Homes and Lifestyle Spring 2013

Homes

Lifestyles

interiors/design/gardens/renovation/realestate/entertaining

Trends for Health and Sustainability

Healing Gardens | Recycled Art Trail Running | Building Small

An advertising supplement of Sonoma West Publishers, Inc. | Spring 2013 Sonoma West Times & News • The Healdsburg Tribune • The Windsor Times

Interiors

It’s All in the Details

By Hudson Street Design

It’s often said that “the devil is in the details,” but more often, it’s the details that make an occasion or a setting special. The same holds true for building styles. Without details, design would be anonymous and dull. Where, for instance, would Craftsman Style be without its iconic carved wood detail?

How would we identify Victorian, Gothic, and Edwardian styles without their specific intricate embellishments?

Beyond historical and modern styles, there’s also the matter of your personal style and the details that make a house a home. Everyone wants to live in a home that has elements that please them aesthetically or that beautify a space.

If you’ve been feeling that you want to give your home more personality or

style, think about some easy additions of moldings, carved architectural elements, pediments, and appliqués such as acorns, pineapples, rosettes, quatrefoils and others.

Embellished hardwood moldings can be embossed or plain and many come already primed. You can add crown moldings to a ceiling for panache and chair rail moldings to your dining room for a beautiful formal effect. There are even flexible resin moldings that make a luxe statement on the front of bathroom sink vanities.

Hand-carved elements such as mantels and other architectural woodcarvings give a warm and artistic feel to a room. For an interior doorway, consider adding an elliptical pilastered opening with Corinthian styling or a decorative French motif. These arched three-piece installations can be insert-

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2 Spring 2013

ed into a squared doorway.

Exterior millwork, architectural details and building components made with high-density polyurethane will last a lifetime—maybe several! Damaged gingerbread details on a heritage home can be replaced with this durable material, but none of the style will be lost in the translation.

You can visit our showroom at 434 Hudson St. in Healdsburg to see a full spectrum of possibilities and inspiration along with prestigious brandname doors, cabinets, countertops, fixtures and architectural hardware in a designer showcase setting. We also provide interior design, kitchen and bath design, project coordination, and installation services. See us on the web at Hudsonstreetdesign.com or call 707-431-3630.

CONTENTS A Spring in our Step

spring 2013

It’s spring and no matter what the weather, the lengthening period of daylight each day makes me feel optimistic and energized. New green shoots and buds are pushing forth in gardens and across the landscape, testimony to this season of renewal and the affirmation of life cycles in general.

In that spirit, Homes & Lifestyles chooses “health” as the theme in this issue—health as pertains to body and soul as well as to the world around us. From farmers markets to trail running, our contributors have submitted a variety of topics that speak to health and sustainable living.

Editor Pam Whigham Editorial Design Gail Sands Photo Editor & Photographer Sarah Bradbury Contributors Abby Bard Ray Holley Lynda Hopkins Kimberly Kaido-Alvarez Homes and Lifestyles Magazine is published by Sonoma West Publishers, Inc. Publisher Rollie Atkinson Associate Publisher Sarah Bradbury Advertising Director Cherie Kelsay Advertising Sales Lacey Burdette Cherie Kelsay Steve Pedersen Paula Wise email us with advertising placement inquiries at: sales@hbgtrib.com Homes and Lifestyles Magazine Advertising and Editorial Offices: 9025 Old Redwood Hwy., Suite E Windsor, CA 95492 P.O. Box 518 Healdsburg, CA 95448 Phone: (707) 838-9211 www.sonomadiscoveries.com www.sonomawest.com Spring 2013 Homes & Lifestyles is an advertising supplement to the April 4, 2013 issue of Sonoma West Times & News, The Windsor Times and The Healdsburg Tribune.

This magazine uses zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) UV inks. VOCs create smog. Because it’s not printed using conventional Heatset this publication has substantially reduced its carbon footprint.

Printed by Barlow Printing, Cotati, CA.

from the editor

Managing Editor Sarah Bradbury

Visit “Our Towns” for an update on area farmers markets. Along with procuring fresh local food at these markets, communities are supporting family farms and businesses that practice a more sustainable method of food production than factory farms—healthy for us, healthy for the planet.

We also kick off a three-part series on “healing gardens.” We start off with two Ceres Community Project gardens that heal (and teach) in more ways than one.

Building small is another way to practice sustainability. Even high schools are offering hands-on classes, promoting the trend of downsizing residences. Find out where it’s happening in Northwest Sonoma County.

“Reduce, reuse, recycle” is a sustainability mantra of sorts. Who better to illustrate the concept than Sebastopol sculptor Patrick Amiot, who creates colorful whimsy out of salvaged items? We take a peek at his new studio location.

Last but not least, Sonoma County is not without its population of runners, so our fitness angle is an off-road running guide that will appeal to current runners and those thinking about exploring this exhilarating activity.

To health and well-being in your home and lifestyle!

Pam Whigham, Editor

FEATURES 6 Healing Gardens

by Abby Bard

10 Patrick’s Next Chapter

by Abby Bard

14 Building Small

by Ray Holley

20 Hit the Trail

by Kimberly Kaido-Alvarez

OUR TOWNS 4 Farmers Markets

by Lynda Hopkins

Cover— Patrick Amiot’s sculpture of a honey bee hovers near the entrance to Ceres Community Project in Sebastopol.

Above— Sculptor Patrick Amiot works on one of his latest creations.

Homes & Lifestyles 3

< Our Towns >

Farmers Markets

By Lynda Hopkins Photography by Sarah Bradbury

E

ach one of Sonoma County’s farmers markets has a distinct personality and flavor, just like the town to which it belongs. Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Windsor, Sebastopol, Occidental, Guerneville, Santa Rosa— with so many options, local food enthusiasts have a hard time picking just one market and often end up frequenting several.

