It is a breath of freshness to have such a burst of color in this shabby-chic town, where a historic logging and fishing industry has given way to havens, hideaways, and weekend vacationers. Cabins are still in high demand, and fishing still a patient pastime, but now it can also be a place to find unique and eco-savvy gifts.

After picking out a brilliant blue spun-glass vase for Aunt Mollie, a tawny red assemblage of wild berries and cyclamen for Grammy Jessie, and a hand-woven rug for brother Joe, you can fade away into the Armstrong Woods where redwoods welcome, or tuck into the hot tub at nearby retreat Boon (link to article).

In Sonoma it is easy to avoid the mall, and get gifts that give back, especially with the help of a shop like Nexus Organic Living.

Nexus, 16442 Main St., Guerneville, http://www.nexusorganic.com

Achadinha Cheese Company

that means one man’s waste is another flock’s food. For instance, the goats on the Pacheco’s farms sup on spent beer grain from a local brewery in between munching on tall native grasses.

Continue your exploration of divine dairy at these great farms, or find their cheeses at local markets like John Raymond Cheese Company (www.raymondcheesemongers.com, Jack London Village, 14301 Arnold Dr., Glen Ellen, 707.938.9911), or Sonoma Market and Glen Ellen Village Market (www.sonoma-glenellenmkt.com, 707.996.3411), also at local farmers markets. Here are two more milky treats, and we still haven’t even left Petaluma! I guess that means there will have to be a part Trois…

Spring Hill Cheese Company

Creamy Jack, sharp cheddar, and bright yellow churned butter from Spring Hill Dairy come from very happy cows indeed. In between grazing on grasses on the rolling hills of their pasture, this herd of 400 Jerseys feeds on a “forage” mix with fava beans and white oats frown by owner Larry Peter and his crew. Roaming about on the lush Sonoma lawns of Petaluma is the place to be if you are a dairy cow.

And there’s lots to do with the milk at this “estate” cheese-making facility, which means everything from milking, to pasteurizing, to aging happens at the same company. Portuguese cheeses, aged up to eight months, and Gianna, with a washed rind, are two other favorites, and I hear that a raw milk cheese will soon be on offer. For something entirely unique, but also traditional in the “old world,” quark is a perfect pairing with a grainy toasted bread, or tucked away in a fluffy omelet. Petaluma Creamery will be re-opening soon, where you can purchase these cheeses, plus order an old-fashioned milk shake. Or you can go meet the cows in person near Two Rock on Spring Hill Road.

Petaluma Creamery: 621 Western Ave., Petaluma, off of Petaluma Blvd. S.

Spring Hill Jersey Cheese Farm: 4235 Spring Hill Rd., Petaluma, off of Bodega Ave.

www.springhillcheese.com

Achadinha Cheese Company and Pacheco Family Dairy

Continuing the family tradition of dairy farming, the Pachecos moved from Bodega Bay to Petaluma in 2004 to focus on their two favorite cheeses: a lovely, melt-able Broncha, and a hand-rolled, semi-hard cheese called Capricious. Using their own family recipes and creating something totally unique to their estate operation, these goat cheeses are as pretty as they are tasty. Pronounced “osh-a-deen-a,” this is not the chevre you are used to, rather rolled loaves made in the old California, and Portuguese tradition. Ask about their fresh feta too!

750 Chileno Valley Rd., Petaluma, 707.763.1025, www.achadinha.com

Driving around the county, it is hard to find a road without passing a farm stand, a winery, or at least a sign proclaiming the existence of a working farm – and this is good news. Keeping up the relationship between man, beast, and land takes ever more work as land prices soar and economic instability becomes a reality. These dedicated families have stayed close to their roots, and any visit to Sonoma County should include a taste of their creations.

