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.

In March 2010, the spring-fed creek that runs through Ives Park along the Joe Rodota Trail and into the Laguna became the inaugural spot for the Creek Stewards to patrol and clean.

Back then, Stewards focused on the lower creek. This time around, cleanup efforts are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon, and will concentrate on the middle portion of the waterway, which passes through the Laguna de Santa Rosa.

Participants are encouraged to meet at the City parking lot on Petaluma Avenue across from the bike trail, and wear old clothes, rubber boots and gloves. Representatives from Sebastopol Creek Stewards also suggest wearing waders, if you have them. Oh, and if you’ve got loppers or pruners, you should bring those, too.

Once the cleanup team has assembled, Creek Stewards will pass out trash grabbers and other tools designed to remove invasive species from the creek banks. There also may be the opportunity to do some trash and species removal by boat.

Children are welcome to participate in the event. For more information, contact Joan Schwan (jschwan@sonic.net) or Geoffrey Skinner (skinnerbird@gmail.com), or call 707-823-0446.

The days of wine and lavender at Matanzas Creek.

Over the last few years, Santa Rosa-based winery Matanzas Creek has become renowned for creating and selling products from its one-acre lavender field.

Now, they’re eager to share the love.

The Bennett Valley property announced last week a series of quarterly educational seminars about growing and using lavender. All classes start at 9 a.m., and include a wine-tasting and lunch. The price: $75 per person, or $55 for Custom Crush wine club members.

The first workshop, which focused on planting and tending to lavender, was held Feb. 22.

During the three-hour seminar, Matanzas growers shared tips on how to plan and execute a lush, vibrant lavender garden. They also explained the differences between different species of lavender, and showed attendees how to harvest and dry the plant.

Over the remainder of the year, other workshops will emphasize different aspects of lavender and lavender cultivation.

The July 19 seminar will spotlight the wonders of honeybees, bringing in experts from American Canyon honey purveyor Marshall’s Farm for an in-depth look at how to make lavender-infused honey.

The Sept. 20 event will focus on cooking with culinary lavender.

Finally, on Nov. 8, the final workshop of the year will offer tips and tricks for incorporating lavender into holiday gifts. In particular, Matanzas lavender experts will show participants how to make a lavender sachet, holiday potpourri and a lavender rock salt warmer.

For more information about the new seminar series, or to reserve your space, call 800-668-5887 or e-mail wineclub@matanzascreek.com.

The facility, Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Bouverie Preserve in Glen Ellen, recently announced two Backyard Naturalist Programs, to be held Saturday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, April 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each class costs $25 per person.

During the first program, Bouverie biologist Jeanne Wirka is expected to lead a class on mushrooms and their relatives. According to Paula Maxfield, a spokesperson for the organization, participants will learn about the irreplaceable role that fungi play in our local ecosystem as well as basic identification techniques.

The day will start with a brief classroom discussion of types of fungi and how to search them out.  Next the group will explore known mushroom spots at the Preserve to see specimens up close.

Maxfield notes that no mushrooms will be harvested, and no edibility will be discussed; instead, the class will simply follow on mushrooms as a species.

The April 2 program is expected to focus on wildflowers. During this class, Maxfield says Wirka and other naturalists will discuss basic flower identification techniques using a variety of field guides.  Participants will also learn some of the key characteristics of different plant families that will help in recognizing species after leaving the Preserve.

In both cases, classes include time in the classroom and out on the trail. Hikes may cover one-to-three miles on mildly- to moderately-strenuous terrain, and hiking boots, a bag lunch and water are recommended.

If you’re interested in participating, call soon. Maxfield notes that class size is limited and registration is required. E-mail rsvp@egret.org or call 415-868-9244.

Flying Goat, Santa Rosa.

A funny thing happened on our way to one of The Flying Goat coffee shops this week; we stumbled upon a local resident with two giant plastic tubs and a hankering for grinds.

Turns out that the Goat, a big supporter of eco-friendly efforts, has an unofficial official policy through which they gladly donate coffee grinds to anyone who wants them bad enough to come in with a vessel and pick ‘em up.

While the Santa Rosa and Healdsburg coffee shops won’t actually save grinds for a particular person, it will gladly donate grinds to anyone who’s interested.

Not a bad gig for compost nerds looking for a way to jumpstart action in their bins at home.

Before you run out to collect your booty of glorious grinds, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Measure your compost box to calculate exactly how many grinds you’ll need. The last thing you want is unwanted grinds just sitting around the house.
• Bring the right equipment! Flying Goat staffers say that, believe it not, some people have gone so far as to bring bags and cardboard containers (all in the name of environmentalism). Just about the only material that can support tens of pounds of coffee is plastic.
• Don’t overdo it. Composting pros say coffee grinds should never comprise more than 20 percent of overall box content.

Consider yourselves warned. And tell the folks at the Goat we said hello.

Scientists say that one of the best things ordinary folks can do to fight global warming is to plant trees. This is precisely what inspired Kim Isley to found her company, Trees for a Change, in 2007.

The Santa Rosa outfit allows people to give the gifts of life—plant life. The tree-gifts can be given for all occasions, and are planted in national forests that have been destroyed by wildfire.

