Out Sitting in Their Field

Last night we had dinner at a farm. This in itself isn’t too surprising if you consider how many farms large and small there are around here.

A 15-minute drive from most of the East Bay will put you within spitting distance of at least a farm stand or a you-pick plot where you can buy as much as you can carry.


This particular farm was about an hour away from our home. We drove over a bridge to Sonoma County and found Green String Farm just east of Petaluma on Old Adobe Road. Green String Farms’ primary focus is on “growing food for people while simultaneously improving the land they grow on."


Before we ate we saw our meal being cooked on a spit (the goat), in a brick oven (flat breads) and got a tour and some education about where the vegetables that we were going to eat were grown.

This wonderful experience was made possible by the folks at Out Standing in the Field. Their mission is "to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it."


They work all over the country (and sometimes world!) to "bring together local farmers and food artisans, chefs and winemakers, we explore the connection between the earth and the food on your plate."


We have shopped at a local farmer's market every week for almost seven years now, getting to know the farmers and vendors along the way. This experience seemed to be a logical extension of how we try to eat at home. One of the best parts of the entire night was when the farmer, wine, cheese and bread makers came out to explain their process, craft and sourcing to everyone that was interested.


And then the sun went down and it was time to go home.