On an unusually sunny recent Saturday in Jenner by the Sea, Earth Day played to happy crowds in shorts, halter tops and flip flops.

At the back of Jenner Inn, Un Deux Trois from Sebastopol played Piaf and other French classics. Over the highway, a righteous reggae band rocked dreads over happy campers with beers in hand at Cafe Aquatica’s oceanside verandah.

Most were Russian River eco-warriors, here to celebrate all things low-carbon and eco-friendly, from the swankiest electrical cars to the latest folding electric bikes.

Sinewy cyclists, some very young, took off early for the 28-mile round trip to Occidental, using the old “two wheels good, four wheels bad” excuse.

A cannon ball shot from a Russian longboat fired enthusiastic kayakers into racing round Penny Island, a seal and otter watching hot spot. Hikers with a love of wildflowers lined up for a two-hour ramble up Jenner Headlands.

All were there for Earth Day, care of EcoRing, Sonoma’s “Slow Travel” movement. Slow travel embraces and celebrates the local in nature for those who choose not to tote up carbon miles when they travel.

Wildlands Conservancy’s Ranger Kristin Martinez took a group of 25 across the headlands to view carpets of yellow buttercups and purple irises spread against the panoramic views from the Pomo Trail.

Even three unlikely palm trees, a tumble-down 1800s shack, rusting bath tub, and a rickety RV manage to cling to the  former Rule farm, still partly ranched by local farmers, now a public donation to Wildlands.

One of the leading attractions down below  was Russian longboat rides with former president of the Fort Ross Interpretive Association John Middleton to mark the settlement’s bicentenary and 200-year connection to Sonoma County.

Russian Navy longboats were sent to California in 1996 as part of the 300th anniversary of the Russian Navy. In addition to being part of the Russian Navy and Official Historic Ships and Boats of Monterey, these twin-sailed solo-steered speedy longboats were used in major Hollywood movies like “Amistad” and “Master and Commander.”

Meanwhile, a gaggle of electric-car worshippers ogled the Scarlet Porsche Speedster on display by Make Mine Electric’s Peter Oliver, and the North Bay Electric Car Association had the commanding steely grey Tesla and Nissan Leafs.

EcoRing message is that the way to travel is lighter and slower. The motto: It’s the journey — not the destination. “Slow travel” is the natural next move in our new century’s battle against unsustainable energy.

Chair massages eased tired muscles, as did a beer or two to accompany the piping barbecue of oysters and chicken served stage-side.

At the community center a documentary screening of “Shark Water” capped the day’s fare.

The previous day Rick Coates, executive director of EcoRing, led a walk in Occidental to demonstrate the potential for the conversion of the NPC right-a-way to a trail. Following that, at a summit session hosted by Osmosis Spa’s Michael Stusser and EcoRIng, local business leaders and electric car organization folks chatted knee-deep in an enzyme bath about the need for new public charging stations in areas of tourism in Sonoma.

Right now, in spring, you’ll find baby artichokes, red-and-white striped beets, young garlic, small favas, tender lettuces, colorful cauliflowers, broccoli rabe, a bevy of herbs, and a whole lot more.

Then the apples come in, starting with Sebastopol’s famed Gravenstein. Before you know it the berries are plentiful, and then the stone fruits: apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines, cherries, plums … Then you’re drowning in zukes and cukes, sometimes marrying them to tomatoes that might be red or yellow or green or even black …

Just as this cornucopia runs out, another spills over: squash and melons and corn and pumpkins, nuts and grapes and beans. And even in the darkest days of winter you’ve got local broccoli and bok choy and lettuces, chard and endive and mushrooms.

Although the farmers markets center around food,  they offer far more. People come to buy a juicy peach or a mouth-watering tomato, sure. But they’re also there to meet their friends and hang out, hear a few tunes, devour a chocolate-chip cupcake or a Venezuelan Cachapas, or just watch the world go by.

Some markets operate from spring and into fall, but a few run year-round. Aside from fresh produce, most also include artisans and their wares, flowers and plants, and takeaway food from trucks or booths. There’s usually entertainment of some kind, too, which can range from a simple guitar soloist to a swing band.

This year there has been one big change on the market scene: the Santa Rosa Farmers Market has moved. (It lost the lease for its former location at the Santa Rosa Veteran’s Hall parking lot.) The new location: the south parking area of the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, just off Highway 101 in north Santa Rosa.

Here’s a list of the farmers markets in Sonoma County, with all dates, times and addresses updated for 2012:

Cotati Farmers Market

• Thursday (June-September): 4:30-7:30 p.m., La Plaza Park, downtown (Old Redwood Highway and West Sierra Avenue).

Gualala Farmers Market

• Saturday (May-November): 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Gualala Community Center, 57950 Center Street.

Healdsburg Farmers Market

• Saturday (May-November): 9 a.m.-noon, one block west of the Plaza on Foss Creek.
• Wednesday (June-October): 4-7 p.m., at North and Vine Streets, two blocks northwest of the Plaza in the Purity/Cerri parking lot.

Occidental Farmers Market

• Friday (June-October): 4 p.m.-dusk, downtown Occidental.

Petaluma Farmers Market

• Saturday (May-November): 2-5:30 p.m., in Walnut Park.
• Wednesday (June-August): 4:30-8 p.m., on 2^nd Street between B and D Streets.

Rohnert Park Farmers Market

• Friday (June-September): 5-8 p.m., at City Center Plaza (next to the library), 600 City Center Drive.

Santa Rosa Farmers Market

• Wednesday: 8:30 a.m.-noon, in the south parking lot of the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts (off Highway 101 in north Santa Rosa).
• Saturday: 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., in the same location as the Wednesday market.

 Sebastopol Farm Market

• Sunday (Year-Round): 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., in Sebastopol Plaza on Weeks Way in downtown Sebastopol.

Sonoma

• Tuesday (May-October): Valley of the Moon Certified Farmers Market, 5:30 p.m.-dusk, behind City Hall on Sonoma’s Plaza.
• Friday (Year-Round): Sonoma Valley Certified Farmer’s Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., in the Arnold Field parking lot at 241 West First Street, Sonoma.

Windsor Certified Farmer’s Market

• Sunday (April-December): 10 a.m.-1 p.m., on Market Street in Old Downtown.
• Thursday (June-August): 5-8 p.m., same location as Sunday.

You’ll learn a lot about both at the seventhannual Sustainable Enterprise Conference, which takes place on May 11 in Rohnert Park. The day-long event is all about helping North Bay business, academic, government, and non-profit organizations transition to economic, environmental and social sustainability.

The conference will be held at the event center of 200-acre Sonoma Mountain Village. A sustainable, mixed-use community – the first in North America to be endorsed by the International One Planet Communities Program – Sonoma Mountain Village is an environmentally-conscious redevelopment of a former technology center.

The conference’s footprint follows green event production practices, which include encouraging ride sharing, using ceramic dishware, maximizing waste diversion through recycling and composting on conference day, calculating the event’s carbon impact and offsetting it by donating to a local creek restoration group.

Conference objectives include understanding the definition and opportunities of sustainability; identifying successful strategies for economic resilience in a global economy; how enterprises can prosper from environmental policies; networking with like-minded organizations and people; offering practical tools; and much more.

The program includes workshops and panels, including case studies, organizational tools, and best practices—all presented by leaders who have benefited from sustainability strategies.