My list of favorite Sonoma cheeses is so long it will take a few mini-tours to cover them, but here are a few to start with. Remember that goat’s milk has far less lactose than cows milk (sheep’s milk is somewhere in between), and for vegetarians, most of these producers use natural rennet, not derived from animals, a quick call in advance will clear it up if you’ve got further questions. Dietary considerations are important, but once you’ve figured out what’s right for you – get out and start your tour of the Sonoma Cheese Trail!

Let’s begin in Petaluma, one of Sonoma County’s richest dairy countries…

Two Rock Valley Goat Cheese
About five years ago Bonnie Depernerdi was given a few goats to keep her dairy cows company. As a serious dairy gal, she went ahead and bred them, and her husband Don began dreaming of his Grandfather back in Switzerland, who made his own hard, raw goat cheese in the Alps. With more than a gallon of a milk a day, much more than they could drink, he decided to make cheese in the style of his family – he’s a first generation American from Swiss parents. After a few visits to the old country, equipped with cheese making lessons and the proper permits, he did just that, and his incredible raw goat cheese is one of my very favorites. In the summer there are some 30 goats to milk, in the fall and winter the number drops to about 10, but look for Two Rock Valley Cheese at both Santa Rosa and Petaluma Farmers Markets (where you can meet Don in person), at the Pacific Markets around Sonoma County, and at Fiesta Market, Faircrest Market and others. Give him a call and he’d be happy to show you around and introduce you to his sweet goats who graze in the open, picturesque meadow. After visiting this place it’ll be hard not to be dreaming of getting your own goats and making your own cheese too.
7955 Valley Ford Rd., Petaluma, 707.762.6182

Bellwether Farms
For a complete lesson in artisan cheese, Bellwether is your one-stop shop. Find a range of cheeses, mostly soft, like fromage blanc and crème fraiche, pepato (made with peppercorns) and carmody (a partially aged gorgonzola with mild taste and texture like a more vibrant Jack), ricotta and Bellwether’s special San Andreas cheese (an absolutely addictive raw milk sheep’s cheese). Using both cow’s and sheep’s milk, the handmade dairy products here are a mainstay in the best local restaurants like ZaZu, Underwood Bar and Bistro and Rocker Oysterfeller’s.  Although they currently don’t offer tours of Bellwether, the cheeses are widely distributed, and especially easy to find now that they’ve added a handy “finder” feature on their website: www.bellwethercheese.com

Rose and Thorn – While there are a wonderful assortment of pumpkins and preserves, hot cider and other classic fall treats, Rose and Thorn is where the kids can pet goats, chase chickens, and the parents can go home with some fresh eggs and even an original piece of art made by local craftspeople. The animal corral and the scented garden areas are highlights any time of year. First Fridays the gift shop offers 20% for ladies, but you can visit any time 11a-5:30p Thursday through Monday also. 10050 Bodega Hwy, Sebastopol, 707.823.9467, www.roseandthornca.com

Sonoma Beekeepers’ Association – Meet the locals and learn all about the bees and their keepers in this gracious county at one of the open-attendance Beekeepers’ Association meetings. They are held the second Monday of each month from 7-9p at the Sonoma County 4-H Centre behind Rohnert Park Expressway’s Grocery Outlet (cross street Commerce Boulevard). Listen to bee problems get solved, and ask questions – there is no attitude here even if you’re a novice. Come in November with a potluck goody for the annual dinner, complete with fun awards and door prizes. If you’re a local you’ll surely be interested in becoming a member, $25 annually. This is one great group. Meeting location: 6445 Commerce Blvd, Rohnert Park, www.sonomabees.org

Bloomfield Bees and Honey – One of the most incredible ways to experience bees is by the side of the beekeepers at Bloomfield Bees and Honey. Follow them carefully around the hives, which are specially placed around certain flowering plants to produce many honey flavors like apple blossom, star thistle and blackberry. Take home some comb honey for your next dinner part – it is east to impress your friends with a spread of fine local cheeses smeared with this tasty stuff. These are also great people to talk to when it comes to getting your own hive, or removing one (and having it go to a good home) if you notice a hive in a “sticky” location. No need to call first, just show up any day from 9a to dusk. Find these honeys at local farmers markets too! 1295 Bloomfield Rd, Sebastopol, 707.836.7278 www.bloomfieldbeeshoney.com