The Healdsburg Farmers’ Market has been trucking produce to town since 1978. Its small town character and local emphasis—and even a few of the vendors—have remained largely unchanged since then. The market is small but robust, offering a colorful assortment of farm-fresh produce, meats, cheeses, flowers, eggs, bread, and crafts.

If Healdsburg is the quaint country mother of the markets, Sebastopol is her tie-dyed younger sister. Founded in 1994, the Sebastopol Certified Farmers Market now runs year-round.

With certified organic, biodynamic, and even horse-powered offerings, the market provides a well-rounded local bounty for West County.

If Healdsburg had a husband, it would be the Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers Market, the county’s first market and perhaps still its largest. With plenty of produce, local staples and a wide array of prepared foods, this year-round market offers cheer even on dreary winter days.

The Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, and Sebastopol markets are progenitors; Windsor and Occidental represent the next generation. Founded in 2001 and 2002 respectively, they breathed new life into their towns and have developed a dedicated following.

While the markets differ in personality and composition, seasonal vegetables represent the market mainstay. Most markets—with the exception of Sebastopol and Santa Rosa, which run year-round—open in late spring. In May, fresh greens pepper the farmers’ tables. Spinach, arugula, lettuce, chard, and kale are found in abundance. Fava beans, pea shoots, sugar snap peas and the earliest strawberries provide sweet seasonal treats. Root vegetables pile high in bunches; broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage form heaps.

4 Spring 2013

As the weather warms, rainbows of tomatoes, summer squash, and dark, glistening eggplants take center stage. Green beans and peppers move in as the labor of spring becomes the fruit of summer. Evening markets open up for their summer run, often with live music.

In fact, most farmers markets offer an annual cycle of special events and festivals. Earth Day in Windsor (usually the opening day of that market’s season) attracts crowds with exhibits and games; at the Healdsburg Zucchini Festival, the zucchini car races prove that family entertainment does not always require electronic devices.

Farmers markets provide a valuable community resource— the chance to mingle together, have some fun, and partake of the bounty of healthful, fresh food and artisan products that are raised and created in our region.

For a complete listing of area farmers markets, visit sonomadiscoveries.com and click the link to the full issue of Discoveries magazine.

Garden

Drip Irrigation Basics The range of component products and system designs can suit any gardener or grower.

By Rick Williams, General Manager, Harmony Farm Supply & Nursery

There are multiple advantages to drip irrigation systems. Farmers and gardeners alike have found drip irrigation to be a great time saver as well as giving them better yields from healthier plants that have a decreased incidence of disease caused by overhead sprinkler irrigation. Soluble fertilizers can be applied through a drip system, keeping nutrients near the root zone and allowing the plants to get the most value from each application. You also water only the plants that you want watered, discouraging weed growth.

Israeli engineers pioneered early drip irrigation components, but you don’t need to be an engineer to put in a system. If you have ever created something with Tinker-Toys, you have the basic ability to put together a drip system.

WATER QUALITY How clean is your water? The dirtier it is, the more careful you must be choosing the components to achieve satisfaction and low maintenance with your drip system.

Component classifications that are typically most easily clogged to hardest to clog: 1. Soaker type tubing such as T-Tape and Chapin Tape 2. Small orifice emitters such as 1⁄2 gallon/hour (gph) emitters 3. Larger orifice emitters, such as 1 and 2 gph emitters 4. Micro-sprayers and micro-sprinklers over 3 gph 5. In-line emitters such as Netafim and Dripperline Within each classification there are performance advantages and disadvantages with different products.

The dirtiest water comes from ponds or lakes that have algae, etc. The next least desirable is water containing iron slime bacteria (these will not filter out) and also water that contains calcium or magnesium.

Next is water high in sand; many wells pump some sand.

Even some municipal water systems have crud in them, although most city water is pretty clean.

WHAT EVERY SYSTEM NEEDS A filter is cheap insurance for all drip systems, regardless of the water source. This way, contaminants in the water clog the filter, not the emitters.

Some systems require cleaning out the filter every time the system is run and some only once a year – it depends on your water quality.

Most drip systems also should have a pressure regulator – especially if you are on city water or have a well set to run between 40 and 60 psi. If you are on a spring box or have a gravity-fed tank with not much head above the drip system, you probably won’t need a pressure regulator.

CHOOSING COMPONENTS Here are our recommendations on what most people have found to work well: Emitters – Generally, people choose emitters when the plants are spaced somewhat far apart, as with perennial shrubs, fruit trees, vines, and vegetables planted in hills. On hilly ground (20 feet vertical change or greater), one should use pressure-compensating emitters,

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either in-line or punched into hose, so that all of your plants get the same amount of water per irrigation.

Soaker-Type Tubing – This is ideal for intensively planted beds of vegetables or flowers, also berries, turf, and other areas where you want to evenly water an entire swath of plants. Drip tape is popular with vegetable growers. It must be used in straight runs, otherwise the flow of water will be cut.

Soaker dripline is often used in ornamental settings and can be bent gradually without affecting performance.

Micro-Sprayers and Micro-Sprinklers – These are for watering a larger area and you can operate more micro-sprinklers on one drip line than would be possible with standard sprinklers. Like standard sprinklers, there are different spray patterns available, but they use less water volume and cover a smaller radius. Be aware that micro-sprayers and microsprinklers do not work well in heavy winds; you can compensate for this by running the system in the evening or early morning when wind is not usually a problem.

Visit Harmony Farm Supply for more in-depth information about drip irrigation, whether you’re just getting started or want to improve an existing system.