A sampling of speakers and topics:

• Joey Shepp, Sustainable Programs Director at Dominican University of California, will speak about living in grace with technology by reframing how we work. Topic Title: “Sustainable Work: Stay sane, increase productivity and live longer in the Information Age.”
• Lisa Mitchell, co-chair of the Terrestrial Biodiversity Climate Change Collaborative (TBC3), will speak on the topic “Impacts of Climate Change in Sonoma County: How can we build climate resilience into our local communities?”
• Three local business leaders will hold a panel discussion offering suggestions on how you can put sustainability to work in your own enterprise. Topic Title: “Green Business Showcase: Best practices at work.”
• Jasmain Ansar, an economist with the Union of Concerned Scientists, will tackle “AB 32, California’s Climate Legislation: A catalyst for innovation.” She’ll talk about AB 32 and explain the cap-and-trade program (one of the strategies the state will utilize to reduce climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions).

Other speakers include Assembly member Jared Huffman, California Energy Commission Deputy Director Panama Bartholomy, Sonoma County Supervisors Efren Carrillo and Mike McGuire, and Presidio Graduate School Interim Dean of Faculty Ed Quevedo, Guayaki CEO Chris Mann, Infineon Raceway President & General Manager Steve Page, Research Director at Institute for the Future Tracey Grose, and Sonoma State University Business Administration Dean Dr. William S. Silver and Professor Robert Eyler.

The conference includes a continental breakfast, a local and sustainable/organic lunch by Sally Tomatoes, and a wine reception at 5 p.m.

Tickets range from $69 to $249. Various discounts are available. Register online at sustainableenterpriseconference.com.

Here are two great examples of Sonoma County’s certified Green lodgings:

The Case Ranch Inn in Forestville: Built in 1894, the Case Ranch Inn may be a century old but manages to keep ahead of the times: it was the first B&B to make it through the Sonoma Green Business Program and become certified. The Inn produces 40 percent of its own power via solar, provides guests with an electric car-recharging station, practices rigorous recycling and water conservation, and lots more.

But this place has a lot to offer besides eco-friendliness. For starters, there are the three luxury guest rooms and a garden cottage – all with private baths; the wrap-around porch; the lush gardens complete with gazebo, delish breakfasts made with organic ingredients. If you can tear yourself away from the serene landscaping (a registered National Wildlife Federation Backyard Wildlife Habitat) you’ll find a limitless range of things to see and do nearby.

Read a recent article about the Case Ranch Inn.

MacArthur Place in Sonoma: A few short blocks from Sonoma’s historic 19^th century plaza, this luxury hotel and spa was originally a working ranch (some rooms are located in the original 1850s Victorian residence).

Expect in-room fireplaces, king-sized beds, designer furnishings, original art, seven acres of sculpture-filled gardens, a heated pool, and a full-treatment spa (many using flowers and plants grown on the grounds). The resident steakhouse, beautifully set in the original barn, was named “Best Beef Restaurant in California” in 2011 by the California Beef Council.

All this, and Green too. MacArthur Place takes being a steward of the environment seriously, as the downloadable “Green Mission Statement” on its website makes clear.

Among many other things, the hotel installed a solar heating system for the pool and solar hot water panels in the laundry, spa and restaurant; uses lighting motion sensors in public area restrooms; limits hosing of walkways/patios in favor of sweeping; recycles used cooking oil to be used for alternative fuel; composts yard waste, coffee grounds, kitchen fruits and veggies; seeks vendors that offer environmentally and socially conscious products; formed an employee sustainability committee; places “The Green Book” in all guestrooms; and supports the nonprofit Sonoma Ecology Center. Read the entire list here.

Stay on the lookout for future profiles of hotels in the Sonoma Green Business Program.

Tucked within the confines of the North Bay’s largest city, Santa Rosa, the 350-acre Spring Lake site offers an amazing diversity of activities for individuals and families alike. It’s a lovely place, guarded over by rising hills and generously endowed with a lake, ponds, oak woodlands, grasslands and meadows. In spring it’s ablaze with wildflowers.

One of the unique aspects of Spring Lake Park is that it’s home to the Environmental Discovery Center, which offers interactive displays and activities geared to kids 6-12. They’ll touch sea creatures in tide pools, marvel over an aquarium of fish from the lake, view taxidermied mountain lions and coyotes, learn about the earth in the storytelling cavern, and come away with an idea about earth stewardship and earth science.

The Center’s “Science Saturdays”—the first Saturday of each month at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.—lets the whole family join in on fun science experiments that explore the world around us. Family hikes take place with Center naturalists on the third Saturday of each month at 1 and 3 p.m. Learn more about the Environmental Discovery Center.

Much of the happenings here are centered around 72-acre Spring Lake:

• Boating: Spring Lake is open for boating—canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, windsurfers—all year long. Bring you own boat up to 16’ in length to the boat ramp, or rent a craft at the concession stand from May-September.  No gas-powered engines are allowed, but electric motors are fine. Approved life jackets must be worn while on the lake.

• Fishing: Catch your own lunch or dinner (sunfish, catfish, large mouth bass). If you’re over 16, you’ll need a California fishing license.

• Swimming: The lake offers an appealing 3-acre swimming lagoon with a sandy beach, and from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day the area maintains lifeguards.

Another popular activity here is camping. The individual campgrounds is open seven days a week from May 1-September 30 (the rest of the year it’s only open on weekends and holidays). A group campground is available, by reservation only, throughout the year. Learn more about reservations for an individual or group campground.

Hiking is excellent. Spring Lake Park’s 2.5-mile partly-paved loop trail is well-liked by hikers, runners, and families with baby strollers. Even better, trails connect with adjacent parks, so you can go on fairly even terrain for miles. And for the really rugged, Spring lake connects to the fabulous trail system at Annadel State Park.

Bicyclists, especially kids, enjoy the 2.3 miles of paved bicycle trails. Mountain bikers have access to many more miles of unpaved trails. Speed limit for bicyclists: 15 mph.

There are even trails for horseback riding at Spring Lake. Equestrian trails circle the lake, and it’s easy to connect to a trail into Annadel State Park and go for  hours. No mounts are available, so bring your own.

And of course there are plenty of picnic tables—200 of them, with barbecues! This is where to grill those large mouth bass you catch. If you’ll be with a crowd, you might want to reserve one of the park’s four group picnic areas, which can hold from 8 to 20 people (call 707-565-2041 to make a reservation).

Spring Lake Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Entrance is free, but a $7 parking free applies (free with a Regional Parks membership).

Download a map of Spring Lake Regional Park

First, they bring the bike to you. Second, they’ll be arriving with high-quality, super-comfy folding bikes.

“People can just pop them in the trunk of their rental cars and take off exploring up the coast, along the Russian River, or through the redwoods,” says Smith. “They can go wine tasting or exploring tide pools with the bikes safely concealed in the trunks. And once they hop on our bikes they’ll have a quality experience.”

Smith isn’t just talking through his helmet, either. He’s been a cyclist most of his life. As a boy growing up in Santa Rosa, his family was involved in the Santa Rosa Bicycle Club.

In high school he rode long-distance touring bikes, and in college he was founding manager of the U. C. San Diego Bike Shop. Over time he became proficient at leading group cycle outings, bike repair, customer relations, and more.

Smith and Armstrong – his wife, business partner, and cycling companion – are now the sole proprietors of BikePartners.net. The company rents only Bike Friday folding and travel bicycles, which are hand-made in the U. S. and enjoy an international cult following.

