16

Flu Shots Now Available – Buellton Medical Center, 195 Highway 246, Buellton.

Better Hearing Event – 16th and 18th. Valley Hearing Center, 2027 Village Lane, Suite 204, Solvang.

17

Solvang 3rd Wednesday – Visit www.solvang3rdwednesday.com.

18

College Prep Advice – 6:45-7:45 p.m. Solvang Veterans’ Memorial Building, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; Free.

Birds of the Channel Islands Lecture and Book Signing – 7-8:30 p.m. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang.

19

Milk: Dare You Do Dairy or Not? Seminar – 11 a.m.-noon. Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, 2050 Viborg Road, Solvang. Free; 805-688-6431.

Flu Shot Clinic – 1-5 p.m. Sansum Clinic, 215 Pesetas Lane, Santa Barbara. Adult and pediatrics; 805-681-7500.

Flu Shot Clinic – 1-4 p.m. Sansum Clinic, Pediatrics, 1225 North H. Street, Lompoc. By Appointment only, must be a current clinic pediatric patient; 805-737-8760.

Harvest Festival –  4:30 – 8 p.m. Enjoy a fun evening for the little ones at the annual Harvest Festival. Carnival games, petting zoo, food and more! Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Preschool at 1825 Alamo Pintado Road, Solvang. $6 and up.

Laberinto with Revancha Nortena on Stage – 8 p.m. Chumash Casino Resort, 3400 Highway 246, Santa Ynez; www.chumashcasino.com/entertainment.

20

Los Olivos Day in the Country – 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Downtown Los Olivos. Morning family fun run, parade, tractor show, food and drink. Free.

First Baptist Church Car Show –  10 a.m.-3 p.m. First Baptist Church, 2667 Janin Way, Solvang; www.fbccarshow.com.

Ice Cream Social – 2 – 4 p.m. at the Buellton Library – The community is invited to enjoy free ice cream and meet the new Senior Library Technician Dominic Keen. Sponsored by Friends of the Buellton Library.

21

Succulent Pumpkin Workshop – 1-3 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden, 151 Sycamore Drive, Buellton. $30/non-members or $20/members; www.santaynezvalleybotanicgarden.com.

22

Deadline to register to vote – For information, call 805-722-8683 or visit www.sbcvote.com.

23

Solvang Chamber of Commerce Business Expo 2018 – 4-8 p.m. Root 246 at Hotel Corque, 420 Alisal Road, Solvang. Network with other local businesses. Family friendly event; 805-688-0701 or www.solvangcc.com.

SYV Women’s Network Meeting – 6-8 p.m. 5797 W. Camino Cielo Road, Santa Barbara; 805-403-3999.

24

“Night of the Living Dead” Film Screening and Virtual Zombie Hunting – 9:45 p.m.-Doors open, 10 p.m.-Zombie Costume Contest, 10:15 p.m. Movie Begins. Unlimited Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. beer tastings from 9:45-10:15 p.m. while supplies last. Parks Plaza Theater, 515 McMurray Road, Buellton. $25/person or $20/members. Pricing includes beverages; www.centralcoastfilmsociety.org.

25

Past, Present and Future Exhibit – Now through Nov. 11. Elverhoj Museum of Art and History,1624 Elverhoy Way, Solvang. Exhibit in on display in celebration of the museums 30th anniversary. Free; www.elverhoj.org.

26

The Sugar Blues (Just in time for Halloween) – 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, 2050 Viborg Road, Solvang. Free; 805-688-6431.

Solvang School PTO’s Fall Carnival – 4-8 p.m. Solvang School, 565 Atterdag Road, Solvang; www.solvangpto.org.

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” Film Screening with Barry Bostwick – 8 p.m. Chumash Casino Resort, 3400 Ca-246, Santa Ynez. Screening with live shadow cast and behind-the-scenes stories by Barry Bostwick. $35 and up; www.chumashcasino.com/entertainment.

27

The Great Pumpkin Festival – 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Kalyra Winery, 343 N. Refugio Road
Santa Ynez. Pumpkin decorating, scary scavenger hunt, candy prizes and great wine (wine for 21+ only). Event is free, wine available for purchase; www.kalyrawinery.com.

Grand Opening Celebration – 11 a.m.-2 p.m. First Bank, 1992 Old Mission Drive, Solvang. Special promotions, hors d’oeuvres, drinks and door prizes; 805-688-0592 or karen.bowker@fbol.com.

Military Cannon Ball – 5-10 p.m. Solvang Veterans Memorial Building, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang. Dinner, 1940s Rose Garden Dance Band, dancing, auction. $60 cash or $62 online at www.syvalleyvets.org.