Homes & Lifestyles 5

Healing Gardens

Ceres Community Project [ This is Part I of a new Homes & Lifestyles series about three Northwest Sonoma County gardens that grow nourishing fruits, vegetables and medicinal herbs, and which also provide a healing connection with nature. ]

Story by Abby Bard Photography by Sarah Bradbury The Ceres Community Project is a Sebastopol based non-profit that teaches teenagers to cook healthy meals and provides the meals to people dealing with cancer and other debilitating illnesses. Last year, when they moved into their brand-new space at the edge of Ives Park next to the Fire Department, the intention was to mirror the project’s focus—food as medicine—in the surrounding grounds.

Sara McCamant, with many years of experience connecting kitchen and garden, joined the design team as Garden Coordinator to create the “garden as medicine” at the new site. All of the plants she selected for the Ceres garden fit that criteria: medicinal herbs, culinary herbs, and fruits 6 Spring 2013

Above— Sara McCamant works in the garden near the Flowform water feature donated by Bohemian Stoneworks. The water feature creates vortexes of moving water, the pulse of which mimics a heartbeat.

and vegetables high in nutrition and antioxidants. Sage, rosemary, oregano, and several varieties of thyme—a super medicinal herb used for colds and respiratory problems—line the paths.

There is a kitchen garden where edible flowers, kale, tomatoes and parsley grow among olive trees, goji berries, aronia, and elderberries, which are good for fighting off flu, colds and coughs. A hedge of pineapple guava, a beautiful fruiting evergreen, grows along the roadway.

According to Sara, healing gardens provide a twofold purpose: a place for plants that have actual medicinal properties and a place for people to be in relationship with nature. In this healing garden every plant was chosen for its healing or nutritional properties and thoughtfully planted in a landscape designed to filter the cacophony coming from busy Bodega Avenue and create a feeling of harmony.

The design team consulted with a feng shui expert to address the issue of traffic flow from Florence Avenue entering Bodega Avenue, directly across the street from the Ceres facility. To help deflect the aggressive street energy, a sculpture of a bee collecting nectar from a blossom, donated by artist Patrick Amiot, was installed across from the intersection, next to an old tan oak tree that crowns the slope leading down to the building. The metaphor of bees—creating nourishment and working in community with each other—fits Ceres perfectly.

Halfway down the slope, a Flowform water feature donated by Bohemian Stoneworks creates vortexes of moving water, the pulse of which mimics a heartbeat.

A bench, shaded from the afternoon sun by the oak tree, sits near the water feature—a place to pause and experience the healing energy of flowing water.

Clients entering the walkway from the parking lot to the building can pause for a moment where the path curves around a raised planter. This is the Gratitude Garden, filled with lavenders, lemon verbena, pineapple sage and basils, all used for aromatherapy. The sides of the planter are covered with a beautiful, intricate mosaic made by hundreds of hands, symbolizing the community of people involved in the Ceres Project.

To the right of the Gratitude Garden is another garden bed, watched over by a statue of Quan Yin, the goddess of compas-

sion. It’s planted with medicinal herbs: arnica, feverfew, mullein (its leaves used as a tea for the lungs, the flowers for oil to treat ear infections), lavender and rosemary, chaste tree (vitex) for mediating female hormones, passion flower (a nervine), which is calming and good for hypertension.

Sara also oversees The Ceres Community Garden behind O’Reilly Media at the north end of Sebastopol. The purpose of this garden is to produce healing food for clients and to teach the teens how to garden. O’Reilly donated the halfacre of land last year and pays for the water and electricity.

The design team consulted with a feng shui expert… to help deflect the aggressive street energy, a sculpture of a bee collecting nectar from a blossom, donated by artist Patrick Amiot, was installed… next to an old tan oak tree that crowns the slope leading down to the building. The metaphor of bees—creating nourishment and working in community with each other—fits Ceres perfectly.

Sara and volunteer adult mentors supervise the teen volunteers who do the majority of the work, rotating between working in the kitchen and this garden, so they can experience growing the food as well as cooking it. They also turn off their cell phones when they are working in the garden, so they can connect more fully with nature.

This garden is designed for efficiency with over 30 vegetable beds, each 35 feet long, some of them raised, lined with wire for gopher control, and filled with soil from Sonoma Compost. A tractor initially was brought in till the soil, but since then, all the work has been done by hand.

One quarter of the beds were planted last fall with bell beans, vetch and peas as cover crops to enrich the soil. Other beds are planted with winter cabbage, kale, leeks and garlic. There are beneficial borders within the garden and at either end, planted with flowers and herbs to attract bees and butterflies. In the center of the garden is a circle of beds planted with strawberries, echinacea, verbena and lavenders. One hundred different kinds of perennials are planted throughout, providing over 1,200 flower bouquets last season that went into the weekly deliveries for the Ceres Project clients.

At the beginning, the soil was poor and part of the healing work was to bring the soil back to life. Sara explained that in its first year, a new garden is a “miracle garden.” The pests haven’t discovered it yet and there are still nutrients in the soil. This coming spring will be its second season and Sara is a bit worried about what might come. To nourish the garden, all the food waste from the Ceres kitchen goes into the Community Garden compost pile (where bacteria and fungi will break it down into black gold) or into a bin where worms will turn the waste into a very rich and concentrated product to use in compost tea to feed the beds.

It’s amazing how much has been accomplished in a single year. “The universe wanted it. All the pieces came together very quickly once we wanted it to happen. When something is right, it falls into place,” says Sara.

“What’s important is that it be a place where people can connect with and experience nature.”

Edging the path just inside the garden gate, a volunteer has put willow branches into the ground, which have taken root and will grow into a welcoming living archway.

This spring, Sara plans to add a hoop greenhouse to the garden and she’s always on the lookout for plants. She’s also searching for a carpenter who will donate some time to build an entry kiosk, and is writing grants for benches, trellises and shade structures to make the garden a comfortable place for the community to enjoy. • For more information on the Ceres Community Project contact: 707-8295833 or ceresproject.org or visit in person at 7351 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol.