“We’re the only company in the country that rents Bike Fridays,” Smith said. “Others sell them to you, and we can do that too – but you can only rent them from us.”

Smith and Armstrong rode traditional bicycles for years. “We’d always had a whole stable of full-sized riding, touring and tandem bikes,” Smith said.

But in 2004, planning a bike trip through Europe, the couple balked at the notion of boxing up a big touring tandem bicycle for shipment. Looking around at alternatives, they heard good things about Bike Fridays and purchased a used Tandem XL.

The result? “We were sold,” Smith says. “We love the way these bikes feel and ride—not to mention that they’re big conversation starters because of the way they look. These days I’m hard-pressed to use my other, full-sized bikes.”

BikePartners.net rents both single and tandem bicycles by the day (a 24-hour period), with prices ranging from $50 for a New World Tourist single bike to $100 for a Tandem Two’s Day.

Bike racks are not required, since the bikes fold down to fit even a small trunk. “I put a tandem bike in the trunk of my 2000 Honda Insight,” Smith said, “and there’s room left over for other things.”

Delivery is free within 10 miles of Santa Rosa, and $1 per mile for further distances.

“We’re a customer-oriented concierge service,” Smith said. “We’re happy to meet customers at a coffee shop or their hotel to deliver the bikes.”

Smith’s favorite bike renters so far are a retired couple from Arizona, “probably in their late 60s. They were vital, vibrant, and in good shape.”

They rented a Tandem, which he delivered to their hotel, and they “ended up riding the Joe Rodota Trail out to Forestville and back. The gentleman kept texting me about what a great time they were having. He’d done a lot of riding in his life but was thrilled to death to be riding this bike. They kept riding, went on the Santa Rosa Creek trail. They rode 50.5 miles all told.

“They were planning to buy a Bike Friday when they returned to Arizona.”

Contact BikePartners.net at 855-483-3732, rentabike@bikepartners.net, or  facebook.com/BikePartners.net.

With the recent nourishing rains, wildflowers are in particular abundance right now, in all colors of the rainbow with their glorious bonneted faces reaching towards the sky in a salute to the sun.

But so many other fantastic flowers flourish here, too. Here are some opportunities to broaden your riches and explore even more beautiful blooms. Pause, and take time to smell the roses this season, and because some of these gardens are at some of Sonoma County’s finest wineries, you can enjoy the bouquets of fine wines at the same time.

Edible Flowers
You can spend an entire afternoon at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Center, exploring its two-and-a-half-acre Eden. Sip some wine and stroll the culinary gardens, the sensory garden showcasing plants with aromas found in wine, and the Blooms of Bressingham flower palace. Be sure to savor the edible flower collection, too – you may never look at those delicate blossoms the same way again, after you’ve realized how tasty they can be on the tongue.

Complimentary, self-guided Garden Tours are offered daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (weather permitting). Private garden tours and wine tastings are available for groups of 10 or more at $10-$20 per person.

5007 Fulton Rd., Santa Rosa, 707-571-7500, kj.com.

Ten Thousand Tulips
Ferrari-Carano Winery features five acres of diverse gardens that, in 1987, took founder Rhonda Carano 16 months just to plan and complete the initial planting. Each area has its own mood, starting with the Italian/French parterre style of the master garden showcasing classic, geometric shapes.

The Enclosed Garden at the front of the Estate has a more relaxed park-like setting abundant with trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals. You can spend hours leisurely strolling the meandering paths and foot bridges along a rippling stream, waterfalls and fish-filled ponds, discovering more than 2,000 species of trees and shrubs conveniently marked with identification tags. Enjoy bronze sculptures from world-renowned artists, and don’t miss the full acre show garden with massive flower plantings in the fashion of Butchart Gardens in British Columbia.

Just in time for spring: more than 10,000 tulips and daffodils burst through the earth for a lavish carpet of color. There’s even a Tulip Hotline (707-433-5349), to track the best bloom times.

8761 Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg, 707-431-1742, ferrari-carano.com.

A Rose by Any Other Name
Originally planted in the 1880’s, the Korbel Rose Garden at Korbel Champagne Cellars explodes to life in the spring with the blooms of hundreds of bulbs, then continues into summer and fall with more than 250 varieties of antique roses.

Some 1,000 types of other flowers capture the senses, too, set in mini micro-climate gardens specially designed to celebrate different areas of the world. For a full day, you can grab a picnic lunch at the on-site deli.

The Garden Tour is offered daily at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, mid-April through mid-October.
13250 River Rd., Guerneville, 707-824-7316, korbel.com.

This Bud’s for You
Seeing the gardens may inspire your green thumb. It’s the May Day Plant Sale to the rescue, held May 6 at Luther Burbank Home & Gardens in Santa Rosa. Starting at 10 a.m., would-be florists can purchase plants propagated from the gardens or grown from seeds related to world-renowned Burbank creations.

Stock up on a variety of perennials and annuals, most in four-inch pots ranging from $2 to $9. You can also explore the beauty at your leisure, since Garden tours begin each year on April 1, offered every half-hour between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., bringing a 45 minute tour of the Gardens, Home & Greenhouse for just $7 (children under 12 are free).

204 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-524-5445, lutherburbank.org.

Sowing the Seeds of Love
For ideas on how to plant and cultivate those baby flowers, sign up for the “Through The Garden Gate” tour of seven breathtaking Santa Rosa gardens. The event, held as a benefit for LifeWorks of Sonoma County and other non-profits selected by the Sonoma County Medical Association Alliance and Foundation, takes place May 11 and 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The self-guided walk offers unique access to seven private properties, and the chance to discuss gardening inspirations and techniques with the gardeners themselves. Just one location is a Spanish style home with an exquisite multi-level garden showcasing large native oaks, many fruit trees and hundreds of blooming bulbs; another is a countryside estate in a wonderland of potted succulents, colorful flower beds, rhododendrons and charming garden structures shaded by towering redwoods.

Tours are by reservation, available at alliance@scmaa.org. Ticket price is $45; discounted to $40 until April 30th.

Flowers and Fashion
Once you get those flowers, you might wonder what to do with them (Vases everywhere! Blooms tucked behind your ears!). At McEvoy Ranch in Petaluma, one of the largest U.S. producers of estate-grown olives, the annual Orchard and Garden program includes some ideas. New this year is a floral arranging workshop and the first-ever public viewing of Nan McEvoy’s outdoor sculpture collection, featuring many celebrated twentieth-century American sculptors.

First, start with the McEvoy Ranch’s Garden Walk and Lunch, for an in-depth tour of the 550-acre ranch’s fruit orchards and certified organic gardens brimming with heirloom flowers and vegetables.

McEvoy Ranch’s head gardener Margaret Koski-Kent and her expert garden staff will discuss organic gardening techniques and give helpful tips on seed-saving, crop rotation and composting.  The tour concludes with a sensory evaluation of the olive oil and a seasonally inspired lunch.

Then, enjoy the Floral Arranging Workshop, perfect for novice or floral experts, as a hands-on workshop in the art of building bouquets and envisioning centerpieces. All materials are provided and participants leave with their handcrafted arrangements.

McEvoy Ranch Garden Walk and Lunch ($90), held June 22 and July 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Floral Arranging Workshop ($85), August 11, 9:30 a.m. to noon.

5935 Red Hill Rd., Petaluma, 707-778-2307, mcevoyranch.com.

Today we’ll focus on Santé Restaurant, located at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma Valley.

Recipient of a prestigious Michelin star, a AAA Four Diamond and numerous other awards, Santé has a well-earned national reputation for its elegant and simple California-French cuisine.

In its 2011 review, Michelin pointed to “cutting edge cuisine … the artistry … the smiling staff,” and praised numerous dishes. In summing up, the reviewer noted that “the dishes are simply perfect. Even the bread basket, which showcases the talents of a local bakery, is beyond compare.”

It’s the word “local” that really makes Santé special. Overseen by Chef de Cuisine Andrew Cain, Santé uses only the freshest local products – meats, seafood, poultry and produce – and places great emphasis on the words “organic” and “sustainable.”

Chef Cain is a veteran of some of the nation’s top restaurants, including The French Laundry, Citronelle, La Folie, and Michael Mina’s. He notes that Sonoma County “is truly one of the only places in the United States where fruits and vegetables are picked in the morning, delivered to the restaurant, and on the plate that same afternoon.”

One example of the restaurant’s local approach includes its wine list. A recipient of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence, it features more than 500 local wines. That’s not easy to do, even when local means Sonoma and Napa counties.

Two other examples include the honey beehives installed on the property that help sustain the Sonoma Valley bee population (and provide home-harvested honey for use in Santé’s cuisine), and the on-property herb garden that provides fresh seasonings to the kitchen.

Santé Restaurant is assisted in its efforts Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ Green Partnership Program, which is geared to reducing the impact its properties have on the environment. Many improvements are in areas such as energy and water conservation, or waste management. But Fairmont’s Green Partnership Program also directly targets the culinary side of things. Under its “Green Cuisine” initiative, Fairmont hotels commit to purchase local, organic, Fair Trade and sustainable products whenever possible.

Read more about Santé restaurant, see a sample menu, or make reservations.

With more than 1,500 square miles, there’s bound to be something new to discover. Located 30 miles from San Francisco, Sonoma County is America’s premier wine, spa and coastal destination, featuring more than 350 wineries, over 100 organic farms, and 55-plus miles of stunning Pacific coast.

Hike, Bike, or Paddle at Jenner-by-the-Sea
EcoRing has planned several Earth Day events, slated for Saturday, April 21, making it easy to explore. However, making a choice will be the hard part. All of the events take place in Jenner. There will be music, entertainment, speakers, barbecue and more. For more information and to register for any of the events, visit ecoring.org, or register.

• Learn more about wildflowers and plants at the seminar and by Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods. 9 a.m.-noon.
• 28-mile bike ride: Round trip ride from Jenner to Occidental, via Willow Creek Road. This is good for beginners and intermediate mountain and road cyclists – includes hills. $15 in advance, $20 day of the ride. Admission includes lunch. Ride starts at 10 a.m. in Jenner.
• Mini Rush Kayak Race: Race around Penny Island in the Russian River estuary in this race sponsored by Watertreks Eco Tours. 10 a.m., $20 registration fee.
• Longboat Rides: Ride a historic Russian longboat in honor of Fort Ross’ Bicentennial (1812-2012). 10 a.m.-2 p.m., $20. At 3 p.m., enjoy a Russian history presentation by John Middleton.
• Guided Hike: This two- to three-hour hike of Jenner Headlands will offer breathtaking and panoramic views. It’s put on by Sonoma Land Trust. 11 a.m.
• Electric Car Show: Noon-2 p.m.
• “Shark Water”: One-time viewing of this movie. 3:30 p.m.

Audubon Canyon Ranch Nature Walks
The spring guided nature walks at beautiful Bouverie Preserve, a 535-acre, private non-profit nature preserve, range from two to five miles. All ages are welcome. 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 21. Admission is free, but a $15 donation is appreciated. Bouverie Preserve, 13935 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen, Calif. More information.

Celebrate Earth Day with Rodney Strong Vineyards
Explore sustainable vineyard practices with Ryan Decker, Rodney Strong Vineyards’ sustainable viticulture specialist. Walk with Ryan through the estate vineyard to explore soil management, water conservation techniques, cover crops, pest management, and how to work with nature to achieve quality. Optional winery tour and tasting immediately following. Call for reservations, limited to 20 people. Weather dependent, will be cancelled in the case of rain. 10-11 a.m., Saturday, April 21, free admission. Rodney Strong Vineyards, 11455 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg, Calif. More information.

Earth Day and 10th Anniversary Party at the Environmental Discovery Center
Check out all that the Discovery Center in Spring Lake Regional Park has to offer – eco-crafts, hikes with naturalists, a tide pool with touchable sea creatures, wildlife exhibits, nature games and much more. There will also be face painting and other special fun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, April 21. Admission is free; parking $6 or free with Regional Parks Pass. Enviornmental Discovery Center at Spring Lake Park, 391 Violetti Dr., Santa Rosa, Calif. More information.

Open House at Luther Burbank’s Experiment Farm
Free docent-led tours of Burbank’s historic farm and cottage, Burbank’s and other plants for sale, refreshments, Master Gardeners, apple blossoms and lilacs in bloom. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22, free admission. Luther Burbank’s Experiment Farm, 7777 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol, Calif. More information.

Earth Day at Dutton-Goldfield
Learn about Dutton-Goldfield’s sustainable farming and eco-friendly winery practices while enjoying their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and a new release. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, April 21-22. Tasting fee waived with wine purchase. Dutton-Goldfield Winery, 3100 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, Calif. More information.

Santa Rosa Hosts Earth Day Celebration
The City of Santa Rosa is hosting its third annual Earth Day celebration. This day-long event starts off with a park clean-up, e-waste recycling station and ends in Courthouse Square to celebrate community, health and the environment.  Come join us at the City of Santa Rosa’s Earth Day noon-4 p.m. on April 22 at Courthouse Square

This event will feature live music, local food vendors, kids’ activities, games and information from vendors about a variety of green programs and rebates. A panel of local experts will present throughout the day on solar power, energy efficiency options for homeowners, and financing and rebates.

There will also be art projects created from recycled materials including ZFA Structural Engineers’ display of a sculpture created from cans of food which will be donated to the Redwood Empire Food Bank. Donate one can of food and receive one raffle ticket. Those who participate in a scavenger hunt will be entitled to receive one raffle ticket.  Win a bicycle or other great prizes.

Global Materials Recovery Services will be hosting an e-waste recycling event as part of Earth Day held at the City Hall parking lot, corner of Sonoma Avenue & D Street from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Recycle computers, phones, car batteries and anything with a cord.

Bike parking is available or carpooling is encouraged. Join us on April 22 for this celebration of community, health and the environment. For more information about the park clean-up activity, to volunteer or to sign up as a vendor visit www.srcity.org/EarthDay.

Adding Sparkle to Spring
Celebrate Earth Day in Green Valley. Friends and fans of Iron Horse Vineyards are invited to toast to Mother Earth from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22, with the new vintage of Ocean Reserve 2007 Blanc de Blancs and freshly shucked Tamales Bay oysters.

This is the third release of Ocean Reserve. This wine is a limited-edition sparkling created in partnership with National Geographic to benefit the ocean. For every bottle purchased, Iron Horse donates $4 to establish marine protected areas and reduce overfishing around the world.

In the first two vintages, Iron Horse has contributed $56,000 to National Geographic’s Ocean Initiative, establishing Marine Protected Areas and supporting sustainable fishing practices around the globe. More information.

Earth Day Concert: Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet will perform a special Earth Day concert from 7 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 22, for an intimate crowd at the Gualala Arts Center – “One Earth, One People, One Love.” Admission is $45 general, $95 sponsors, and $5 more the day of. Gualala Arts Center, 46501 Gualala Road, Gualala, Calif. More information.

Head to Sebastopol’s three-block-long Florence Avenue for a free sculpture tour of “trashy works” jointly made by Patrick Amiot and his wife, Brigitte Laurent. Amiot creates the sculptures and Laurent bestows their bright-hued paint jobs.

Back in 2001, Amiot placed a large sculptural piece that he’d made for fun – an outsize fisherman fashioned from an old water heater – on his front lawn. Neighbors loved it, and the nearly every Florence Avenue front yard sports at least one Amiot-Laurent sculpture. So do quite a few local businesses.  Map for a Patrick Amiot Sculpture Tour in Sebastopol.

Sebastopol’s Renga Arts carries not only Amiot-Laurent sculptures, but works by other artists who specialize in using reclaimed, salvaged and recycled materials.  Among them are Santa Rosa’s Monty Monty, who transforms cast-off objects into complex assemblage pieces; Occidental’s Josef Szuecs, who transforms reclaimed wood into furniture; and Rio Vista’s Jim Bauer, a creator of robot sculptures made form vintage metal objects such as coffee pots.

Another good destination for junk art: Swede’s Feeds, located on Highway 12 in Kenwood (between Sonoma and Santa Rosa). The works here, more artisan than art, are one-of-a-kind, useful, and attractive additions to gardens and homes.

Consider, for example, the metal multi-story bird houses, fountains, and garden stakes. They’re fashioned by artisans in Mexico and made from old cars, oil barrels, signs, machinery gears and other discards.

And then there’s the selection of beautifully made items crafted from wine barrel staves: wine racks, chairs, tables, and more. “They’re made by two guys who work at a winery,” said owner Mike Scheffer. “They do excellent work.”

And if you’re joining the growing ranks of backyard chicken farmers, you might like Swede’s nearly-indestructible coops made from reclaimed redwood, or the recycled redwood line of bluebird, bat, owl and other avian-specific boxes.

The Ark of Taste program is sponsored by Slow Food USA. Its motto is “Saving Cherished Foods, One Product at a Time.” Slow Food hopes that, if people learn about and eat Ark products, these cherished foods will remain on our plates.

Try sampling these Sonoma County Ark foods:

Dry Monterey Jack Cheese: Dry Monterey Jack was invented by Italian immigrants to Sonoma County in the early 1900s. Unlike regular Jack, it’s aged from seven to 10 months and ends up being similar to Parmesan cheese. You’ll find it at the Vella Cheese Company and the Sonoma Cheese Factory (both located in the City of Sonoma).

Sebastopol Gravenstein Apple: First planted in Sonoma County in the early 1800s by Russian trappers, the early-ripening Gravenstein is famous for being juicy, tart/sweet, and crisp.  Once a major commercial factor in the county, Gravenstein production has declined significantly due to suburban development, orchard/vineyard conversion, and other factors. Here’s a list of farms where you can still buy Gravensteins.

Crane Melon: This delicious four- to six-pound melon was developed in the early 1900s by Sonoma County rancher Olive Crane, who wanted a melon that could grow in clay soil. A true Crane Melon can be found almost nowhere else but at the Crane Ranch (September through October). The ranch is farmed by the sixth generation of Cranes.

California Mission Olive: The Mission olive variety was introduced to California in the late 1700s in California Mission communities. At one point considered extinct, the variety was saved when an ancient grove of Mission olive trees was discovered. Cuttings of those trees are now grown at Sonoma’s Mission San Francisco Solano and in other parts of California. Learn where to buy Mission olives and oil.

Download a brochure about the U.S. Ark of Taste.

At Sonoma Compost, a front-end loader transfers compost to a truck and trailer. Photo courtesy UC/California Agriculture.

Sonoma Compost Company is holding two events in April designed to increase people’s knowledge about recycling green waste and the use of organic compost. Both events will be held at the company’s facility at 550 Mecham Road in Petaluma.

• A composting workshop on Saturday, April 7, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., will cover various approaches to composting (vermicomposting, biodynamic, etc.) and help you choose the right composting style for your needs. You’ll also learn how to use compost and mulch in the garden, and take a tour of the Sonoma Compost facility. Fee: $25. Register online.
• A “community tour” of the 18-acre Sonoma Compost site will be held on Saturday, April 21, at 10 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. To sign up in advance, call 707-664-9113. This is a great opportunity to discover what happens to your recycled organic yard debris and kitchen scraps. (You do recycle them, don’t you?)

Since 1993, Sonoma Compost has kept more than 1,320,000 tons of yard/wood debris and vegetative scraps out of county landfills by converting it into premium organic compost and mulch (or recycled lumber, firewood and bio-fuel).

The company recently released its annual Christmas Tree Mulch. Made from ground and screened holiday trees, the mulch is described as “perfect for acid loving plants like blueberries, strawberries, begonias, azaleas and rhododendrons.”

Sonoma Compost is always looking for ways to do a better job. In 2011 it launched a collaborative program with the City of Sonoma and Sonoma Garbage Collectors to collect food scraps from commercial kitchens in the city. The program greatly reduces the amount of restaurant food waste that ends up  in a garbage can – usually 90 percent, according to statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Sonoma Compost is also involved in the creation of biochar, a process that converts agricultural waste into a soil enhancer that can, according to the International Biochar Initiative, “hold carbon, boost food security and discourage deforestation.”

• Learn more about Sonoma Compost by visiting its website.
• Read a very interesting article about Sonoma Compost on the Sonoma County Master Gardeners site.
• Download the Sonoma Compost Guide to Acceptable Materials for Recycling, and be prepared for some surprises (cactus, palm fronds, sod, saw dust and a whole lot more things are unacceptable for recycling).

Photo Courtesy National Park Service

One of the best and cheapest ways to “get green” is to simply get out into nature.

And Sonoma County – with its generous system of regional and state parks – makes it easy to do.

That’s why, beginning today, we’ll highlight parks in the county once a month. Usually we’ll tackle an individual park, but when it seems appropriate we’ll do a roundup of related activities.

Right now, with spring set to burst and wildflowers already abloom, we’ll give you a rundown of guided wildflower walks coming up in Sonoma County Regional Parks through the end of April.

All hikes start at 10 a.m. and end at noon. The hikes are free, but require a $6 parking fee (free with a Regional Parks membership).

All the following parks have hiking trails, so feel free to enjoy the wildflowers on your own.

Crane Creek; photo courtesy Sonoma County Regional Parks

March 24, Sonoma Valley Regional Park, Glen Ellen: This time of year 162-acre Sonoma Valley Regional Park is usually bursting at the seams with wildflowers. The beginning part of the walk is on a paved, ADA-accessible path, which makes it perfect for the wheelchair bound. Others can continue on the dirt trail. Hike leaves from the parking lot. If you have a dog, you’ll be pleased to learn that a one-acre fenced-off portion of the park is the Elizabeth Perrone Dog Park. Download the park’s map.

March 31, Foothill Regional Park, Windsor: With three small lakes and tree-shaded trails, this 211-acre park hosts a diverse variety of wildflowers in early spring. The park has a disabled parking lot that gives access to an accessible trail to Pond C (more details on the website). Download the park’s map.

April 7, Helen Putnam Regional Park, Petaluma: Fabulous views, sweeping meadows sprinkled with wildflowers, a gazebo, a children’s play area, and a large fishing pond … what could be better? Download the park’s map.

April 14, Riverfront Regional Park, Windsor: An easy hike with lots of wildflowers, so it’s great for small kids and slow walkers. Bring lunch (the park has a great picnic area with BBQs, volleyball court, horseshoe pit), and be sure to check out the two small lakes, where bass fishing is permissible. The park is adjacent to the Russian River. Download the park’s map.

April 21, Steelhead Beach Regional Park, Forestville: The intact ecosystem here, running beside the Russian River, offers the chance to see unique riparian plants and river wildlife. Bring lunch, as the park contains a picnic area with BBQs. Download the park’s map.

April 28, Crane Creek Regional Park, Rohnert Park: With its broad grassy meadows and bubbling seasonal creek, the 128-acre park is a great place to enjoy spring wildflowers; it’s particularly known for its brilliant display of California poppies. You’ll find picnic tables throughout the park. Download the park’s map.

J Vineyards & Winery, located minutes south of Healdsburg, owns 10 estate vineyards sprinkled throughout the Russian River Valley, totaling more than 250 acres of planted Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Gris grapes.

“For the past two years, we’ve been diligently working on aligning J with CSWA’s commitment to wine quality,” said John Erbe, J Vineyards & Winery viticulturalist. “Our estate vineyards have been planted utilizing the latest techniques in water conservation, wildlife habitat corridors, and soil erosion reduction.”

Founded in 2010, the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance program is a third-party verification and certification process. The program, based on 227 “best practices,” is designed to ensure environmental stewardship, the conservation of energy and natural resources, and socially equitable business practices. CSWA’s certification program has been a positive environmental awareness catalyst for more than 1,500 of the state’s top vintners and growers.

J Vineyards & Winery
11447 Old Redwood Highway
Healdsburg, CA 95448
707-431-3646
www.jwine.com

There will be six homes on the tour, all with a unique theme and story. One of the Santa Rosa homes took advantage of Energy Upgrade California’s “whole home approach,” which reduces energy usage, lowers utility bills, and offers up to $4,000 in rebates.

The tour is part of the National Solar Homes Tour, which takes place annually in communities throughout the country and attracted more than 150,000 people in 49 U.S. states and Puerto Rico in 2010.

To bring valuable resources to Sonoma County residents in one concentrated arena, he City of Santa Rosa’s Clean Energy Advocates and Solar Sonoma County have organized this tour along with Energy Upgrade California, the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program, PG&E,  Master Gardener’s, Sonoma Compost and many local solar and efficiency experts.

“This tour is a collaborative effort representing not only our established partnerships in the County but common goals to provide education to our residents about energy savings, water conservation and renewable energy technologies.” said Claire Nordlie, of Clean Energy Advocates. “One of our goals for this tour was to make sure we highlighted how doable these measures are. Every homeowner has different interests and goals and the tour will cater to a variety of residents.”

The Clean Energy Advocates receive calls from residents on a daily basis looking for ways to save energy and obtain information to go solar. The Green Homes Tour will provide these options in an interactive format while offering live demonstrations and special workshops throughout the day.

When: Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 1832 Honeysuckle Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 (starting location)
Tickets: $5 (Includes guidebook). Purchase online or cash at the door.
For more information on the tour, to purchase tickets and home locations please visit: www.srcity.org/srgreenhomes.

Additional information:
Clean Energy Advocates: www.srcity.org/CEA
Solar Sonoma County: www.solarsonomacounty.org
Energy Upgrade California: www.energyupgradesonoma.org

This is where Green Frog Outdoor Furniture comes in. The Petaluma-based vendor specializes in products made from a variety of recycled materials. A vast majority of the products actually are composed of a high percentage of post-consumer materials, transforming landfill waste into everyday products.

As the company name suggests, most of the products are designed for use outdoors—patio chairs, picnic tables, outdoor dining sets, and the like.

Unlike wood (which rots) and metal (which rusts), these eco-friendly products last for years.

Owner Jerry Wilkinson is a self-proclaimed carpenter at heart. For years, Wilkinson specialized in Adirondack chairs, crafting the stylized seats out of Western Red Cedar until he discovered Poly-Wood, a material made almost exclusively from plastic in landfills. The rest, he says, is history.

“Now I focus on promoting the advantages of recycled plastic as outdoor furniture,” he writes on the company Facebook page. “Husbands especially seem to enjoy the part about never having to paint it since the color is in the material, and not just on it”

Granted, Green Frog furniture is pricier than wood counterparts. Still, paying a premium to help the environment is nothing new, and it’s something we endorse wholeheartedly.

Lately, however, we’ve been going ga-ga over “The Journey of Jordan,” the winery’s video blog. On these virtual pages, Communications Director Lisa Mattson and Communications Coordinator Laura Petersen tell digital stories about food, wine and other goings-on at the winery.

In other words, the blog offers a refreshing, (mostly) weekly behind-the-scenes perspective on what makes the place tick.

A post from Aug. 1 delved into the thinking behind pairing Jordan cabernet with cheese at the winery’s food-and-wine tastings. Another post, from January, spotlighted the process of harvesting the estate’s Arbequina olives.

As the dynamic duo behind the vlog, Mattson and Petersen certainly make the most of limited resources; they shoot all footage using two Canon 5D DSLR cameras, four lenses, a steadicam and other equipment commonly utilized by independent filmmakers and professional camera operators.

We’re not the only ones who’ve noticed this great work. “The Journey of Jordan” has been recognized as one of the industry’s best wine blogs and received two Wine Blog Awards nominations in 2011.

Rumor has it that the blog also inspired a feature in an upcoming issue of a major business magazine, as well.

Don’t take our word for how cool the blog is; check it out for yourself.

Since it opened in 2009, the shop has been embracing eco-friendly approaches to auto care—an industry that is inherently dirty and traditionally has paid little attention to reducing, reusing and recycling.

As owner Nathan Boemler explains it, Green Tech is conserving the environment in a number of ways.

First, the shop utilizes green products such as lubricants made from soy and plant matter. These meet or exceed industry standards and are more ecologically friendly than oil-based lubricants that harm the environment and create a carbon footprint to produce and distribute.

Second, the shop implements a process known as bio-remediation in parts-washing fluids. During this process, microscopic petroleum-consuming organisms “eat” the petroleum and remove it from fluids, making parts as good as new. Boemler says there is almost zero contaminate waste when using this system.

(As an aside, the facility also recycles all used antifreeze on site.)

Next, the shop has taken every possible step to reduce the chance of oil or chemical spills. Some of these techniques include sealed floors, sealed oil containment vessels, drip pans, splash guards and a hydrophobic mop, which soaks up everything but water.

Finally, Boemler has installed energy-efficient lighting in the building and sky lights in work bays to leverage natural light.

For all of these efforts, Green Tech has been certified as a Green Station by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair, and has achieved master technicians and compressed natural gas certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.

Boemler also is a certified General Motors master technician.

For Boemler, the inspiration to create an eco-friendly automotive service shop came after years of working as a general manager for dealerships near and far.

“After years of seeing the lack of care and thought given to these topics, I decided to buck the status quo and develop my own set of rules,” he says.

Boemler admits the shop “has been a struggle financially,” but says he is committed to sticking with his unique approach. “It is our goal to become the leader in Sonoma County for progressive auto repair,” he says.

The art barge race during the Petaluma River Revival is definetly a spectator favorite, full of creativity and imagination. Photo courtesy Petaluma River Revival.

Next weekend’s free Rivertown Revival on the McNear Peninsula along the Petaluma River will raise money for the Petaluma River Heritage Center, a project of Friends of the Petaluma River. Naturally, then, the shindig will boast dozens of green and eco-conscious components, too.

Organizers have implemented an aggressive zero-waste policy with all vendors; working with Sonoma County’s own Green Mary on the events’ landfill diversion goals. Guests are encouraged to bring their own water bottles for filling at the multiple water stations, and food vendors will be using compostable servicewear.

No plastic bottles will be sold.

What’s more, with limited parking in the area, guests are encouraged to utilize the massive bike valet organized by the Sonoma County Bike Coalition.

Heck, even the event producers are green; Clementine Eco Events, a Petaluma company, specializes in events that are mindful of environment and ecology by minimizing the footprint on the local community as a whole.

The Revival itself, scheduled to take place between July 28-31, certainly is shaping up to be unforgettable. There’ll be live music, art barges, local vendors and plenty of food and beverages to enjoy. Also, costumed volunteers will be celebrating (through dramatic re-enactments) the early twentieth century, the time when the Petaluma River was the third busiest waterway in the state.

Our advice: Go early, and have a blast.

The exhibit will comprise of a number of components, from daily lectures to a resource pavilion. There’ll also be an eco-art section that showcases artists who create environmentally conscious art and products; featured artists will include James Selby and Susandra Spicer.

Other plans will focus on hands-on learning.

Of particular note for the general public: A demonstration area, where laypeople can learn how to make their everyday lives greener; and a marketplace in which local green-product manufacturers and green service providers will demo products.

Families also will love the kids’ craft area, where children can make art projects from recycled goods.

To learn more about the Sustinable Sonoma exhibit at this year’s county fair, click here. Admission to the bio-dome is included with admission to the fair as a whole; general admission is $9 for adults and $3 for kids 7-12.

Yes, this is the same Zazu 2011 Grand Cochon winners Duskie Estes and (hubby) John Stewart have made famous, the same place that specializes in all things pig.

It’s also the same Zazu that has created addictions across America with its unforgettable bacon-in-the-batter waffles (which, coincidentally, are on sale at the market—while supplies last, of course).

Waffles aren’t the only stuff for sale every week; discerning shoppers also can find produce from the restaurant’s organic garden, bread, Black Pig bacon, farm eggs, and BLT sandwiches.

Depending on the week, other local farms and farm supply companies may participate, too.

The farmstand is scheduled to be held every Sunday until early August from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 3535 Guerneville Rd.

In keeping with the farmstand season, Estes and Stewart also have launched a semi-regular underground farmstand outside the O’Reilly publishing headquarters in Sebastopol. Most of these “pop-ups” occur on Thursday afternoons; follow Zazu Farm on Twitter to stay abreast of news of when they might happen next.

After penning a profile of Munat for the Press-Democrat earlier this spring, yours truly sat down with her again for a Q&A to dive deeper into what she does and why she does it.

Inside Sonoma: When you “green” garbage, what, specifically, do you do?
Green Mary: We’re on site, working to make sure that everything that can be recycled is recycled, and everything that can be composted goes there. We get dirty. We’re touching garbage pretty much all day long. The technical term for it is ‘waste diversion.’

Inside Sonoma: Other than reducing impact on our landfills, what’s the goal?
Green Mary: It’s not only about the immediate impact but also about raising awareness for the future. If we’re not educating the attendees and participants, all we’re doing is enabling. So as we keep tabs on what garbage goes where, we’re talking to people about landfills and composting. We also bring in water refill stations and try to educate people that it’s better bring your own bottle and refill it than to keep buying little plastic bottles and creating more waste.

Inside Sonoma: What are the biggest challenges of this work?
Green Mary: There is something that happens to people at public event—they seem to leave their good habits at home. Even people who would never dream of littering, when they know someone is going to clean up after them, they just behave badly. Intelligent people who know bottles get recycled will walk up to us and say, ‘I can’t figure it out.’ That truly blows my mind.

Inside Sonoma: How did you get into this business?
Green Mary: I was working at the Health and Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa in 2001. Julia Butterfly Hill had just come down from sitting in Luna, that huge redwood in Humboldt County. I’m paraphrasing, but she said, ‘Here are all you progressives, and look at your garbage cans—they’re overflowing! Do Mother Nature a favor and stay home. Don’t have parties if you’re just going to make garbage.’ I just got this zing and ran from the gathering in tears. I vowed to set out to make less garbage at public events. The next year I started with light greening at the same event. Now I do 50 events a year.

Clay oven for a recent client.

It’s no coincidence that Janine Bjornson named her West County company Clay, Bones and Stones. The five-year-old company—which specializes in green building and design—incorporates at least two of these materials (minus bones) in almost every project. Its name is, in a sense, a calling card.

Even the “bones” part of the moniker has meaning—Bjornson says it refers to the ancient element of the building traditions that natural builders are working with.

“We often say we’re on the cutting edge of a 12,000-year-old technology,” she says. “The bones are the structures that make things rigid; they defy gravity in conjunction with other working parts.”

Bjornson’s company offers a variety of services, but natural building is king. Almost all of her projects revolve around materials such as cob, light straw and clay. She has built natural structures from scratch. In addition, she specializes in ecological, handcrafted wall finishes such as natural clay paints and plasters that can be applied to buildings made through conventional construction.

In a pinch, Bjornson can provide basic carpentry services, too.

Bjornson has been doing natural building since 1996. She also teaches woodworking classes for women at the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center. Her next class, dubbed “Woodshop for Women,” will be held July 1-3. For more information, visit the center’s Web site.

Why does Bjornson do what she does? According to the native of Vancouver, British Columbia, it’s all an effort to get back to basics.

“The materials we choose to build with and the balance in which we leave our ecosystems after we harvest materials is of utmost importance to the health of our planet and thus, future generations,” she says. “Natural building is uplifting, healing and ultimately can give us the health and well being that we didn’t even know was missing.”

Bay Area hikers on a Landpaths hike around the Jenner Headlands.

• Bald Mountain Loop at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park outside of Kenwood. This 6.2-mile round-tripper certainly isn’t easy (the first part is almost exclusively uphill), but the views of the Sonoma Valley (and beyond) from the top of Bald Mountain are second to none.
• Austin Creek Trail at Austin Creek State Recreation Area near Guerneville. Pig damage (dug-up earth) is prevalent along this 4.1-mile moderate hike that parallels the Austin and Gilliam creeks. The park itself isn’t as well known as adjacent Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve, but it’s just as nice.
• Shiloh loop at Shiloh Ranch Regional Park in Windsor. Considering the general lack of shade along this 3.7-mile hike, it’s best to conquer it on a cloudy day or in the morning before the fog burns off. Near the top, keep your eyes peeled for jackrabbits and hawks.
• Bodega Head at Sonoma Coast State Park west of Bodega. Sweeping views of the Pacific are omnipresent on this 3-mile loop hike that covers most of the promontory on the western side of Bodega Bay. If rangers have spotted humpback whales in the area, you’ll see ‘em here.

What are your favorite hikes in the county? Feel free to sound off in the comment field below.

A bountiful garden at Flatland Farm. Photo courtesy of Flatland Farm.

Just about everyone here at Inside Sonoma buys some form of produce at Sebastopol’s Flatland Farm, which means it’s time for this blog to share the love with you.

