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10 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | JANUARY 2022 By Cindy Ponce de Leon, Resident Twenty years ago, on a hillside in Goleta, California an organic farmer began cultivating coffee for the first time in the Continental United States. Jay Ruskey started a coffee growing experiment that now consists of over 70 organic farms from Santa Barbara County to San Diego. Ruskey was given seeds from a friend in Costa Rica and began 40 coffee plants that he planted beneath his avocado trees, enabling the two species to sustainably share water and nutrients. It takes three to four years before a young coffee plant starts to bear fruit, two more before it produces a viable harvest. Needing the collective weight of many farms to build an industry, Ruskey formed FRINJ Coffee. He put his farm, Good Land Organics under that umbrella and began sharing his technology and innovative dream with other farmers. As part of the FRINJ collective, a farms' harvested beans go directly to the company, which handles everything from fermenting and roasting, to marketing and sales. Coffee from a store usually goes through 20 hands before you drink it. Now coffee can come directly from local farms. More than half of California's coffee growers are located in our own backyard. San Diego's North County boasts 42 Organic Coffee farms. In Temecula Wine Country we have Mullins Farm, which has underplanted four acres of avocado orchard. In Oceanside, Jason and Christina Mraz farm 17 acres of avocado underplanted coffee. Many people know Jason from his Grammy winning ukulele song I'm Yours. (One of my favorites.) Don't be surprised at the sticker price of $18 for a cup of California Organic Coffee. Mraz-grown Geisha beans, which sold out in three days, sold for $199 for four ounces! CA Coffee Growers liken their flavor profiles to rival that of any fine wine, making the price worth every penny. By Clare Mendez, Resident Did you eat more than usual during the holidays? Time around the table with family and friends is precious and, in fact, a part of aging well because of the social aspect of the gathering. When conversation is being enjoyed, we often eat a little more, or worse, drink a little more beverages than usual. At our age, our bodies don't need as much fuel to do all the things we once did. A recent study showed that people who reduced their calorie intake by 30% lived longer and even avoided some age-related diseases. Less food means less for your body to process which translates into overall better function. Below are some suggestions I found in books based on healthy living: Cutting empty carbs in favor of nutrient-dense foods is one important way to lower your risk of diabetes or prediabetes. Nutritionists suggest we take time to enjoy cooking with fresh ingredients instead of boxed ones which are potentially devoid of nutrients anyway. As you rinse off your food smell it. Admire the color and texture. Cooking and meal prep is so much more pleasing when you appreciate the fresh ingredients that are a part of each meal. It's true that using a smaller plate tricks you into eating less if you are disciplined enough not to go back for seconds. Instead, start with the simple idea of eating until you are only about 80% full. Be aware of what your body is telling you. Perceptions of hunger may be a need for something else. A distraction such as exercise, fresh air, sleep or even just water may be all you need. There are many studies out there promoting the benefits of intermittent fasting too. Fasting can be achieved by just having dinner before 7 pm, then, skip breakfast the next morning and have lunch around 11 am or 12 pm. Admittedly, fasting can be a challenge at first. You don't have to go from zero to 16 if this sounds insane to you. Start with 12 hours, then move to 14, building to 16. Water, green tea and black coffee can be consumed if you're feeling hungry. Short fasts benefit you in a few ways. One is simple calorie reduction. Even if cutting back on food is not your "resolution" for this year, just be conscious of what is on the table and choose wisely. Here's to a long, healthy life. Coffee Anyone? EATING LESS

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