Ranch Hag Hens – One simple call and you could be meeting a new part of your family: your own backyard chickens! Everything you need is here from helpful advice, supplies, and various kinds of colorful chicks, some of which produce beautiful bluish eggs. Call ahead to plan your visit, and bring the kids if you’ve got ‘em! 541 Eastman Ln, Petaluma, 707.480.8401, www.ranchhaghens.com

Two other honey spots that shouldn’t be missed:

Lavender Bee Farm – 764 Chapman Ln, Petaluma, 707.789.0554, www.lavenderbeefarm.com

Hector’s Honey Farm – 2794 Fulton Rd, Fulton, 707.579.9416, hectorshoneybees@sbcglobal.net

Her inspiration to slow the pace of life, and enjoy the simple practice of caring for yourself (and your lucky family members and friends), is contagious, and her many products mean there’s something for everyone. Bath Fizzers bring a tub new life – made with sodium bicarbonate and organic essences, these are surely the grown-up equivalent of a rubber ducky, making bath time oh so fun. Try inventive flavors like citrus-y California Sunshine, Lavender Dream, Honey Hibiscus, even Sex on the Beach with peach, pineapple, cranberry and vodka elixirs. Bath salts, milks, teas, and melts are also on the menu – who knew all the possibilities for a tub treat?!

After a soak, you’ll want to lather up with a special Bonbon Salt Scrub, or an organic Cane Sugar Scrub, then moisturize with a body lotion or natural butter like the velvety Goat Milk Body Cream or Butter with Benefits, a mix that includes rare Cupuacu Butter, Mowrah Butter, Pistachio Oil and more. Soft skin will be the norm after such royal treatment.

Find these great products at the original Sebastopol location, where you can also treat yourself to a spa ritual featuring Sumbody products at the Sumtime Spa. 118 N Main St., Sebastopol, 707.823.2053

This year, the films are organized into some pretty tempting and intriguing categories: Latin Cinema, Eco Cinema, Cinema of Conscience, Arts in Film, World Cinema and more. Hotel deals at Hilton Sonoma Wine Country are available when you tell the reservationist the magic words: Napa/Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival.

I recommend the Paseo de Espana, hosted by the Tourist Office of Spain, with food, cinema and wine with a Spanish flair. It looks to be an especially wonderful showing of world culture, in a local context. Many of the Eco Cinema films, in fact, are coming from Spain, and the more I look around Sonoma County, the more Spanish influence I see, especially when it comes to food. And its easy to be a locavore with a Spanish swing there are an abundance of ingredients available here that mimic the classic recipes. Dining under the stars, enjoying the authentic cuisine and cinema will prove fantastic, especially while learning about a new perspective and new eco-philosophies from near and far.

Get your tickets for special events and featured screenings early this fest is popular with locals and travelers alike!

Info:

Festival Dates: September 17-27, 2009

707-935-3456, www.wcff.us

Sonoma locations: Deerfield Ranch Winery and Sonoma County Cinemas

Hilton Sonoma Wine Country, 800.445.8667

This incredible corner of the world is perched on a rather epic coastline, so the population of birds, both locals, and immigrants, is extraordinary. And thankfully there are loads of people who want to keep it that way. Part of Madrone Audubon is a group called Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, who work to ensure that the especially crucial wetland habitat and its wildlife lives happily, expansively, and healthfully. If the city wants to build an asphalt plant, theyll sure hear ways to make it environmentally sustainable from the folks on this board. You can get involved helping grow native plant starts at the CASA, that will be used to replant protected wetlands, or just take a docent-led tour of the incredible shoreline areas to learn all the biological gossip. Volunteers are needed at many different times of year for the task of the season be it weeding, counting rare birds, or keeping up nursery activities.