The 11-acre farm on Tilton Road, started by Dan Lehrer and Joanne Kreuger in a Berkeley backyard in 1995, specializes in certified organic vegetable, herb and flower starters, as well as dry-farmed, heirloom organic apples.

The farm wrapped its annual plant sale on May 1, making now a great time to avoid the crowds.

Flatland starts are just like the ones you’d find at any other certified organic nursery—peppers, lettuces, cucumbers, zucchini and more. The farm also boasts starts for 24 different species of tomatoes.

The apples, however, are unique in that they’re smaller and juicier than most others in these parts, and they keep longer (all of these characteristics can be attributed to dry-farming).

Lehrer’s conversion from ordinary farming to dry-farming was chronicled in the San Francisco Chronicle in 2009, and his commitment to this approach has only intensified since.

Still, the very best way to learn more about this family-owned farm is to swing by and experience it first-hand: 580 Tilton Rd., Sebastopol, 707-823-3453.

This Saturday – May 7 – the shindig is expected to be downright rollicking.

First, the Farm Stand will incorporate K-J’s annual heirloom tomato plant sale, with more than 150 varieties for sale in all. Discounted, early-bird tickets to the 15^th annual Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival also will be available (for $60 apiece).

Second, the event will feature seasonal produce from the K-J gardens, baked goods from the Estate culinary team, and local artisanal cheeses, all accompanied by wine-tasting.

Finally, the inaugural 2011 Farm Stand event will welcome the addition of food trucks. Mobile vendors at Saturday’s event will include Chicago Style Hot Dogs, Dim Sum Charlie’s, Fork Catering, Street-Eatz and Karma. Collectively, the trucks will serve everything from pork buns and agedashi tofu to grass-fed beef burgers and hot dogs in Pinot Noir sauce.

The roster of mobile food vendors may change over the course of the year, so be sure to check Kendall-Jackson’s web site for all of the latest information.

Other 2011 Farm Stand events will be held at K-J’s Wine Center on June 4, July 2, Aug. 6 and Oct. 1. Admission is free, but be sure to hit the ATM before you arrive, as most food truck vendors only accept cash.

Celebrate Earth Day in beautiful Sonoma County.

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 which visitors can taste wines and learn about the winery’s organic farming practices. Owner Kathleen Inman will spotlight the winery’s composting efforts, which include home-brewed compost teas. Tastings are $20 per person.
• Also on Friday, Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa will sponsor a free “Earth Day For Kids” program between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Festivities will include a guided hike, as well as hands-on science activities with live animals. Parking is $6 per vehicle.
• On Saturday, the Healdsburg High School Progressive Club will host a festival with live music and vending booths in the Healdsburg Plaza downtown.

Other kick-butt parties, including the annual Santa Rosa Earth Day Fair, as well as the Windsor Earth Day and Wellness Festival and Day on the Green at the Village in Santa Rosa’s Montgomery Village were held this past weekend, and drew huge, environment-loving crowds.

What’s more, Sonoma County Parks, in partnership with California State Parks and the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District are sponsoring the 2011 Parks Celebration from Friday through the Summer Solstice on June 21. The celebration comprises more than 100 free and cheap programs. For additional information, visit the county parks department’s web site.

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 wines-by-the-glass offerings, since restaurants and bars no longer have to grapple with half-empty wine bottles when it’s time to recycle. Technically speaking, however, the name is a misnomer, since the wine served in this fashion actually is stored in a bag that is then stuffed inside a barrel.

One of the wineries using this new technique is Boisset Family Estates, which has been running the program at its Russian River Valley DeLoach Vineyards for the better part of a year (the company also recently launched it at its Raymond Vineyards label in St. Helena).

According to Boisset, the unfilled 10-liter bag weighs about 68 grams, 99 percent less than a nine-liter case of empty glass bottles.

So far, despite predictable concerns over good wine in a bag, the strategy has attracted customers—and end customers—all over the country. Whether the strategy can work for the long-haul remains to be seen.

Fresh picked roses at Russian River Rose. Photo courtesy of Russian River Rose Co.

It’s time to smell the roses! Spring is in the air and gardens around Sonoma County are already blossoming. Gardens beckon with special events, tours, and promises of spring abundance.

The Russian River Rose Co. is nestled among the vineyards in Dry Creek Valley and you could easily wile away a morning or afternoon meandering through their garden. Immerse yourself in hundreds of rose varieties, and a Rose Allée that features eight huge rose covered arches. On specific dates, Thursdays to Sundays in April and May, take a Perfume Rose Harvest Tour, where you can pick the petals and learn about the scents of the rose’s classic perfumes. You can see special demonstrations at the ‘Happy Rose Garden How-to’ (April 2-3) or ‘Fragrant Roses to Fill Your Senses’ (April 16-17). You can also take docent led tours of ‘Lovely Iris and Early Blooming Roses’ (April 9-10) or ‘Glorious Climbing Roses’ (April 23-24). On May 8, moms are in for a special treat at the ‘Mother’s Day Open Garden.’ They’ll be wrapping up the spring with the ‘Memorial Weekend Tea in the Rose Garden,’ May 28-30.

A winding drive into the hills north of Santa Rosa will take you to Hans Fahden Vineyards, where you’ll find a lush garden inspired by Monet’s paintings of his gardens at Giverny. Call ahead to visit and for a wine tasting appointment. Strolling through the flowers, with a profusion of roses in spring, you’ll recognize your surroundings. Get lost in an Impressionist painting as you enveloping yourself in springtime blooms and sip their mountain estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cornerstone Sonoma offers another art-garden experience, with several walk-through gardens created by landscape architects and

Lavender plants in full bloom. Photo by Susan and Neil Silverman.

designers. Each is unique, some architectural, some more plant orientated, all encouraging interaction and contemplation. There are shops, wineries, and delicious food at Cornerstone and entry to the gardens is free. It’s a great family outing, with one of the gardens specifically intended just for the kids. The Sonoma Children’s Garden, by MIG, offers the chance for play with giant peek-a-boo birdhouses and a sand area.

Visit an Asian woodland near Glen Ellen in the Valley of the Moon. Quarryhill Botanical Gardens encompasses 25 acres of mature, flowering Asian trees along with magnolias, dogwoods, roses, lilies, rhododendrons, and other flowers. Follow the verdant paths and you’ll find relaxing places to sit and take in the season and you’re welcome to picnic at designated areas. Ponds, waterfalls, and views of Sonoma Valley enhance the peaceful effect. Self-guided tours are available daily and you can arrange docent-led tours by calling two weeks in advance. If your timing is right, you could catch one of three local speakers during the HortiCulture Spring Lecture Series. In exploration of the nature of our connection to plants, speakers Terese Tse (March 17), Paul Discoe (April 21), and Anthony Eglin (May 21), will discuss how the plant kingdom has shaped their accomplishments in art, design, and literature.

Here are some other garden events that celebrate Sonoma County’s springtime bounty. Sebastopol Center for the Arts presents Gardens with Sculpture on May 22. Seven impressive gardens with sculpture will be open for a one-time viewing. Sonoma Lavender’s Food & Wine Festival, June 25-26, is a celebration of all things lavender. Tour their gardens, taste lavender inspired food, and take home all sorts of lavender products. Matanzas Creek Winery’s annual Days of Wine and Lavender is on June 25 and offers an appealing day of wine, food, music, and lavender at the start of the harvest.