Homes & Lifestyles 7

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All of us are aware of the benefits that trees give to our planet: they take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen to the air, they provide shade and sometimes food, their root systems keep the earth from eroding, and more. But trees in developed areas need occasional care in order to remain healthy and continue giving their gifts.

Limb trimming, pruning and tree removal are probably the tasks most often required by homeowners with trees on their property.

Dead or weak trees and limbs are hazardous, posing a threat to your dwelling or person. Sometimes limbs are interfering with gutters, wires, or are allowing pests (such as squirrels) access to a roof.

Other types of tree trimming include shaping a canopy, thinning branches to increase light and air penetration, repairing the crowns of topped trees, and creating better tree structure to lessen wind resistance and potential storm damage.

Trees can have insect, fungal or disease problems, but may not be showing any obvious signs or symptoms. It takes a professional eye to spot, diagnose and suggest treatment options.

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PATRICK’S

NEXT CHAPTER Story by Abby Bard 10 Spring 2013

|

Photography by Sarah Bradbury

The Sebastopol creator of sculpture made from re-purposed objects has a new location for fabricating his whimsical works.

A

yellow duck, fashioned out of a trailer and with a sign announcing “Art Show” painted on its wing, marks the entrance to sculptor Patrick Amiot’s new studio.

Another landmark is the sign for Renga Arts, a gallery for reclaimed, reused and reimagined art in a building that was once the site of the old Sensuality Shop. It now suggests a completely different aesthetic to travelers on Highway 116 just east of Sebastopol.

Drive into the small parking lot where old cars, rusted metal sheds, and discarded display signs for defunct businesses line recycled wood fences. You’ve entered Amiot Land, where everything you see had purpose in another lifetime, was then discarded, and now has been resurrected through the imagination and vision of Patrick Amiot and Brigitte Laurent, his wife and creative partner.

The front of the property is gradually evolving into a little village. An eyeful of whimsical sculptures inviting you to stop and gape are arrayed along an evolving town green of sorts, where short stone walls are gradually appearing to mark the boundaries of a landscape-in-progress. To the left of a set of towering gates fashioned from an old pickup truck bed and crowned with turrets and a coat-of-arms are some small buildings topped with old cars and an old Lucky supermarket sign. This is where artist Lauri Luck serves fresh pie and coffee in her “Dog House Studio” to Saturday visitors and where Don Bishop paints his canvases in a separate studio.

On the right side of the gates is “Joe’s Garage,” tucked behind Renga Arts, where gallery owner Joe Szuecs fabricates his own pieces. The tall gates divide the front public areas from Patrick’s and Brigitte’s sprawling work areas in the back, hubs of industrious creativity where they spend their time making art treasures from someone else’s trash. Their unmistakable Patrick Amiot Homes & Lifestyles 11

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Brigitte Laurent

creations appear in front of small businesses and private homes all over town and beyond.

Patrick and Brigitte outgrew the studio area behind their home on Florence Avenue, where the sculptures lining the street have been drawing attention and giving delight to residents and visitors for many years. When they purchased the 1.2-acre property fronting Highway 116 near the flea market a couple of years ago, it allowed them to build upon the life they dreamed of having; their intention is to also reside there in the future. The new place is zoned commercial, freeing Patrick from the concerns he had on residential Florence Avenue of disturbing the neighbors with his noisy equipment and his collection of stuff.

When I visited Patrick recently to see the new place, I reminded him that he once said he wanted to be a roadside attraction. He laughed, “Yeah, I did say that at one time—then I got over it.” The real roadside attraction is his eclectic collection of castoffs from our culture.

“I love Americana. We’re going to grow the front [of the property] so it becomes a place where people can’t help but to stop when they’re driving by. A lot of people are stopping already, and of course they want to see the back. Maybe eventually we’ll have a place where they can see without necessarily interacting; because that’s where I need to focus.”

Note to potential junk donors: Patrick has begun to downsize. “I never thought I’d have so much space, so when we got it, I was completely out of control. I feel like I’m at that place and time where I’ve got enough junk. I just have to organize it.” To that end, he does have help. A “librarian” organizes the thousands of small components that go into the sculptures. “I can say to the librarian, ‘hey, I’m looking for an eyeball,’ and he knows right where to find it because he put it away.”

Renga owner Joe Szuecs acts as Patrick’s manager and intermediary for larger sculpture commissions as well as running the gallery. There’s a gardener and several apprentices who assist with Patrick with the complex logistics of making and transporting the sculptures.

He values the huge contribution of master welder A.J. and, of course, his beloved partner Brigitte who paints every piece.

Brigitte now works out of a well-insulated, brightly illuminated and well-organized studio (complete with espresso machine), which is filled with tools, toys, miscellany, paint and brushes inside a spacious Quonset hut that Patrick found on Craig’s List. He brought it to the property in pieces in a pickup truck and assembled it onsite.

Outside the Quonset hut, overlooking the peaceful view of neighboring farms, is a large covered patio where Brigitte can paint on fair days, and where Patrick

Brigitte now works out of a well-insulated, brightly

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illuminated and well-organized studio… inside a spacious Quonset hut that Patrick found on Craig’s List. He brought it to the property in pieces in a pickup truck and assembled it onsite.

envisions a future outdoor kitchen. He’s in the process of gradually refurbishing and naming the current structures on the property, reversing the effects of long neglect. He uses all recycled materials with one exception: he buys new windows.

Across the way from Brigitte’s studio, in front of storage buildings where metal parts are stacked nearly stories high, is “The Bay Area.” Here Patrick sandblasts metal and on the concrete pad will assemble his most ambitious project to date, a fully operating carousel.

