Franz and Maggie are getting married
A Special Spin of the Earth
Maggie Thomas and Franz Hochstrasser are both from California, born and raised. It's only fitting that we tie the knot in the midst of the Northern California hills and verdant valleys. When we think about how the rest of our lives will grow increasingly intertwined with each other and our beloved friends and family, it's you all, the community of supporters that have made us who we are today. While the challenges of the world and society are great, we believe wholeheartedly in the power of love and community to transcend divisions and hardship, so we want to have you all join us to strengthen those bonds through good cheer and merrymaking. Come ready to meet new and old friends, and lift your spirits in a celebration of a very special spin of the earth, and many more to come united in matrimony.
Full Belly Farm
Why We Are Getting Married At Full Belly Farm
Full Belly Farm located in the beautiful Capay Valley of Yolo County stands nearly equidistant between where Maggie grew up in the Sacramento Valley and where Franz grew up in Marin County. We like to think of it as East Meets West or the place where our two lives join in the middle of one of the most beautiful places in northern California.
Once upon a time, Maggie’s parents (Hal and Kathy) were hired to undertake the historic survey of Capay Valley and fell in love with its geography, its swooping hills and the long narrow valley that was and still is home to rich farmland and Victorian houses. Not much has changed there in the last 100 years. Kathy even penned a rough draft novel about a young immigrant couple and their two daughters set at the very site of Full Belly Farm.
Fast forward to 2014 when Franz as part of his work with the USDA in the Obama
Administration was part of a team tasked with identifying Climate Hubs across the country. After picking the USDA Climate Hub in Northern California, they chose Full Belly Farm to conduct a case study for climate-smart agriculture as a resilient organic farm. (Link here; a prize for anyone showing up at the wedding having read the full study.) The farm has been certified organic since its founding in 1985 and has been in the same ownership since its creation.
More importantly, Full Belly Farm embodies the values we carry in our hearts. Its 400 acres are 100% organic rich with hundreds of fruit and vegetable varieties sold at numerous farmers markets and organic grocery stores around Northern California. Each year they grow three acres of flowers, including those that will be in Maggie’s bouquet and adorning the wedding.
All that you eat at our wedding will be harvested from Full Belly. The entire evening will be hosted by Full Belly family and staff. It will be a wedding experience you won’t forget and that will launch our lives together.
Thank you for joining us on May 20, 2023 to unite our two lives in love and marriage.
