for the soul

from Destination Nevada County 2023

Tres Jolie Lavender Farm

and gives us some peace, it’s what sets us apart as a species, what makes us human is our ability to create. Art is simply a creative expression, it can take any form.

Art doesn’t have to hang in a gallery, it can be anything

In art school we debated on what is art, “everything” said my instructor, “even the dabs of paint on the back of your pallet.” But that’s not done purposefully, we argued “ah but it was” he replied.

Cannabis can aid you in finding that creative place with less resistance and more abandon, it’s why I love it so.

Research has shown that cannabis can increase cerebral blood flow to the frontal lobe in the brain which enables us to brainstorm, get those creative juices flowing it’s great for out of the box thinking. Like in the TV show “Suits” Harvey Specter uses cannabis when he has a difficult problem that needs a unique solution. However like many things and cannabis, you need to stick with a lower dose, around 5 to 10mg. Getting into higher doses doesn’t have the same creative boosting effect.

Just go create

Whether you use cannabis or not, you’re an artist of some sort and you’ll find wholeness when let you that part of you run wild and free. Create a beautiful mess.

By Patricia Rockwell, Owner, Green Gift Gardens and Member, Nevada County Cannabis Alliance

Tucked away in the hills and valleys of Nevada County, small family farms have been lovingly cultivating cannabis for decades. With a strong belief in the medicine, these farms produced salves, tinctures, and, of course, flowers, and hold a strong belief that cannabis unlocks creative potential and catalyzes the self-healing nature of our bodies. “Coming out green,” for all segments of society that use cannabis to relieve stress, injury, and dis-ease, became the new ethos.

In the ancient tradition of the Vedas (Hindu scripture), cannabis is referred to as a “source of happiness.” In Egyptian mythology, Seshat was the deification of the concept of wisdom. An historical image of Seshat shows a stem from the base of a cannabis leaf connecting to the head of Seshat, symbolizing the ancient link between cannabis and consciousness.

Shamanistic traditions of great antiquity, in Asia and the Near East, have as one of their most important elements, the attempt to find God without a vale of tears and cannabis played a role in this. Whereas Western religious traditions generally stress sin, repentance, and mortification of the flesh, certain older non-Western religious sects seem to have employed cannabis as a euphoriant, which allowed the participant a joyous path to the Ultimate; hence such appellations as “heavenly guide”.

Present day science is vindicating the strong relationship between cannabis and our physical body — the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the body is literally set up to receive specific healing cannabinoids that promote well-being. Research has linked the ECS to an incredible number of bodily processes.

As one of the legacy farms here in the Sierra Foothills, we understand that cultivating Cannabis is an Art: the bringing together of creative imagination, a deep relationship with the plant, and skill.

Each of our family members brings one of these specific gifts to our venture; and so with our vision to bring this “source of happiness” and present-day science together, we created Green Gift Cooperative as a medicinal farm under California’s Proposition 215 to cultivate this magical plant in order to provide cannabis for healing products such as oils and salves.

Once California legalized cannabis cultivation in 2016,

Green Gift Cooperative became Green Gift Gardens and we began advocating for local regulations and policies that would support the legacy farms, like ours, that had been in operation for years.

The importance of “destigmatizing” cannabis became paramount to changing the perception of who was growing this “evil weed.” Once a tech executive, I was not your normal cannabis farmer. Joining forces with the Nevada County Cannabis Alliance, I became a board member and outspoken advocate for reasonable cannabis policies.

Green Gift Gardens and other local farms now face grave challenges as the cannabis market changes. Large corporate farms are over-producing cannabis and flooding the market at very low prices. Small farms need to diversify to survive, and we continue to advocate for updates to local and state regulations that will be critical to the survival of small cannabis farms in California.

Now, more than ever, we need to recognize the gift our farms are bringing to our local community. “Come out green” and support small cannabis farms, for all segments of society that could benefit from this magical plant, and for every person to deepen their own relationship to this source of joy that is cannabis.

Senior Services

Grass Valley, CA • 530-615-4541

Senior Firewood Program Application 2020-2021

Senior Nutrition Program

Providing meals to older adults in Western Nevada since 1987.

Senior Firewood Program was established in 1979 to assist low income households living in Western Nevada County stay warm in the wintertime. provided is split to 16” length and is a mix of pine, fir, & cedar.

LAST: DOB :

Café Meals in a congregate setting that provides older adults an opportunity to socialize.

Meals on Wheels provides homebound seniors with meals delivered by friendly volunteers.

LAST: DOB:

ADDRESS: ADDRESS:

Veteran:

Senior Firewood Program

Since 1979, the Senior Firewood Program has provided extra warmth to low-income seniors by delivering firewood for winter. The group of dedicated volunteers cut, split and deliver the firewood to seniors in need in our community.

CELL#:  SINGLE

 COUPLE

 OTHER

Community Referrals

Assisting older adults remain independent in their home by providing community referrals and application assistance.

CalFresh • Veteran Services • Caregiving Mental Health • Education

Gross Household Income per Month: Type of Home:  SGL  MULT MBLE wood do you need this winter? _____________________________ (up to 1.5 apply as a PICK UP CLIENT $50.00 Suggested Voluntary Donation if enrolled. apply as a DELIVERY* CLIENT $75.00 Suggested Voluntary Donation if enrolled. limited to a case by case basis only available to households living within 10 miles of the GCCS wood yard

GOLD www.goldcountryservices.org

Pet Food Pantry Program

income senior

The wood

Providing free pet food for seniors who need help for their pets. The program runs by volunteers and generous donors.

Veteran: YES/NO

Senior Center (Coming in 2023!)

Gold Country Senior Services purchased a building to establish the long awaited Senior Center in Grass Valley.

231 Colfax Avenue, Grass Valley will be the new location for the Senior Center.

SGL FAMILY MULT- FAM MBLE HOME 1.5 cords). enrolled. enrolled. yard.

Activities & Classes

Staying active and connected are two important ways to stay health. Our goal is to give you ways to do both by offering affordable activities and chasses to help keep your health and wellbeing.

By Leslie Lovejoy RN, Ph.D., Executive Director Gold Country Senior Services

Long-awaited and much-needed, the new Gold Country Senior Center is destined to change the way Nevada County honors its older residents.

Phase One involved finding and purchasing a building that offered a convenient location with easy access, adequate parking, and enough space to house a commercial kitchen, an activities area, plus a coffee shop and outdoor dining.

Phase Two involved demolition and permits for a complete renovation to make the building meet our mission. The 4,503 sq. ft. property, located at 421 Colfax Ave., Grass Valley, will open its doors to a new level of support for local seniors who want to live at home for as long as possible.

Our goal is to create an attractive, welcoming facility — a place where older adults can rely on services that cover many aspects of aging. For over four decades, programs, such as Meals on Wheels and the Senior Firewood Program have supported nutritional and cold-weather safety needs. However, the new Senior Center will offer far more, including ways to enhance physical fitness, as well as mental and emotional health. It will also offer engaging activities, plus advice on topics such as finances, medical insurance and help with tax preparation.

Education is another key element. Information will be readily available on important issues, such as facing laterlife health challenges, maintaining a medications list, and how to improve balance and flexibility — even what to consider for advanced-care planning. Having a designated center means a wider range of resources will be available, ready to enrich seniors’ lives.

New scope to honor aging.

In addition, the center will have multigenerational appeal, as high school and college students become involved, perhaps as part of their curriculum. Since the coffee shop and dining area will be open to all, we’re likely to see people of all ages engaged in lively conversations.

Greater potential also exists when it comes to developing partnerships with other non-profits. The same applies to expanding relationships with local businesses and private donors.

Since so many others share our commitment, there are numerous hands-on ways to participate, as a staff member or as a volunteer. Some of our Meals on Wheels drivers, for example, have been volunteering for over 25 years. Meaningful opportunities also exist in the Senior Firewood Program, in the kitchen, on the board, and on the Senior Center Planning Committee. Time and talent are always welcome.