To further appreciate the feathered folks being protected, go birding for yourself. If you miss the docent tours led by the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, or one of the themed Audubon birding outtings, take yourself for a stroll following the detailed maps at http://www.audubon.sonoma.net/birding/birding.html of Bodega Bay, Shollenberger Park, Santa Rosa Creek, Pine Flat Road, Shiloh Park, and Ida Clayton Road all known for unique bird species. Shollenberger Park is often overlooked because of its lack of lawn, but the amazing birds there make it second only to Bodega Bay (a world reknown birding spot), for Sonoma birdwatching. Find rare golden-flecked American Bitterns, tawny Virginia Rails, Black-Crowned Night Herons, yellow-beaked Soras and even birds of prey like the striped tail Coppers Hawk and the Harrier. Greebes, king fishers, thrushes, finches, and a slew of ducks like the Common Teal and Ruddy Duck make fun of each other while otters play with their food. It is a living menagerie of the Sonoma of old, the Sonoma that can be once more with the growing effort to reclaim valuable wetlands. Many of these coastal birds are big links in the food chain, and many also find themselves on the list of endangered species. By following a cheerful docent, planting a few seedlings, or just bringing your binoculars up to your eyes and talking a long, curious look, you too can be a part of the bountiful bird community around here. Enjoy!

Upcoming bird treks with the Madron Audubon Society:

Wednesday September 2, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM

BODEGA BAY. Bird Walk. From the center of the town of Bodega Bay, drive north on Highway 1 and turn left at East Shore Road (the Bodega Head turnoff). Then turn right at the stop sign and continue 0.3 mile to the unpaved parking lot on the right. Bring lunch, liquids, and layered clothing. For information, contact Tom McCuller at sisyphus@sonic.net or 546-1812.

Saturday September 5, 8:00 AM to Noon

RAGLE RANCH REGIONAL PARK. Beginners Bird Walk. Meet at the Sebastopol Community Center, 390 Morris Street, Sebastopol, where we will combine into fewer cars. There is a $5 per car entrance fee to Ragle Park. Rain cancels. Leaders: Tom Cashman, 433-2528; Bill Doyle, 483-8773; Bill Payne, 546-3331; and Bob Speckels, 569-0563.

More info:

Petaluma Wetlands Alliance: http://www.petalumawetlands.org/

Madrone Audubon Society: 707-546-7492, http://www.audubon.sonoma.net/

One bite of Tierra’s seascape strawberries and I just have to run to the kitchen and start waxing culinary creative, or I might blow a fuse. On the way, however, I think I’ll stop at Cyrus, just for dessert, to see what he’s doing with Evie’s berries. Starting with such fine fruit, I expect to be floored…

Coffee Bazaar frequently has canine greeters sitting with their masters in
the wooden plank chairs outside. Last trip I patted a huge Newfie on the
head before ordering my fresh pastry and fair trade espresso to go.
There’s more advanced breakfasting to be had here too – eggs, bagels,
scrambles and a myriad of muffins are at your beck and call. The cheerful
barista topped of my drink with a curly-que of foam, just how I like it,
and she was happy to package up my to go bagel in compostable packaging.
Coffee Bazaar is a melting pot of locals and travelers – all in search of
a bit of lively conversation over organic coffee and a few good eats. The
green beans are purchased directly from the farmers who grew them in the
shade of their forest habit, then roasted on a weekly schedule right in
the back of the shop. Smell the deep, pleasant aroma, and expect a cup
from very recently roasted coffee here.

Coffee Bazaar, 14045 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville, 707-869-9706

Just outside the main cluster of Guerneville businesses is Kaya, a coffee
paradise, albeit a small one. Order cappuccinos (before 11 if you want to
pretend you’re Italian), and you’ll find hearts, stars and marbleized
squiggles floating on your morning beverage. Each espresso is packed and
poured with care just for you, and the organic snacks complement the cups.

