Events, Workshops & Tours

KATE WOLF PILGRIMAGE
A Journey Through Nature to the Birthplace of a Song

Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.


The Kate Wolf Pilgrimage takes us on a 4 mile round-trip hike to the historic homestead location where Kate Wolf was inspired to write her song The Lilac and the Apple Tree.
Watch it on youtube.

Of course, we’ll sing and enjoy Kate Wolf’s music! This year we have a special guest joining us: Rita Hosking will share her beautiful rendition of this special song.

We are so excited!

After the hike, we will have lunch then continue our pilgrimage to Kate’s grave and then visit the historic Goodyear’s Bar Museum.

We should be done by 2:30 p.m.

Remember these songs:

Give Yourself to Love  Watch on Youtube

The Red Tail Hawk       Watch on Youtube

A Waiver of Liabilities must be signed in advance.
Details will be sent prior to the event.

If weather makes May 16th impossible, our reschedule date will be June 6th.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE 2026 KATE WOLF PILGRIMAGE



TOUR OF HISTORIC ORCHARDS
 

The Felix Gillet Institute annual, historic orchard tour is a wonderful experience.

Date Yet to be Determined

This is an all-day, Autumn Adventure with a chance to see and taste heirloom fruit still on the trees. We meet between 8:30 and 9am at Heaven and Earth Farm, near North San Juan, CA and tour the Felix Gillet Mother Orchards. Then we carpool to three other historic mining camps, homesteads and ranches in Sierra County. These locations are mostly on private land, and we are allowed to go there only with special permission from the owners and caretakers. A Waiver of Liabilities must be signed in advance.

This tour includes a delicious, vegetarian lunch at an historic orchard and homestead with beautiful views over the canyon of the Yuba River Middle Fork.

$150. helps to support the work of the Felix Gillet Institute.

This is an Exclusive Tour reserved for a limited number of people.
When available, sign up and save you place.

One of our Heirloom Fruit Hunters said, “Being on this tour made me feel like I won a Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket.”


 

PRUNING & ORCHARD CARE WORKSHOP 

Winter 2027 / 10-12 

Date yet to be determined

 

Come learn the important details of pruning and caring for your fruit trees.

On Location at the Felix Gillet Institute (address sent upon registration)

Instructors:

Faith Sabatine, Permaculture Teacher
Adam Nuber, Felix Gillet’s own Nurseryman

Learn:

Best times for pruning
Techniques for optimal shape, tree health and crop production
Best tools of the trade

A Waiver of Liabilities must be signed in advance.


WINTER GRAFTING WORKSHOP

Taught by Adam Nuber 

Winter 2027

Date to be determined.

On Location at the Felix Gillet Institute (address sent upon registration)

Instructor:

Adam Nuber, Felix Gillet’s Nurseryman who has successfully grafted 1000s of trees.

Come Learn:

Best tools for grafting
Best types of rootstock for success
Safety while grafting
Best techniques for whip and tongue grafting
How to care for your newly grafted tree(s)

Each registrant will have be given their own apple rootstock and a choice of historic scions for grafting.

Some tools will be available for purchase on site

A Waiver of Liabilities must be signed in Advance.


2027 SEED & SCION SWAP

Winter 2027  / 10-3

Date Yet to be determined

Join the Felix Gillet Institute, Sierra Permaculture Guild, Banner Grange and the Sierra Foothills chapter of California Rare Fruit Growers (CRFG)  for an informative and family oriented Seed and Scion Swap with on-site demonstrations and food. 

$5 entrance fee/ children free

2026 Poster below:

 


In March 2026 we hosted a wonderful grafting class with FGI Board Members and Permaculture, and Food Forest Instructors: Christine and John Valenzuela. Hopefully, we will be able to do this again in the future: