West District Gathering Schedule of Events
We will have COVID safety and social distancing protocols in place as required by
Contra Costa County Health Services at the time of the event. We want attendees to feel safe and comfortable and recommend and respect the use of safety measures such as masks and sanitizers by those who feel they need them.
Contra Costa County Health Services at the time of the event. We want attendees to feel safe and comfortable and recommend and respect the use of safety measures such as masks and sanitizers by those who feel they need them.
Friday, June 10
Sunday, June 12 – TENTATIVE
We may offer another activity on Sunday morning if there is sufficient interest by attendees (will poll people during registration). This might be a tour of a local nursery or a trip to a Livermore wine tasting room that serves wines made with flowers. Any fees for this additional activity are not included in the registration fee but should be nominal. Lunch will be included.
We have secured the meeting room at the Sonesta Hotel in Pleasant Hill for the Saturday meetings and presentations. This is the old Courtyard by Marriott hotel at the corner of Monument and Contra Costa Blvd.
The meeting room holds up to 35 people and is climate controlled – good since we never know what kind of weather we’ll have in June.
Sonesta Hotel is also holding a block of hotel rooms for members wishing to stay at the hotel. To reserve a hotel room, click here.
- 4:30PM-7:00PM - Welcome Reception at Rodgers Ranch to welcome attendees, sponsored/hosted by HSA Northern California Unit. This will be an outdoor event unless it rains, so bring a light sweater or jacket as evenings can be cool.
- Learn About Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars with Nate Bradley from Amphora Nueva
- Olive oil and balsamic tastings
- Oil/Vinegar food parings as appetizers
- Wine, spritzes, and herbal waters
- 8:00am-9:00am – Registration check-in at Sonesta Hotel Meeting Room, first floor. Presentations and lunch will be at the hotel.
- 9:00am-10:15am – Business meeting, presented by National and District leadership
- 10:15am-10:30am – Break
- 10:30am – 12:00pm – Tending the Wild – Discovering Native Plants Used for Food, Medicine, and Everyday Life with Patrice Hanlon, Horticultural Consultant & Educator
- 12:00pm-1:00pm – Lunch, catered
- 1:15pm – 2:45pm – An Adventure in Natural Perfumery with Laurie Stern of Velvet & Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery
- 2:45pm-3:00pm – Break
- 3:00pm – 4:30pm – Presentation and Workshop: Make your own Seasoning Salts: Ideas for All of Those Wonderful Herbs You've Grown! with Hollie Lucas-Alcalay of Hollie’s Homegrown
- 4:30pm-5:00pm – Break
- 5:00pm-8:30pm – 3-course farm-to-table style dinner at Il Fiorello in Fairfield, CA. Wine will be included. We will be providing transportation - the bus will depart the Sonesta Hotel at 5:00pm and return to the hotel at about 8:30pm.
Sunday, June 12 – TENTATIVE
We may offer another activity on Sunday morning if there is sufficient interest by attendees (will poll people during registration). This might be a tour of a local nursery or a trip to a Livermore wine tasting room that serves wines made with flowers. Any fees for this additional activity are not included in the registration fee but should be nominal. Lunch will be included.
We have secured the meeting room at the Sonesta Hotel in Pleasant Hill for the Saturday meetings and presentations. This is the old Courtyard by Marriott hotel at the corner of Monument and Contra Costa Blvd.
The meeting room holds up to 35 people and is climate controlled – good since we never know what kind of weather we’ll have in June.
Sonesta Hotel is also holding a block of hotel rooms for members wishing to stay at the hotel. To reserve a hotel room, click here.