Sip something other than wine when you are in Sonoma County, even if it
just to get you going in the morning. To avoid killing your pallet, just
be sure to cleanse it with some bread or crackers before heading to the
wineries.

Kaya Organic Espresso Shop 16626 Highway 116, Guerneville, 707-869-2230

The director of Sonoma County’s Daily Acts organization wants to answer this question with every square inch of his own urban garden – a Petaluma home that produces some one-thousand pounds of food each year.

Trathen Heckman’s philosophy is that the ground can be utilized for both lush colors and textures, and also have a purpose. His backyard has medicinal plants, fruit, veggies, a wealth of herbs, and many types of trees – each planted with consideration for the dry climate and specific soil conditions. Reap the benefits of an espalier fence of apple trees, or a collage of drought-tolerant plants.  At this workshop, entitled “Lush and Water Wise,” learn the details from inside this demonstration garden from the experts – you may make some new green thumb buddies in the process!

Daily Acts offers sustainability tours like this one throughout the year on various subjects. They are always affordable or free, and give mreal-life solutions the spotlight. Find resources for your own eco-conundrums on their well organized website, or take part in a class or tour such as this to get hands on.

Saturday, July 18, 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Call or go online to register, free for Petaluma residents, $25 for non-Petaluma residents
707-789-9664

This special place wants to stay viable and safe for generations to come, so they’ve taken steps and met the strict Green Business Program requirements to ensure sustainability. A portion of the net proceeds of the few products produced over seas is given to International Justice Mission (IJM), a non-profit human rights organization. What’s more, the stickers are acid, lignin, gluten and latex- one more reason to smile!

The hour-long tours take visitors past the printing, packaging and shipping operations, and give everyone a chance to make a sticker project of their own! I like watching the precise laser-cut stickers being made – who knew crafting was so high tech?

Each tour participant gets a $3 coupon in the Company Store for use after the fun of the factory. Tour details: Jan-Jun 5th Mon-Fri 9:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm, June 8-Sept 4, Mon-Fri every hour on the hour starting at 9am, last tour 3pm, Sept 7-Dec 18 Mon-Fri 9:30am, 11am, 1pm, 2:30pm.

There are  positively oodles of wineries in this bountiful appellation that are committed to sustainability – whether they take extra care of their employees, take part in restoring and preserving the waterways, farm biodynamically or organically, or ensure that their operations are as efficient as possible when it comes to energy and water use – many wineries I’ve toured are conscientious about their impact.

Good quality wines made with careful attention to detail are the name of the game in Dry Creek. Everyone is lucky in terms of growing conditions, but those who take care of their soil, and allow some of their acreage to grow other varieties of plants, often win out when it comes to grape management and overall experience.

First, decide what kind of winery you want to visit – a new favorite like Unti, a farm paradise like Quivira, a mansion like Michael Schlumberger, a hidden grape grove like Montemaggiore… Imagine the views if you include a mountain-top winery, imagine the sun and the fun to be had watching the chickens peck on the valley floor…

Here is just one green Dry Creek grouping – remember, my philosophy is to linger at a few, carefully chosen spots, rather than go to them all!

The foodie’s Dry Creek tour:
Start with a pastry in downtown Healdsburg at Downtown Bakery – the cinnamon rolls are sinful dipped in some creamy coffee.

Take a long, relaxing drive down Old Dry Creek Road (left from Dry Creek Road at the Dry Creek General Store), to Quivira, where the bounty of their biodynamic farm is as much an attraction as their refreshing rose and syrahs.

Finish at Dutcher Crossing, where the picnic tables out back are always ready for folks who want to noshe over their new purchases. Dutcher Crossing is a small, family-style winery, that makes some of the best whites in the area.

