Author Archives{mjv}

For freelance writer Matt Villano, cool things that are green include his Toyota Prius, Kermit the Frog and, of course, this weekly column. Villano has been writing about sustainability for the better part of the last decade, having covered the topic for publications including The New York Times, TIME magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle and others. He writes about other stuff, too, such as travel, science, business, technology, gambling and education. To learn more about Matt, visit his Web site, www.whalehead.com, or his blog, www.thedaddydispatch.com.

EcoRing launches eco-tours of North Bay and beyond

9 months ago in Insiders Guide.0 Comments

EcoRing, a nonprofit eco-tourism advocacy group in Guerneville, announced earlier this month a series of multi-day, alternative-transportation eco-tours of the North Bay and beyond. The series, dubbed EcoOdyssey, is the first of its kind for Sonoma County. The first tour, going on now through May 7; dubbed the EcoOdyssey 100, it will take participants on a 100-mile journey from Geyserville {…}

Kendall-Jackson Farm Stand kicks off Saturday

9 months ago in Green Sonoma.0 Comments

May means it’s farmers market time again here in Sonoma County, and perhaps none of this weekend’s markets are as anticipated as the Kendall-Jackson Farm Stand, a regular extravaganza of produce and goodies held on the first Saturday of every month at the winery’s Santa Rosa Wine Center/tasting room. This Saturday – May 7 – the shindig is expected to {…}

Earth Day Activities in Sonoma County

9 months ago in Green Sonoma.0 Comments

Earth Day — the annual day that celebrates the environment — is Friday, April 22, and there are a plethora of activities planned all over Sonoma County. Since we’re paid to stay on top of these things, here’s are three of the big day’s best: On Friday, Inman Family Wines in Santa Rosa will throw an Earth Day party during {…}

Farms host passport weekend of their own

9 months ago in Green Sonoma.0 Comments

Oenophiles are gearing up for the 22nd annual Passport to Dry Creek Valley event, held April 30 and May 1 in the north part of the county. Farm fans now have something to geek out about as well: A passport event of their own on the very same weekend (well, on May 1). The latter event, dubbed “Blossom, Bees & {…}

Cycle Sonoma’s Finest Backroads

10 months ago in Itineraries.0 Comments

Most visitors know Sonoma County for its vineyards, breathtaking coast and indulgent spas. Bicyclists, however, know it for something entirely different: cycling. Indeed, among “gearheads,” as they’re known, Sonoma has a reputation as one of the best road-biking destinations in the U.S. Riding experiences vary from hard-core to soft-core to tourist. All are memorable. Hard-core Considering that Santa Rosa is {…}

Santa Rosa hotel embraces new brand, new commitment to green

10 months ago in Green Sonoma.0 Comments

A popular hotel in Santa Rosa has decided to celebrate a new brand with a renewed commitment to go green. The hotel—the Best Western Wine Country Inn & Suites on Hopper Avenue—transformed from a Holiday Inn earlier this year. Now, the parent company, Heritage Hotel Group, has announced that the property has partnered with Orlando, Fla.-based non-profit organization Clean the {…}

Eco-conscious barrel-to-barrel concept hits big-time

10 months ago in Green Sonoma.0 Comments

An eco-conscious approach to selling and serving Sonoma County wine has been attracting attention lately, culminating with an Associated Press article that was published nationwide last week [March 23]. The story spotlighted a relatively new strategy that enables restaurants and bars to serve wines-by-the-glass from kegs with wine on tap. Dubbed “barrel-to-barrel,” the approach significantly reduces glass waste associated with {…}

Go behind the green rope at Tolay Lake Regional Park

10 months ago in Green Sonoma.0 Comments

If you imagined Sonoma County parks as nightclubs, Tolay Lake Regional Park would be the hottest ticket in town. Typically, through something called the Interim Plan (IP) Day-Use Program, outdoors lovers must sign up for an hour-long orientation and permit before they can gain access. Next month, however, visitors can experience the space on a ranger-led hike. The outing is {…}

Agri-tourism, farm tours are alive and well at family farms throughout Sonoma County

11 months ago in Green Sonoma.1 Comment

Agri-tourism is alive and well in the heartland of Sonoma County. This popular brand of tourism comes in a variety of flavors—tours, produce-picking, cooking classes and more. All of the experiences are designed to give visitors an inside-look at what life is really like on the American farm. They are open to everyone; in many cases, they cost no more {…}

Case Ranch Inn embraces green, sustainability

11 months ago in Green Sonoma.1 Comment

The four-room Case Ranch Inn in picturesque Forestville is more than another pretty bed-and-breakfast; it also happens to be one of the “greenest” businesses in Sonoma County’s hospitality industry, bar none. Exhibit A: The property’s distinction as the only B&B to have completed the Sonoma County Green Business Program to date. Exhibit B: The new EV charging station (with two {…}