The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) is volunteer olive picking day on Saturday, November 9, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the historic Santa Inés Mission Mills, weather permitting. Pick olives and learn about the history of this site.
The Mission Mills, adjacent to Old Mission Santa Inés, is part of the Mission Santa Inés National Historic Landmark District and includes an historic grist mill and a fulling mill. The water-powered fulling and grist mills are exceptional examples of Spanish efforts to industrialize the mission agriculture and economy. Part of the Mission Santa Inés National Historic Landmark District that includes the Santa Inés Mission and 95 acres of surrounding land, the mills complex is under the stewardship of SBTHP and it works in partnership with California State Parks, Santa Inés Mission, and the City of Solvang to ensure that the natural and cultural resources that make this a special place are protected and preserved for future generations.
The olive harvest from the Santa Inés Mission Mills property will produce olive oil that is sold to help support SBTHP’s mission to preserve, restore, reconstruct and interpret historic sites in Santa Barbara County. The varieties of olive trees include Manzanillo, Mission, Arbequina, Lucca, and Grappolo. Aptly labeled Mission Mills Olives, olives and olive oil is currently for sale at the El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park gift shop (123 East Canon Perdido Street) and through the California State Parks Foundation.
Wear comfortable shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Hat, sunglasses and gardening gloves are advised. SBTHP will provide tools and equipment. Please RSVP by Wednesday, November 6. Call (805) 965-0093 or email info@sbthp.org.