Boon Hotel seems like it came to Guerneville like a lightening bolt shooting out of the sky. The bright white and lush orange complex of cottages is a stand out in this rustic town; they are worthy of the echoing thunder.

Sustainably-minded couple Kristin and Jill, together with the help of Kristin’s mother Suzie, run the most modern accommodations in Guerneville.  And Boon Hotel, named after their black and white dog, represents their dreams turned to reality.

They’ve incorporated cork flooring, repurposed teak shower floors, well-irrigated drought tolerant landscaping, local, organic and non-chemical toiletries and cleaners, locally-made organic cotton bedding and spa robes, saline-solar pool and hot tub, and other signifiers that Boon cares about their effect both locally and globally.

If you lull about the pool at “happy hour” you’re sure to hear the stories of how Boon came to be, and you’ll find out that Boon’s commitment to green is long term – they’ve even re-structured their roofs to support solar panels, another step they are taking as responsible business owners with a special talent for making guests fell pampered.

The rooms are clean and simple – the best part, other than the luxurious hot tub – is the free “easy rider” bikes to take a short ride to the General Store in town, or the other direction (a right from the entrance of Boon Hotel) to the towering redwoods at Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve.

This is one stay that won’t gouge your savings account, and will allow a bit of nature into your life, comfortably.

Boon Hotel + Spa: 14711 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville, CA 95446
707.869.2721
www.boonhotels.com

Quivira is an exceptional, certified biodynamic winery on Old Dry Creek Road, one of the best windy roads for a Sonoma road trip. British-born Andrew Beedy, trained in both organic, and the Rudolf Steiner method of biodynamic farming, tends to everything but the grapes. He explained that without a complete system of plants, and without a focus on healthy soil, not only would the wine suffer, but the environment as well. Andrew works closely with winemaker Steven Canter, and viticultural specialist Alan York to promote healthy growth on the land. The orchard of blooming apple trees keeps the bees busy; the aforementioned rye grass, and red-crested clover, pumps up the biomass of the soil, the chickens create enough manure for the rest of the garden plus they lay eggs on their own time table for restaurants like Barn Diva, the pond and creek filter waste water for reuse… everywhere I look there is healthy participation.

I sip a refreshing, and well-priced Grenache Rose and follow Andrew to his newest, most exciting project – his rescue pig Ruby. On Quivira’s single off-site vineyard in the Sonoma hills, he found this 200-pound darling, what Andrew estimates is a Bulgarian mix, but something wild. We rounded the bend, through a scented orchard, and the moment she and her shed mate pick up Andrew’s presence they bolt for him with glee. Her wraspy black hair and long eyelashes endear me to her, and when I find out she’s pregnant I am even more smitten. She was caught in some fencing on a lone mountain, and lives the plush life now at beautiful Quivira – one Sonoma winery that goes above and beyond. The working farm helps ensure that this county doesn’t become a mono-crop of wine grapes, rather that the wine grapes are supported by a diverse ecosystem, buzzing with life.

There’s another benefit to having a farm at your winery – tasty produce. Quivira’s “Farm-to Table” dinner series features the latest and greatest from their gardens, which you can tour before or after you sup. Come July 15th, October 10th or Feb 13th, next year, to sample the season. And if you ask nicely I’m sure you can give Ruby a nice head scratch before she turns in for the evening.

Follow Quivira on Twitter.

Freestone may not be a big place, but there are some big attractions there. In my mind, they all relate to decomposition, or rot. Hear me out – it’s a good thing. Enzymes are present at each of the best Freestone businesses – the fermentation at the Freestone Vineyards makes their wine great, the broken-down sourdough starter at Wild Flour Bakery is what tastes so fresh in their fougasse loaves, and at Osmosis, idea of “rot” is represented in the steamy cedar enzyme baths. One of the best green spas in the world, Osmosis is possibly the most luxurious and centering experience offered in all of Northern California Wine Country. And it’s all thanks to enzymes, constantly at work breaking things down.