Commissioned by a Canadian developer for a site in Toronto, the carousel will take over two years to build. Torsos of nine of the planned 42 figures depicting native Canadian animals (deer, moose, beavers, Canada geese, chickens—no horses) have already been welded. Patrick hopes that the carousel will be a way to share his political agenda with his future grandchildren: shifting society from a single-use mentality to a more sustainable one. “The challenge for the upcoming generations will be to use stuff appropriately. This carousel will definitely have a green edge.” He imagines them looking at the animals and saying, “They were throwing that away?

“It’s a BIG project. I’ve had to change my lifestyle to take it on. When this thing is done and over, I want to go back to the old Patrick. Sometimes it’s better to do something small and beautiful. Right now there are responsibilities that I didn’t really plan on. I was ready to have a family and I was committed to being a father [his two daughters are now grown], but I don’t know if I want to father THIS project as much as I need to. It’s only because I have a lot of energy and trust in life, that I’m not panicking. I’m only 53. I can han-

dle the pressure for the next few years.

Things are happening very quickly. You dream of things like this.”

We spoke in the cozy cylindrical space he calls “The Board Room” where he likes to meet with clients. “I can isolate everything with people inside this little capsule. There’s nothing in this room I don’t like. It’s all stuff that I found, made, was given to me. Even the spider webs are part of it. There’s a tone here and a light.

I basically built this place only for this. I find that if I can spend an hour [with the client] in here, usually we’re on the same page by the time we walk out that door.

I know that they understand who I am and whatever I do for them is going to be fine. On a sunny afternoon this place is just great. I do have a fireplace for it, but I’m just too lazy to get it hooked up right now.”

Lazy? I told Patrick that no one would ever consider him lazy, and he amended that statement, saying, “I work really hard, but only at things I want to do.”

Above the fireplace mantle, next to the antique barbershop chair where Patrick sits, there is a sculpture of a ship with a captain standing on the deck. It’s in honor of his dad. “Dad was a boat guy, he loved boats.”

If Patrick has one regret, it’s that his father, who died four years ago, didn’t live to see where he is today. When Patrick was growing up in Canada, he was embarrassed when his Dad would talk about him to friends, but his glory was his Dad’s pride in him. “He considered me a genius. Dad always expected to hear about the good years.” But with his current success after the many difficult years, “he would have been flabbergasted.” •

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Homes & Lifestyles 13

Tiny houses are sprouting up across the country, a trend that has inspired two local school programs and is motivating individuals to build their own.

Story by Ray Holley

Photography by Sarah Bradbury

Building Small Living Large I

n the last few decades, the size of American homes has ballooned from an average of 983 square feet in the 1950s to more than double that today. In 2011, according to Census Bureau data, the average newly built American home was 2,480 square feet.

That’s big, and not everyone thinks bigger is better. Whether you call them “Garage Mahals” or “McMansions,” “Starter Castles” or “Hummer Houses,” the tendency to build larger and larger homes has sparked a backlash in the last decade. The idea of a smaller mortgage and fewer chores appeals to some, while others see living in a smaller space as a way to decrease their ecological footprint.

Jay Shafer built his first “tiny house” in 2003, and he’s never looked back. The founder of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, Shafer is a national icon in the small house movement. He was even featured on the cover of Parade Magazine, the venerable Sunday newspaper supplement. He has built, lived in and transported a variety of tiny houses, all sturdily mounted onto highway worthy

14 Spring 2013

trailers, and he writes and lectures regularly on the subject of lessening your ecological footprint by simply taking up less space.

Shafer’s success, coupled with a renewed interest in self-sufficiency, inspires an international community of tiny house builders.

Whether in a tree, in a backyard, or on a trailer, the variety of tiny houses is as diverse as those who build them. In this article we’ll take a look at four building efforts, two of which are taking place at local high schools.

The Eco Action class at Analy High in Sebastopol is led by teacher David Casey, who received a grant from PG&E to begin a tiny house project based on a Tumbleweed design. Casey is taking a philosophical approach to the project, aided and abetted by Bruce Corson, an architect who volunteers in the class.

“I’m interested in how students develop sensibilities in the physical environment, how they deal with ambiguities,” said Corson. “These kids are growing up in a rapid-fire, digital, passive environment. It’s important to notice how they deal with the physical world.”

[ This page ] Healdsburg High School students in the CASA program work on their Epu tiny house, intended for entry into May’s Future Farmers Twilight Parade; inset—Analy High School student Celia Cummings saws lumber for the Tumbleweed tiny house in Analy’s Eco Action class. [ Page 16 ] At Analy High School: left-­­—Maddie Albrandt wields a nail gun; right­—Alexia Moreno measures a length for the saw.

Homes & Lifestyles 15

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Casey and Corson led the Eco Action class through a series of lectures and exercises designed to get them thinking about how much space a person really needs. “They measured their bedrooms and marked them out with tape,” Corson said. “We talked about what is a house and what are our expectations?”

Analy Senior Kaya Ward is enjoying both the practical and thoughtful aspects of the project. “It’s pretty neat to get to build a house and see how it all comes together, and realize that it’s possible to take up a lot less space,” she said.

Unlike many construction classes, Eco Action has plenty of female students.

“It’s a good class for a girl,” said Ward.

“The girls in this class are the creative spirit while the guys do the macho stuff.”

Junior Evan Hill agrees. “I’m learning how to be eco-friendly but also how to hammer nails and stuff.”

Casey has said would like to keep the 150-square foot house, once completed, as a demonstration project on campus, but another option is to sell it and use the proceeds to build another. He hopes to have the shell of the house framed on its trailer in time for the Sebastopol Apple Blossom Festival and expects that it will be finished in the 2013-2014 school year.

