Think Global but Shop Local!

Many artists, stores and businesses in the Coloma Lotus Valley are ready to help with your holiday shopping. Shopping locally saves gas, time and money by staying close to home. Many businesses have extended hours to make gift-buying easier. Consider these local choices:

Gold Hill Olive Oil: Just releasing their new 2008 locally grown and crushed olive oils, many varieties available.

The River Store: Christmas trees, wreaths, mistletoe, kayaks, boating gear, and free cookies made by Dan Crandall's mom!

The Golden Gecko Plant Nursery: Gift cards, stocking stuffers, items for the home gardener, Golden Gecko T-shirts, sweat shirts, and aprons.

The American River Nature Center: Nature books for adults and children, or click here to purchase books through Amazon.com and donate to this non-profit organization.

Gold Rush Mercantile: Period clothing, hats, aprons, bonnets, a large selection of books on gold rush history, music, children's toys, and genuine gold nuggets.

Wine: Need wine for holiday parties or hostess gifts? Stop by and taste at Venezio, Gold Hill, or David Girard Wineries, or choose from the bottles available at the Riverside Mini-Mart.

Sierra Rizing Bakery: Gifts from the kitchen; jams, jellies, syrups, delicious dog biscuits, and a wide selection of Gold Hill Olive Oils.

Andie Thrams Art- Andie has just produced her new 2008 calendar with a nature theme.

To find out more about these and other local shopping options, click here. Shop local and save time, money and gas!

Gold Hill Olive Oil Wins Silver

We recently learned that our local Gold Hill Olive Oil Company came home from the prestigious Extra Virgin Olive Oil competition at the San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival with a Silver Certificate for their 2006 "Gold Hill Estate" blend. This specialty combines Frantoio, Leccino, Lucca and San Felice varieties—all Italian olives—for a Tuscan-style taste.

Gold Hill crushed their extra virgin olive oils for 2007 in November of 2006. Their fresh and hearty "Achille's Blend," made of five different Italian olives, is a robust extra virgin with a strong pepper finish. If you are looking for a California-grown product, consider their "Tuscan Blend," pressed from olives grown in the foothills near Jackson, California.

Gold Hill Olive Oil Company is located a few miles from Coloma at 5601 Gold Hill Road (between Cold Springs and Lotus Roads). Their historic tasting room offers a wide variety of exceptional extra virgin olive oils, including their award-winning "Gold Hill Estate" blend. They are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday & Sunday.