Since Nevada County has one of California’s highest senior populations per capita, the need to offer additional support is great. In fact, it’s a need that dramatically increases each year. Remember, many Gold Country clients served in the military or in law enforcement. Many were teachers, medical professionals, or they worked in ways that made our lives better. Each one deserves respect and appreciation from their community.

The new Senior Center is more than a building. It’s more than a dedicated group of staff members, volunteers, partners and supporters. It’s an enduring tribute to maturity and how we value life.

With deepest appreciation to all those who have and will play a part in making this milestone one of Nevada County’s most meaningful amenities.

By Keoni Allen,

Hi Folks, there are a lot of great things happening in Grass Valley in 2023. Both the residential/housing sector and the commercial sector are moving forward with several great projects, despite the typical challenges of high cost and not enough available labor to produce the completed projects as quickly as desired.

Let’s start with a brief synopsis of the proposed and underway residential/housing projects in Grass Valley.

Loma Rica Ranch, the 452-acre mixed-use development that includes multiple paved trails, and parks, has been diligently working on its site improvements for the long-awaited 245 housing units on the creeks between Sutton and Brunswick. The underground utilities are essentially complete, and concrete and paving, are underway. The developer is hoping to break ground on the first 60 duplex units after the first of the year.

Adjacent to Loma Rica Ranch is Woodland Heights, a recently proposed 50+ unit project of duplex townhouse units. The developers hope to secure their approvals in early summer and proceed with construction as soon as possible.

Ridge Village is a recently completed site work project for potential 38 single-family homes. The developer hopes to break ground on the new home construction in the new year.

Gilded Springs at the West end of Main Street is a new neighborhood of 26 customizable homes within walking distance of downtown historic Grass Valley. The project has completed its site improvements and is working on permits for its beautifully designed singlefamily homes.

Berriman Ranch by Homes By Towne, a single-family new home community offering 30 homesites, is working towards the completion of the next phase of single-family homes.

Dorsey Market Place has approval for 170 market-rate apartments. The family-friendly, multi-use project is still being held up by a lawsuit over environmental concerns. The developers hope that a resolution is near which would allow construction to begin in 2023.

A total of approximately 550 housing units are proposed, approved, or under construction in Grass Valley. These units would be a great help in alleviating our acute shortage of housing. A shortage that Nevada County has estimated at 2000 units.

The commercial sector in the Grass Valley area is making some significant strides forward, led by the very ambitious renovation of Mill Street into a beautifully landscaped and lit pedestrian plaza from West Main Street to Neal Street. The project construction has been somewhat low-key to date. Encompassing after-business hours replacement and upgrade of water lines and individual water services and meters. Immediately after the Holidays, the work will become more visible with daytime work, being done in fenced-off sections, which will consist of building new stone landscape planters, street lighting, and new stamped concrete paving. The completed project will be a great addition to the ambiance and experience of being in downtown Grass Valley.

The Mill Street project has motivated multiple businesses and building owners to upgrade their buildings to reflect the great investment into the thriving future of downtown Grass Valley. Retailers, restaurants, shoppers, and diners are all helping and benefiting from the great energy downtown.

The complete upgrade of the former Kmart shopping center on the south end of town is underway, and the anchor Target store is hoping to open in April 2023.

The new West Olympia Hotel on East Main Street near Brunswick Road is proposed to be a two-story, 74-room hotel that will include a pool and fitness center. This much-needed addition to hospitality lodging located between Grass Valley and Nevada City will be a great addition to our downtowns and the permits are nearly ready to issue.

The coming year is very bright for Grass Valley. The city is doing a fantastic job of planning and leading the way to meet our needs, and everywhere we look, we see the wise and effective use of our taxpayer-approved and supported measure F Funds.

Surround yourself with fresh mountain breezes, natural surroundings and that magical place where the grass is greener. Berriman Ranch in Grass Valley is nestled in the heart of the Sierra Nevada foothills and features four singleand two-story homes ranging from 1,579 to 2,491 square feet in a quaint 30 homesite community. This charming community is an artful blend of modern lifestyle and nature. Welcome to Berriman Ranch.

HomesByTowne.com | 915-262-8800, Ext. 5