If the Analy class focuses on why to build a tiny house, the CASA (Construction and Sustainability Academy) program at Healdsburg High puts a strong emphasis on how. (Full disclosure—the author of this article is a volunteer in the CASA program). CASA students are receiving hands-on training in every aspect of home building except concrete foundations. They have been framing, wiring, plumbing, roofing, and

installing windows and siding. CASA instructor Glen Schaezlin had never taught school when he was hired to lead the CASA program, and his style is more that of a friendly and encouraging crew chief. It’s not uncommon to walk into the shop to the sound of him laughing with a student while exhorting another to “Get your hands out of your pockets and get to work!”

The students like having the opportunity to learn tools and techniques and say they appreciate Schaezlin’s high expectations and devotion to their success.

The CASA program teaches basic green building principles, but really excels in the soft skills employers are looking for, like communication, work ethic and just showing up on time, not always easy for teenagers when the class starts at 8:15 a.m.

The CASA students are building an Epu, an 89-square-foot tiny house on a 14-foot trailer. The Epu will sport a bathroom with toilet and shower, a kitchen, a loft sleeping area, a desk and as much storage as Schaezlin and the students can creatively add.

While the Analy project will be completely “off the grid” with solar panels and a composting toilet, the CASA tiny house will function more like a small mobile home, with an RV style toilet and storage tanks, and a connection that will allow the house to be plugged into an extension cord. Schaezlin expects the Epu to be completed in plenty of time for the annual Future Farmers Fair Twilight Parade in late May, a community institution in Healdsburg.

CASA is primarily funded by community donations. The John Jordan Tiny continues on page 18

Real Estate

Financing: Opportunities and Options

By Exchange Bank

Real estate loans range in size and style to suit the needs of business owners, property owners, and those wanting to enter the market for the first time.

A bank’s home loan expert will find the right option for you. Here are the primary categories of real estate loans:

Home Purchases

Not only for first time home buyers or those trading up to a larger home, these loans can also finance second homes, vacation and investment homes. Qualified borrowers can take

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Refinance

Refinance loans can be used to help with your personal financial goals such as reducing monthly payments, home improvements, educational expenses and more.

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Home equity loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit (also known as HELOCs) are fixed-rate or variable-rate products used for turning some of the available equity in your home into cash. This equity could be used for any purpose you decide, such as home improvements, debt consolidation, vacations, or unexpected expenses.

A trained and experienced mortgage loan officer will take the complexity

and the confusion out of applying for a mortgage by explaining your choices to you in plain terms, and assisting you with any part of the application process you need help with. For many of us, buying a home is the most important purchase we will ever make.

At Exchange Bank we work closely with you to find a financing solution that perfectly fits your needs. We manage our mortgage services prudently and make loan approvals locally. So you can expect dependability and a commitment to you.

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Foundation donated $10,000 to the Epu project, the Healdsburg Kiwanis Club gave $5,000, and there have been numerous other contributions, enough to cover the projected cost of $22,000. The Epu will be sold this summer and proceeds will be used to build another the following year. Pamela Swan, Executive Director of the Healdsburg Education Foundation, which is the fiscal steward for CASA donations, said: “CASA is a model program of student engagement, career skills, and service learning. Our students learn core building principles, craft projects that employ these skills, and then share these with our community.”

Swan notes that a key aspect of the CASA program is industry involvement.

“Our local building trades helped craft the curriculum, are frequent presenters to the class, and assist with complex projects. Through their experience with CASA, our Healdsburg students have not only gained a strong foundation in building skills, but also have become their own community of proactive school citizens, who take pride in their work, their school, and the positive impact they are having in the community.”

The tiny house movement is tight-knit, and Pepper Clark, owner of Bungalow To Go, is an example. In addition to the homes she builds with her husband/ partner Dylan Pankow, she works for Tumbleweed and is currently developing workshops for those interested in building their own.

Clark and Pankow are building their third tiny house, a 24-foot long custom home for a client in Texas. “She wanted a ground floor bedroom, a stacked washer and dryer and more, and we worked it out.” The project will be delivered in April and they will immediately begin their next project. “A woman who bought a set of plans from Tumbleweed will come and live in our guest house on Mill Creek Road and build her own house with our help and using our tools.”

Clark says practicality and passion led her to own her own tiny house company.

“I’ve been obsessed with houses since I was a little girl, but houses of good quality are always so large and not available to people of modest means. Tiny houses are more accessible and practical for the average person who doesn’t want to carry 18 Spring 2013

a mortgage for 30 years.” She was lucky, too. “I started with lots of enthusiasm but very little business experience. I’ve been fortunate to have good friends and get good advice.”

Being a woman is not an anomaly in the tiny house world. Jenine Alexander, formerly of Healdsburg, has built three tiny houses so far. She has always been interested in building. “After high school I worked for Sawyer Construction, which specializes in fine woodwork and custom home building,” said Alexander. “I always dreamt of what my house might look like, taking Inspiration from architecture I saw around me. I had the opportunity to travel for many years and when I returned to Sonoma County the economy was low. I was unable to get my old job working construction because the majority of the crew had been let go for the fall/winter.”

Alexander got a job as a tax preparer and built her first tiny house on a trailer. “This mobile home was the best way for me to use my energy to build. I got to go to my favorite reused building material yards and find pieces to fit my design.

Craigslist and free stuff came in handy— I responded to an ad to take down a chicken coop in Petaluma and with some good friends got the job done— giving us enough lumber to go around.

Being young and single, it was a terrific place to live.”

Alexander built a second house with another tradeswoman, which has been sold, and her third was built on a boat trailer and is currently in use for her art studio. She made videos of her second project, which were posted on YouTube and on websites devoted to the tiny house movement. She was surprised at the reactions to the videos, which varied from “get a job!” to “my closet is bigger than that” to “will you marry me?”

Alexander’s next adventure is a family farm, Wyeth Acres, and a butcher shop which she expects to open in Santa Rosa later this year. Her first tiny house is for sale. More information about that house is available by emailing forsaletinyhouse@gmail.com.