Mini Movie Night, “Lost Boys”  – 7 p.m. Alamo Hotel, 425 Bell St, Los Alamos. Free; www.muniwine.com.

Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden Member Appreciation Dinner – 5:30 p.m. deLanda Vineyard in Los Olivos. Dinner, live music, silent auction. $75/member; www.santaynezvalleybotanicgarden.com.

Halloween Party – 5 – 7:45 p.m. Bethania Lutheran Church, 603 Atterdag Road, Solvang. Food, friends and fun for all ages. Pizza buffet from 5:30-6:30 p.m. $5/person or $20 per family and a canned food or sock donation. RSVP desired at 805-688-4637 or bethanialutheranch@gmail.com.

31

The Santa Ynez Chamber Halloween Street Faire – 5-8 p.m. Games, bounce houses, food, live music by Agin Brothers & Territorial Law Band. Costume Contest at 6 p.m.

NOVEMBER

2

Queen of Arts Show and Sale – Nov. 2 from 4-7 p.m. and Nov. 3 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Solvang Veterans Memorial Building, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; Free.

Steve Augeri, former lead singer for Journey – 8 p.m. Chumash Casino Resort, 3400 Ca-246, Santa Ynez. $19 and up; www.chumashcasino.com/entertainment.

3

Buellton Holiday Bazaar – 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Buellton Rec Center, 301 Second Street, Buellton. Free; www.buelltonrec.com.

4

Photography in Nature Workshop – 1-4 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden, 151 Sycamore Drive, Buellton; www.santaynezvalleybotanicgarden.com.

Daily

Pumpkin Patch and U-Pick Berries – 9 a.m. daily for the season. Summerset Farm and Dale’s Nursery, on the corner of Edison and Baseline off Hwy-154; 805-245-0989.

Solvang Farmer Pumpkin Patch – 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Open Daily; www.facebook.com/solvangfarmerpumpkinpatch.

Every Sunday

Arts and Crafts: “Nature Sun Prints” – 12-1 p.m. Neal Taylor Nature Center, Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, 2265 Hwy. #154, Santa Barbara. Free. $10/vehicle parked; 805-693-0691 or Julie@clnaturecenter.org.

Round Up Live Music on the Patio– 11 a.m. Maverick Saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. Visit www.themavsaloon.com.

Every Monday

Senior T’ai Chi, 9:15 a.m.; Arthritis Exercise Class, 10:15 a.m.; Creative Coloring, 1 p.m. every other Monday; Senior Issues, 1 p.m. every other Monday; Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805- 688-1086.

Divorce Care Recovery Seminar and Support Group – 6:30-8:30 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Christian Academy Library, 891 N. Refugio Road, Santa Ynez; Louise Kolbert at 805-688-5171.

Every Tuesday

Knitting, 9 a.m.; computer class, 9:30 a.m.; bridge and poker, 1 p.m.; Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-1086.

2-Step Lessons – 6:30 p.m.; 8 p.m. – Industry Night and Karaoke Party.

Maverick Saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. Visit www.themavsaloon.com.

Every Wednesday

SYV We Support the Troops – 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Volunteer to pack care packages on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Bethania Lutheran Church, 603 Atterdag Road, Solvang.  805-245-4951.

Yoga, 9:15 a.m.; Bingo, 1 p.m.: Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-1086.

Knit and Crochet – 1 p.m., Buellton Senior Center, West Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-4571.

Healing Hearts Support Group – 2-4 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church, 1825 Alamo Pintado Road. Free. To R.S.V.P. call 805-693-0244.

Solvang Farmers Market – 2:30-6:30 p.m., First Street between Mission Drive and Copenhagen Drive, Solvang.

Every Thursday

Chair Exercises – 10 a.m., Buellton Senior Center, West Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-4571.

Arthritis Exercise Class, 10:15 a.m.; poker, 1 p.m., Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-1086.

Brain Injury Survivors of Santa Ynez Valley – 12-2 p.m., Bethania Lutheran Church, 603 Atterdag Road, Solvang. Jodi House Brain Injury Support Center offers a support group for brain injury survivors and caregivers; www.jodihouse.org.

Honky Tonk Party – 4 p.m.-Free Tacos; 6 p.m.-Dance Lessons. Maverick Saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. Visit www.themavsaloon.com.

Every Friday

Pilates – 10 a.m., Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-1086.

Bingo – 1 p.m., Buellton Senior Center, West Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-4571.

Every Saturday

Cachuma Lake Nature Walk – 10-11:30 a.m.; 805-688-4515 or www.sbparks.org.

Junior Rangers Program – 12:30-1:30 p.m. Neal Taylor Nature Center, 2265 Hwy-154, Santa Barbara. Children 3 and up; under 10 years must be accompanied by an adult. $3/person. Nature Center admission is free. Visit www.clnaturecenter.org.

