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 {…}
May means it’s farmers market time again here in Sonoma County, and perhaps none of this weekend’s markets are as anticipated as the Kendall-Jackson Farm Stand, a regular extravaganza of produce and goodies held on the first Saturday of every month at the winery’s Santa Rosa Wine Center/tasting room. This Saturday – May 7 – the shindig is expected to {…}
Earth Day — 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 {…}
Oenophiles are gearing up for the 22nd annual Passport to Dry Creek Valley event, held April 30 and May 1 in the north part of the county. Farm fans now have something to geek out about as well: A passport event of their own on the very same weekend (well, on May 1). The latter event, dubbed “Blossom, Bees & {…}
A popular hotel in Santa Rosa has decided to celebrate a new brand with a renewed commitment to go green. The hotel—the Best Western Wine Country Inn & Suites on Hopper Avenue—transformed from a Holiday Inn earlier this year. Now, the parent company, Heritage Hotel Group, has announced that the property has partnered with Orlando, Fla.-based non-profit organization Clean the {…}
An eco-conscious approach to selling and serving Sonoma County wine has been attracting attention lately, culminating with an Associated Press article that was published nationwide last week [March 23]. The story spotlighted a relatively new strategy that enables restaurants and bars to serve wines-by-the-glass from kegs with wine on tap. Dubbed “barrel-to-barrel,” the approach significantly reduces glass waste associated with {…}
Despite the rainy weather, spring is a great time for horseback riding along the Sonoma County coast. One of the best (and most popular) options: the family-friendly Horse N Around Trail Rides along Highway One near Bodega Bay. This outfitter offers three different experiences in all. The first, the Duck Pond Trail, is a 30-minute excursion that circles the ranch’s {…}
If you imagined Sonoma County parks as nightclubs, Tolay Lake Regional Park would be the hottest ticket in town. Typically, through something called the Interim Plan (IP) Day-Use Program, outdoors lovers must sign up for an hour-long orientation and permit before they can gain access. Next month, however, visitors can experience the space on a ranger-led hike. The outing is {…}
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 {…}
Agri-tourism is alive and well in the heartland of Sonoma County. This popular brand of tourism comes in a variety of flavors—tours, produce-picking, cooking classes and more. All of the experiences are designed to give visitors an inside-look at what life is really like on the American farm. They are open to everyone; in many cases, they cost no more {…}