For more information about the tiny house movement, visit: tinyhouseblog. com, tumbleweedhouses.com, and fourlightshouses.com. •

Remodeling Remodeling Made Easy

By David Leff

If you’ve remodeled before, you know it can be complex and you know what aspects you want to avoid. If you’ve never remodeled before, you may not even know where to start. Anticipating all the decisions and details that you will face is exciting but often overwhelming.

So how do you begin, avoid common pitfalls, stay in control of your project, and anticipate next steps with easy calm?

• Interview contractors at length.

Don’t be shy about asking pointed and uncomfortable questions.

• Be aware of the pros and cons of different types of contracting companies.

• Ask for references and call them—lots of them. Ask about what went right and what went wrong.

Find out how it was handled.

• Attend a class or workshop and take advantage of the knowledge in the room. You’ll meet others with different remodeling experiences and gain good insight on what you can expect.

Finally, go for the right fit based on what is truly important to you.

Leff Construction is your one-stop shop for remodeling and home building. Don’t know where to start?

Call us at 707 823-4899 or visit us at www.leffconstruction.com. Attend our free talks on remodeling.

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Fitness

Ready to Run?

By Layne Scoggins, Parkpoint Personal Trainer

So you want to start running...

Excellent! It’s a great cardiovascular workout as well as a great way to sustain or develop bone density. There’s nothing like being outdoors on a sunny day, roaming along your favorite trail, creek path or neighborhood.

Before you head out the door, however, let’s talk footwear. The shoes you wear are a very important part of your running experience. The right shoes can make or break your runs. Great-looking shoes are wonderful, but it’s more important that they fit your foot.

Go to a running store and get fitted for the shoe that fits your style of running. Perhaps you pronate or supinate (roll your ankle in or out). A good running store professional can put you in the right shoe that gives you the best running experience and helps prevent injuries.

And don’t forget: cross training will help you avoid injuries as well.

Getting your running program started will benefit you for many reasons, so get out there! Join a running group, drag along your best friend or just plug in your iPod and venture out into the great outdoors. You won’t be sorry.

Layne Scoggins is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Keiser Indoor Cycling Instructor and USA Triathlon certified.

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HIT THE TRAIL Runners convey the joy of the off-road run and share their favorite trails in Northwest Sonoma County.

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Story by Kimberly Kaido-Alvarez Photography by Sarah Bradbury

As much as I appreciate running the high school track next to my home, with its Astro Turf that adds a little bounce to the stride and neat narrow numbered lanes, I have to be in the mood for it. Honestly, sometimes jogging those monotonous laps leaves me feeling like a mouse in a cage running on a wheel.

Don’t get me wrong—methodical exercise definitely has its place in my life and on certain days there’s nothing more satisfying than counting those laps, knowing exactly where I’m at, how long I have to go, and when I’ll be done.

No surprises.

But then there’s the other side of my personality that finds it oh-so-refreshing to break out of the groove, and that’s when a trail run is in order. It’s a run that makes me feel like I’m getting somewhere (mentally and physically speaking) because I am; it’s not just a circle of repetitive ground that I’m traveling. Not only do I get that sweet endorphin rush that goes along with physical exertion, but it’s amplified by the liberation of a free run on an open trail. Working the body while allowing Mother Nature to penetrate the soul is an added benefit of the off-road running experience, making the health benefits twofold.

In my opinion, one of the best places to run in Sonoma County is underneath the towering, majestic redwoods at Armstrong Woods State Reserve in Guerneville. The air is pristine and you can almost taste the oxygen that is so plen-

tiful there among nature’s largest trees. Armstrong Woods is especially nice on a warm summer day, offering a unique microclimate with cooler temperatures.

I’m not alone in my admiration for Armstrong Woods and on the weekends it’s hard to find a parking spot. “My favorite place to run is Armstrong Woods, because I love the smell of the redwoods and the sounds of the birds,” said Debra Bivens, who will be training in western Sonoma County for the Los Angeles Marathon that she’ll run in March. Like other trails, at Armstrong Woods there are always a few surprises, whether it be squirrels playing and hopping from tree to tree, or Austin Creek running wild after a spring rain.

“I get bored of a straight path, and I like to get off the street and be surrounded by beauty and nature,” explained

For those seeking to abandon the pavement or track, Armstrong Woods State Reserve, and Foothill and Ragle Ranch Regional Parks are only splashes in the huge pool of Sonoma County parks, recreation sites and sanctuaries featuring hiking trails that can double as running trails.

20 Spring 2013

Bivens who values the “hill work” that Armstrong Woods offers.

Taking the East Ridge Trail from the front parking lot is a good bet for the trail runner looking for a moderate challenge; it is approximately a two-mile run. Featuring a 400-foot climb, it eventually connects with Pioneer Trail, taking the runner through the bottom of Armstrong Woods via the Pioneer Trail. But the course can be made more difficult still by connecting with other trails in the park that span longer distances and reach higher elevations.

Three-, five- and nine-mile hikes with climbs of 500, 1,100 or 1,500 feet can satisfy and vary the workout of even professional athletes. But the beginner can also enjoy an easy, flat trail run by taking the Pioneer Trail through the base of Armstrong Woods.

This trail hugs Austin Creek, which flows most months out of the year through the reserve, providing the calming sound of water cascading over rocks.

“Trail running is great training for someone who is planning to run a marathon or long distances,” said USAT Triathlon Coach, Layne Scoggins, who is also a personal trainer at Parkpoint Health Club in Healdsburg. Often those who opt for the trail rather than the treadmill or street, find their minds drifting away from the fact that they’re engaged in exercise. Trees and birds make it so much more enjoyable and divert our attention, making it possible to run or even walk longer distances, explained Scoggins who prefers trail running “any day of the week.”