Never is there a more pampering, satisfying representation of the life cycle than at Osmosis. You’ll find the lot on your right hand side, a few hundred feet from the Bohemian Highway turnoff and past Wild Flour and Freestone Vineyards. At the desk, inside the cozy shop and lounge area you can sip complementary cranberry tea with Japanese enzymes while choosing your treatment: a message with the bath, a facial with the bath, just a bath… Whatever combination of services you select, you are welcome to sit before or after in the spacious gardens, manicured perfectly according to Japanese tradition.

The welcome ritual, a ten-minute meditation with a special enzyme-enriched tea and chat with your bath guide, is a great way to ease into the transformative experience awaiting you. Notice the simple architectural details, the beautiful garden waterfalls, and the gentle tone in which the employees speak. The bath itself is a rare treat. It’s made up of rice bran and tiny cedar fibers and heat is generated by enzymes breaking down the rice bran. Your guide will make a place for you in the bath, and cover you over with the mixture to your comfort level, checking in on your every few minutes with a cool towel or a glass of water complete with a straw. Even though the bath only lasts about 12 minutes, depending on your liking, it has a drastic relaxing effect. Walk slowly to the showers, and take your time rinsing while in this heightened state.

Massages are better here than most, and after the bath your body will be happy to be kneaded.

Sit in the gardens with another cup of tea and soak up your revitalized feeling and your newfound respect for cedar woodchips.

Details:

Osmisis Spa, 209 Bohemian Highway, Freestone, CA 95472, (707) 874-8231

Water, waste, soil, pests, harvest, employment and processing all have a wide range of sustainable solutions involved, and there’s no better way to understand it all than to experience it – to see it – first hand. What you learn here you can take on all your wine country travels, asking insightful questions and seeing what wineries are talking the talk and which are walking the walk.

The epic views from the hilltops of the vineyard make the vertical climb well worth it, plus you’re guaranteed to learn something new from the docent. I followed Bill Myers on the tour and he taught me about the geologic history of the 1,850 volcanic Estate and the distinct ecosystem of the surrounding terrain.

Reservations are needed. Please pack a sack lunch and wear hiking boots or appropriate footwear. Also bring sunscreen and water, especially on hot days. The remaining 2009 hike dates are, April 25th, June 20th, Aug. 15th, Nov. 7th, and Dec. 19th. Tours begin at 10:00 a.m. at the Kunde Estate Tasting Room.  The hike will also conclude at the Tasting Room, where invigorated hikers can sample Kunde Estate’s hand crafted estate-grown wines. There is a $15/person fee for this tour.  Click here to purchase tickets.

Details:
9825 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, CA 707-833-5501

Follow on Twitter @kundeestate or Friend them on Facebook

There are a few plots of land farmed one step beyond the organic model, where pesticides are prohibited, and instead follow the stricter biodymanic method. Biodynamic farming is one of the branches on the tree of German philosopher Rudolf Steiner’s ideas, and one I grew up with as a child attending a Waldorf School. Crops are rotated to ensure even mineral distribution in the soil, plantings are timed with lunar cycles and special soil medicines, tinctures made from boiled herbs, are buried at the ends of the rows inside cattle horns.

It’s not just a bunch of hoo-haa; one bite out of a gigantic biodynamic carrot and you’ll wonder what went wrong with the rest of the carrot population. Wine Spectator awarded the 2001 Sonoma Benziger Tribute, a biodymanic wine, with a 92-point rating, and in my view, the future of conscientious wine growing is only looking up. The combination of taste and earth-friendly benefits is a win-win for the likes of the Benzigers, and the folks at Truett Hurst Winery, a newer Sonoma winery to be certified by Demeter, the overseeing body of Biodnamyics in the US.

I’ve found hope for the health of our planet growing at these biodymanic farms.

Details:

Biodymanic Farming and Gardening Association: www.biodynamics.com

California Certified Organic Farmers: www.ccof.org