KidKraft – 2-2:45 p.m., 2nd Saturday of each month, Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, 1511 Mission Drive, Solvang; monthly art class for kids of all ages; $5/child, adult admission included.

Coming Up

Log onto www.cityofsolvang.com, www.buelltonrec.com or www.visitsyv.com to see a full schedule of programs and events that range from adult and youth sports to teen dances, field trips, excursions and more.

The post Oct. 16 – Nov. 5 Events Calendar appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Contributing Writer

Summerset Farm is a little agricultural gem at Edison Street and Baseline Avenue just off Highway 154 in Santa Ynez, and in October it explodes with a colorful pumpkin patch.

This rustic and picturesque farm stand has been in the same location for 14 years, and Sally Maher has been the proprietor for 11 years. It is also the location of Dale’s Nursery, run by Dale Bostrom, a California certified nurseryman. Bostron has been certified for 35 years and has been working at the farm for the past six years.

Johnny Chandler and Frances Olive-Hampton, visitors from Los Angeles, stop by Summerset Farm to chat with Sally Maher and buy some strawberries.

Not everyone is born with a green thumb, but Maher seems to have two. Cultivating is her passion. She, along with her assistant, Alberto Jiminez, plant all the produce sold at the farm stand. Jiminez makes sure everything is properly irrigated and growing well. Working in harmony with nature, using some old-fashioned techniques, the farm is herbicide and pesticide free.

Maher also runs the quaintly decorated farm stand, with freshly picked fruits and vegetables ready for purchase. But for those who want to experience a deeper connection with their food and nature, the farm allows customers to meander through the farm and pick their own seasonal berries, grapes, and apples right from the garden. For some, Summerset Farm is the first experience in a bountiful garden setting.

“I’d say ninety-five percent of my out-of-town customers are really into picking from the field. It’s something different for people from the city to do. Some come and stay for hours in the garden, taking pictures and tasting the berries,” said Maher.

The farm is seasonal – open May through December, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. until closing.

During the late spring and summer months the farm stand offers raspberries, strawberries, peaches, plums, apricots, tomatoes, along with a variety of vegetables such as onions, carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, four different varieties of potatoes, peppers, corn and sun flowers, which help keep the birds out of the berries. From late summer through fall they offer pumpkins, gourds, squash and apples.

“Last year I planted 3,400 onion plants. There’s months of planting involved in planting the garden – it takes days to get each project completed,” said Maher.

Summerset Farm has a quaintly decorated farm stand with freshly picked fruits and vegetables ready for purchase.

Besides a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables, the farm stand offers local honey, jams made by Maher, pickles, juices, lavender pouches, holiday decorations such as fancy gourds, and plant fertilizer.

There are several bee hives around the property with an observation hive inside the farm stand where visitors can view the comings and goings of the bees and their pollen collection activities.

“Our bee keeper is Archie Mitchell from Lompoc Valley Honey. He takes care of the hives and bottles the honey for us,” said Maher.

The farm’s October pumpkin patch display includes large decorative pumpkins, pumpkins for cooking pies and soup, jack-o-lantern pumpkins, and decorative turban squash and fancy gourds. It is one of the largest pumpkin patches in the valley, growing more than 28 varieties of pumpkin, squash and gourds.

“This is the premier photo op spot for fall pumpkins,” said Maher. “We also offer train rides through the farm, for both adults and children, and have a bounce house for the little ones offering numerous photo opportunities both in the field and at the farm stand.”

“We have had the train (on wheels) for five years now. Someone down south had it for sale and the owners of the farm purchased it and we use it to take those interested for a train ride around the farm,” explained Maher. “In 2016 our little train was awarded ‘Best Float’ in the Christmas parade.”

During October the farm welcomes children from kindergarten through second grade to visit the farm.

“We have a lot of field trips during October from schools all around the county; Lompoc, Santa Maria, and all the valley schools. Children can experience the farm, pick corn fresh from the garden and savor the tastes, smells and the natural environment,” said Maher. “It gives children the opportunity to see where their food comes from, and each child who participates in the school field trip gets to take home a pumpkin, a gourd, and an apple.”

“This is a great place to work. I get up every morning and I am happy to go to work. That’s important in life. It’s a pleasure to meet and greet the customers. Every year is different – I get to plant different things in the garden. I have the most beautiful office in the valley. I’m incredibly lucky to be able to spend my days in such a glorious environment doing what I love,” Maher said.

Summerset Farm is at 3450 Baseline Ave. in Santa Ynez. For more information, call 805-245-0989 or find them on Facebook.

Information on Dale’s Nursery can be found at www.amazingolivetrees.com.

The post Summerset Farm offers a bounty of goodness appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

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