Trail running works the body in a different way than other forms of running. “We use a lot of side-to-side or lateral movements,”

said Scoggins. Bounding over rocks and avoiding other obstacles like a fallen tree limb on the trail keeps the mind active and often triggers the muscles to act in quick bursts. “It really can work the anaerobic energy system,” explained Scoggins. Training in many sports requires that both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems be developed. While aerobic exercise is great for the cardio workout, anaerobic exercise promotes strength, speed and power while aiding to build muscle mass resulting in greater performance in short duration, high-intensity activities that last from mere seconds to about two minutes.

As one might imagine, the choice of shoe is an important matter for comfort and safety reasons when hitting the trail. “You’ll definitely need a good pair of trail running shoes because it can be easy to slip when going down hills,” said Paula Hardin, trail runner and club manager of Airport Health Club in Windsor. Trail running shoes are uniquely designed for that terrain and have enhanced traction and flexibility.

It’s no secret that every person runs and walks differently. “The best shoe is the one that fits the way you run,” said Scoggins who recommends having a professional analyze the way that an individual runs—his or her foot-strike pattern—before buying a shoe.

“I’ve been running forever and I find that the older I get, the easier trail running is on my body. I can go longer distances and don’t get the jarring,” explained Hardin. Like many others, Hardin also finds trail running more interesting. “You have to pay attention to your footing, and there’s a stability that comes with that,” Homes & Lifestyles 21

she said. Hopping over rocks and running into unexpected obstacles are all part of the trail running experience; the trail constantly changes over time and with each season.

Practicing plyometrics, also known as “jump training,” is a good way to prepare for the trail according to Scoggins. Exercises that demand muscles to exert maximum force in a short period of time, like jumping on and off a box or from side to side, can help

one prepare for the fast reactions that may be necessary on the trail.

Scroggins recommends “starting small” and having a trainer provide a little guidance before trying plyometrics solo.

A few other professional tips for off-road running include taking a buddy and a cell phone, water, bug repellent, and wearing layered clothing. “I love Foothill Regional Park (in Windsor) and feel very safe there. It’s very hilly and [there are] always a lot of people on the trail,” said Hardin, who also runs at Shiloh Ranch Regional Park in Windsor and at Annadel State Park in Santa Rosa.

“At Shiloh [there are] little trails that are off the beaten track,” said Hardin who often takes a friend with her when she runs there.

Friends come in many shapes and sizes and don’t necessarily need to be human. Dogs can be great running partners, inspiring one to go that extra mile or flashing those puppy dog eyes when laziness strikes and the couch is calling. Foothill Regional Park is paradise for pooch and runner, offering multiple trails of varying difficulty. A dog friendly environment, the picturesque trails are thick with groves of oak and manzanita as well as other native plants and some meadow lands. The trees there are particularly exquisite—Mother Nature’s sculpture garden—and the trails loop around three lakes that attract birds and wildlife, adding to the beauty and interest of the landscape.

Also very dog friendly and considered safe and well-populated is Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol. Stands of oak trees prevail there as well, but in this case the water feature is diminutive Atascadero Creek. Blackberry Trail is a local favorite that crosses the creek and presents some nice hills and scenic outlooks.

Stretching a distance of 1.5 miles, the runner can choose to either begin or end in the Peace Garden that is home to a sculpture created by world renowned artist Masayuki Nagase.

For those seeking to abandon the pavement or track, Armstrong Woods State Reserve, and Foothill and Ragle Ranch Regional Parks are only splashes in the huge pool of Sonoma County parks, recreation sites and sanctuaries featuring hiking trails that can double as running trails. As more people look for creative ways to not only establish an exercise regimen, but to also spend a little time in nature, trail running is on the rise. Perhaps no place offers more diversity and options than the rich terrain of Sonoma County. • [ This page ] Above—Debra Bivens crosses a footbridge on her run through Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol; below—Layne Scoggins demonstrates plyometric jumping at Parkpoint Health Club in Healdsburg. [ Page 21 ] Paula Hardin enjoys running the trails at Foothill Regional Park in Windsor.

22 Spring 2013

Interiors A New Home for an Old Friend

TOMBE REALTY 58 Years • Established 1955

By Jennifer Larson

After 48 years at the same location in downtown Santa Rosa, Conklin Bros. Abbey Carpet & Floor decided it was time to move into a larger showroom with free parking.

“We have been improving the look and image of thousands of homes and businesses in Sonoma County for almost five decades,” said Wayne O’Connor, President of Conklin Bros. “It was time for us to enhance our own appearance with a customized, expanded showroom to showcase all our beautiful flooring products.”

The new Santa Rosa location (3780 Santa Rosa Avenue at the corner of East Todd Road) allows Conklin Bros. to display its complete line of the latest fashions in carpet, vinyl, hardwood, laminate, linoleum, and window coverings.

Conklin Bros. boasts unsurpassed experience in every aspect of the flooring industry. It starts with trained, knowledgeable instore staff members who work diligently to understand the needs and budgets of customers to offer the best flooring options. In addition, Conklin Bros. uses only the most experienced flooring installers, who are pledged to maintain the store’s reputation.

Through the years, Conklin Bros. has worked with local contractors on small homes as well as the community’s largest buildings, such as the Santa Rosa JC Library and Kaiser Hospital’s six-story expansion. The company is a member of the North Coast Builders Exchange, Go Local, RERA, and other organizations.

Conklin Bros. is celebrating its new home by having a monthlong customer appreciation sale in April, offering contractor pricing throughout the showroom.

Dick, Linda, Alicia & Chris Pellascini

Representing Sebastopol with Fairness and Integrity for 4 Generations.

127 North Main Street • Sebastopol CA 95472 (707) 823-6475

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