The Flavor of Farming Today

The dream of farm life is timeless — but today's farmers are rewriting that story in real time.

Join us for a thought-provoking evening with Tamara Hicks, owner of Toluma Farms & Tomales Farmstead Creamery and author of Feasts on the Farm; Andy Naja-Riese, CEO of the Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM); and a local winemaker rooted in the same land and ethos. Together, they'll explore the shifting landscape of farming and food production in the Bay Area — where tradition meets innovation, and storytelling meets lived experience.

In Feasts on the Farm, Tamara Hicks brings us into the rhythms of life at Toluma Farms, weaving together recipes, stories, and a deep reverence for the land. Her work as a farmer, cheesemaker, and advocate offers an intimate portrait of what it means to build something sustainable — not just for the land, but for a whole community around it.

In conversation, Tamara, Andy, and our winemaker will connect their individual stories to the larger realities shaping agriculture today. From the rise of smaller, diversified farms to collaborative approaches like shared land, equipment, and labor, they'll discuss how today's producers are reimagining sustainability on their own terms. How can farmers and makers support one another in an industry that has long demanded everything? What does it look like to build systems that allow for rest, resilience, and even something as simple as a vacation?

They'll also explore how our community can play a role — through supporting land conservation efforts, engaging with local food systems, and participating in experiences like farm visits, cheese trails, and hands-on learning that deepen our connection to the land and the people who steward it.