“While I like my ‘stuff’ as much as the next person, I am often overwhelmed by the focus on material things in our culture,” says Isley, who dubs herself the Treehugger-in-Chief. “The idea behind Trees for a Change is that a small shift in the way we think about and give gifts can create a big change in our world.”

Prices for these unique gifts range from $35 for one tree to $125 for a pack of ten. So far, the company has planted almost 4,600 trees.

Isley’s company doesn’t just promote green; it lives green, too. The business recycles everything it can, and incorporates recycled supplies and materials whenever possible. Case in point: All framed certificates come in frames made from recycled wood.

Overall, Isley notes that Sonoma County is the “perfect place” for her company because residents “value what we value: honoring the rich and vibrant Earth and all her gifts.” Don’t take our word for it, though; check out Trees for a Change for yourself.

Well the same company is making noise all over again, only this time the product is dubbed BelloCello di Sonoma and the main ingredient is Damiana, a flower that has been used for years as a mood-enhancer and aphrodisiac.

The new product was released right around Christmas, and has been flying off shelves so far. It’s also been incorporated into cocktails at a number of hotspots in Napa and Sonoma counties.

What does the stuff taste like? Think orange liqueur, only, well…sexier. Damiana itself provides spicy and floral notes. These marry perfectly with the sweet orange infused wine country brandy that forms the base of the passion-inducing elixir.

Conspiracy theorists, if you suspected HelloCello released BelloCello di Sonoma to market the aphrodisiac for Valentine’s Day, you wouldn’t be wrong.

That said, co-owner Fred Groth says the company has other flavored brandies on the way, too.

Next up: a FigCello that Groth and his wife, Amy, concocted in conjunction with Sondra Bernstein at The Girl and the Fig in Sonoma. Stay tuned for updates (or follow HelloCello on Twitter here).

The weather attracted hundreds to the coast. In particular, the Kortum Trail that runs between Wright’s and Blind beaches south of Jenner was hopping. Bodega Bay was busy, too, with cyclists zipping all over town.

Forecasts indicate the weather patterns are expected to continue through most of this coming week.

If you go, be on the lookout for wildlife. Gray whales currently are migrating south on their journey to birth and rear their young in the protected lagoons of Baja California. There also have been reports of humpback whales in the area. And, of course, there always are hawks and kites (the birds, not the wind toys) to observe.

(Surfers have been out and about in huge numbers, too, if you want to call them “wildlife.”)

Our advice: Pack accordingly. While the sun has been shining brightly for a few hours a day, the fog can roll in at any time and temperatures can change in an instant. Case in point: At the start of a short hike on Monday, it was 65 degrees. Within an hour, it had dropped to 50.

Whatever you do, just get out there. This weather certainly is unusual for this time of year. Enjoy it while you can.

Located just off Warm Springs Road in the Valley of the Moon, the property is a small horse range with three beautifully appointed rooms and a cozy, private cottage available for rent. The facility opened in 2002 and was recognized as a Sonoma Valley Green Business in 2009.

It’s also a short distance from the historic Kenwood railroad depot.

Open all year, the facility boasts high-efficiency appliances and lighting throughout, as well as 33 solar panels to fuel most energy needs. There’s also drought-tolerant landscaping.  Many of the materials used in a recent remodel were recycled and/or salvaged. As further proof of the property’s commitment to eco-consciousness, it provides recycling containers in all rooms, hot water via a re-circulating pump and fruits and vegetables grown organically on site.

Owner Joan Finkle notes that guests also are encouraged to rent bikes or bring their own to visit the many wineries in the immediate Kenwood area.

Interested? Hold your proverbial horses just a bit. The property will be closed for most of February, but back in full swing by mid-March. For more information, visit www.kenwoodoaksguesthouse.com or call 707/833-1221.

The site is maintained by the Santa Rosa branch of the University of California Cooperative Extension, and it features a host of great data and advice columns pertaining to Sonoma County sustainability. Recent posts include a feature about the new Russian River anglers outreach program, a story about why pesto turns brown and a piece about farmers’ markets.

The site also serves as a calendar for workshops and programs scheduled throughout the year.

The next workshop – a hands-on grafting demonstration – was scheduled to take place at the Sebastopol Regional Library Jan. 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

During this free event, master gardeners Fred Revetria and John Bramfitt were expected to walk participants through the ins and outs of grafting plants. Admission is first come, first served; capacity is about 20.

The “Partners” Web site boasts other information, as well, including data about upcoming seminars for farmers and ranchers on topics of regional and national importance. The first of these programs was expected to be held on March 24. The subject: Specialty crops. For more information, visit the site or call 707.565.2621.

• Use less vampire power

Even if they’re not on, computers and other major electronic appliances (televisions, digital cameras, etc.) suck power when they’re plugged in. If you’re headed out of town for the holiday—or really any time in the New Year—unplug these items to conserve energy and keep your footprint small.

• Conserve water

Take advantage of winter and spring rainstorms by collecting rainwater to use for irrigation during the year. This will help you cut down on water use overall, which can also minimize the size of your footprint.

