette’s also taken on the role of Executive Director with the Paso Robles Distillery Trail, so she knows a thing or two about the food and drink landscape of the Central Coast.
Websites: pasoroblesdistillerytrail.com / farmsteaded.com
Instagram: @farmsteaded / @pasoroblesdistillerytrail
Nancy Ulloa, winemaker and owner, Ulloa Cellars, Paso Robles, California
Full of Life Flatbread, Clark Staub, chef and restaurateur, Los Alamos
Mike Gin and Andrew Gin, authors, ”The Mee Heng Low Gin Family Cookbook,” San Luis Obispo
Penni Monroe and Morgan Monroe, owners, Hush Harbor Bakery, Atascadero
Travis Watson, chef, Hotel Californian, Santa Barbara
Susan Feniger and Liz Lachman, celebrity chef and filmmaker, Los Angeles
Abe and Courtney Stevens, distillers and owners, Humboldt Distillery, Fortuna
Zachary Ahrenholtz, chef, Golden Gate Saloon & Holbrooke Hotel, Grass Valley
Ashley Chaney, food podcaster, ”Dear Food,” Los Angeles
Nicky Giusto, baker and miller, Central Milling, Petaluma
Gina + Mikey Giugni, winemakers, Lady of the Sunshine + Scar of the Sea Wines and Cider, Pismo Beach
Justin Trabue, winemaker and activist, Lumen Wines, Santa Maria
Simonne Mitchelson, winemaker and activist, Los Olivos
Jerime Ford, pitmaster, San Luis Obispo
Dylan Jones, Executive Director, One Cool Earth, Santa Maria
Anita Sahi, owner, Copia Vineyards & Winery, Paso Robles
Mara The Helper, entrepreneur, influencer and helper, Tokyo
Marbue Marke, winemaker and consultant, Napa Valley
Raymond Smith, winemaker and owner, Indigené Cellars, Paso Robles
Shanté Norwood, baker and owner, Té’Stees Cupcakes, Lompoc
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