Reception and cheese tasting at 6PM

Veterans of film and television, this is the first creative collaboration on a documentary film for Producer Alexandra Austin and Director Michael Walsh. Fittingly, their film revolves around the collaborative effort of another pair; Eric Smith and Pascal Destandau, formerly of San Francisco. Through intimate interviews on their farm in Healdsburg, this film explores the motivations and reasoning behind Eric and Pascal's decision to leave behind their urban lives as successful businessmen, to become goat farmers in the rural town of Healdsburg. Trading in long commutes, consumerism, and the urban rat race for a 3 1/2 acre farm, named Pugs Leap, and 35 goats, became a journey of self-discovery and social conscience for the couple. With the help of their goats, all with names and personalities of their own, Eric and Pascal produce their own artisan goat cheese, which they sell at local markets. Living on locally harvested foods, and the profits from their purposefully designed “no-growth business”, their partnership and lifestyle are a model not only for sustainable local living, but making a life choice and acting on it everyday. Woven into the fabric of their story is a running commentary on food production and distribution, featuring supporting commentary by Dr. David Heber, Director of the UCLA Center for Nutrition, and local cheese guru John Raymond. This is an inspiring true story that will make us all think a little deeper about our next trip to the grocery store or farmers market.