• Support more green businesses

The best way to ensure the survival of green businesses is to frequent them. Yes, this may mean asking lots of questions about how your favorite companies operate, but in the end the answers will help you live the way you want to live.

Of course the very best resolution you can make is to embrace the three R’s: Reduce, Re-use, and Recycle. No matter how much you think you’re doing all of that now, you can be better. We all can. Happy New Year.

This 14-room resort is located just off the Russian River, and incorporates sustainable products and amenities wherever possible. Some of the more notable eco-friendly characteristics:

• The pool and hot tub are filled with saline water to minimize the use of chlorine.
• Landscape lighting is solar-powered.
• Non-toxic paint, cork flooring, and reclaimed teak shower mats
• Coyuchi organic bed linens
• Low-flow toilets
• Full composing program that recycles everything from food scraps to non-plastic flatware.
• On-site restaurant that sources locally

The hotel uses nontoxic laundry detergents and cleaning products from Vaska, as well as organic bath and body products from EO.

Heck, even the robes are organic cotton.

The Balinese-inspired resort isn’t exactly new—it opened in 2008. Unless you’ve got friends who have stayed there, however, it’s likely that you haven’t heard about the place; the owners don’t spend as much money on advertising as some of the other swanky and green resorts in the area.

So leave it to us to spread the word. And give the Boon a try.

The outfitter, Sonoma Canopy Tours, opened this summer just outside of Freestone near Santa Rosa. Its main product: Ziplining, a fast-paced activity (up to 25 m.p.h.) during which participants harness themselves to pulleys and use gravity to speed across fixed cables that usually span ravines.

The zipline experience is part of a guided two-hour eco-tour that also includes two sky bridges, a majestic spiral staircase, an 80-foot rappel, and the unparalleled beauty of the world-famous California Coastal Redwoods.

All told, the outfitter has set up 11 platforms in the trees, and 10 ziplines to connect them. That means guests have ten chances to overcome their fear of heights.

This diversion is nothing new; created in the 1970s as a way to perform scientific research in remote jungles, the sensation has gained popularity as a tourist attraction in recent years throughout North America (especially Canada) and parts of Europe.

To describe it as a “rush” would be an understatement.

But don’t take our word for it, see for yourself. According to the Sonoma Canopy Tours Web site, mid-week “flights” cost $69 for adults and $49 for kids age 17 and under (so long as the kids weigh 70 pounds); while weekend flights are $79 for grown-ups. For more information, visit SonomaCanopyTours.com.

The organization provides training and job placement for low-income, unemployed and underemployed young men (ages 18-24) for careers in green-collar jobs including technologies having to do with sustainability in the environment, energy conservation, and green (non-carbon based) energy production.

In many cases, the men have a history of violent gang-related felonies that occurred when they were minors or young adults. They’ve spent many years behind bars, moving from juvenile hall to the California Youth Authority (CYA) to the maximum-security prisons of Pelican Bay and San Quentin.

Many of these men have learning disabilities, mood disorders, and undiagnosed and untreated Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from street violence and incarceration. More important, many of these young men cannot function without a support system. NBIGT provides necessary support through educational programs, funding for further education and the initiation that genuine mentorship provides.

“Our society looks away from this population, more so when our economy trends downward,” said co-founder Cris Oseguera, who started the organization with Evelina Molina last decade. “But there is a lot of potential in these young men. They are passionate about the environment, about improving their community, about giving back.”

To help fuel these passions, NBIGT has launched two flagship programs.

The first, Academia Quinto-Sol (Fifth Sun Academy for Young Visionaries), was a nine-week summer program that helped “students” attain the skills necessary to become viable working partners in the green economy.

The second flagship, Youth Green Jobs Sonoma, was more of the same, readying young men for jobs in green-technology and other fields.

Since then, the organization also has developed the Eco-Workforce Collective as a way to further connect this population of young men with the real-world mentors (contractors, retired tradesmen, and other professionals) they need to succeed in general contracting and construction fields. For “students” the program is hands-on learning. For participating local business owners, it’s social enterprise.

Moving forward, NBIGT expects to continue programs in a similar vein. In recent months, the group has been moving in the direction of training in organic farming and gardening. A number of programs in these areas are expected for 2011.

Before you head out to buy a tree imported from Oregon or somewhere even farther afield (most trees in California are from the Northwest), think about the carbon footprint, and purchase one that has been grown from seed right here in Sonoma County.

We ran a story on the subject last year around this time, and many of the main players are the same: Davis Christmas Tree Farm, Frosty Mountain Tree Farm and Garlock Tree Farm, to name a few. As it turns out, all three of these farms (and Celesta Farms and Fisher Farms, as well) are located in Sebastopol.

At most of these places, trees run from $40 to $100 and up.

After the holidays, it’s important to recycle your Christmas tree. Most areas in Sonoma County offer curbside pickup for tree recycling. Many communities also have non-profit organizations (usually the Boy Scouts) that will pick up your tree and recycle it for you.

A third option is breaking out the saw or axe and cutting the tree to fit loosely in your yard waste container.

Whatever you do, don’t toss the tree with the trash; only eco-Grinches do that.