The Felix Gillet Institute will be having a Benefit Luncheon on Sunday, August 18 from 11-2 at Nevada City Odd Fellows Oustomah Lodge #16 212 Spring Street.
The luncheon will be preceded by a Guided History and Tree Walk at 9:30 am through Nevada City.
The fresh and delicious taste of Summer Luncheon will feature historic flavors prepared from fruits of the Felix Gillet Mother Orchard in North San Juan. The menu is being provided by Chef Chelsea Federwitz owner of North Fork Chai in Newcastle CA.
The lunch will be followed by a talk and slide show by Jenifer Bliss and Adam Nuber of the Felix Gillet Institute about the historic work and contributions to West Coast agriculture by Felix Gillet during the 1800s at Nevada City Barren Hill Nursery and what the Felix Gillet Institute is currently doing to re discover and preserve the genetics of these historic fruit and nut trees.
Participants will be invited to visit the original Felix Gillet homestead following the luncheon. Ticket sales end on Wednesday August 14.
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/81d80167-3a18-4697-8e12-00c716dc8d99
Beginning in 1866, Felix Gillet, of Nevada City, CA, imported, bred and introduced most of the plants that comprise the foundation of California and Pacific Northwest perennial fruit, grapes and nuts. Gillet introduced hundreds of varieties that helped create these industries: Almonds, Walnuts, Filberts, Chestnuts, Cherries, Apples, Pears, Figs, Table, Raisin and Wine Grapes, Plums, Prunes, Apricots, Peaches, Roses, Nectarines, and Strawberries. Many of his introductions are still the leaders of their industry, while others, then widely planted, provided the genetics for further breeding that led to today’s popular varieties.
The Felix Gillet Institute, a 501 (c) 3 non profit educational organization, was founded in 2003 by Amigo Bob Cantisano to identify, preserve and propagate the best of the varieties still thriving in the mining camps, farms, homesteads and towns of the Sierra, and elsewhere. True permaculture plants, these 125+ year survivors show great resistance to harsh weather, drought, insect and disease attack, and often produce remarkable, extremely flavorful crops with little or no human assistance. Amigo Bob has been discovering and enjoying Gillet’s legacy since 1970.