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he weather is great and it’s time to party. Jess Poshepny loves to entertain and invite people into her kitchen and her home, especially during the summer when she brings the party outdoors. Not everyone entertains with ease on the fly, and Jess shares her tips for throwing a summer dinner party “without breaking the bank and so you come out looking like a rock star.” There’s been a lot of press lately about why homeowners should tear out their water-hungry front lawns. But then what? Read Barry Dugan’s story and find out. He and his wife Cathy took the steps necessary to achieve what is now a beautifully landscaped garden with low water-use plants. Reworking your garden won’t take years but it does require thought and planning, and this article guides you through the process. The real estate market in Sonoma County continues to sizzle, which is great if you’re selling and leaving. But what if you want to sell your home and repurchase in the area, to downsize or move closer to town? In Sally Kenvin’s article, local realtors share strategies that may help you decide if you should sell or stay in your existing home – and not give up on finding a new place locally that you love. If you’ve ever been curious about growing bamboo, there’s a 7 ½-acre farm in West County that you will marvel at – as Abby Bard did when she walked among a dazzling array of rainbow-colored canes. Discover how bamboo can transform a space and its many uses, including why you shouldn’t be afraid to use it in landscaping. Have you ever slept on sheets that smell like the sky? Kimberly Kaido-Alvarez writes about the wisdom in of hanging laundry out to dry, a practice that generations have long enjoyed and others have fought for (some places outlaw clotheslines). This story may inspire you to string a line and let it all hang out. Find out if your home could benefit from an energy audit. It takes about four hours for an auditor to specify how to improve your home’s comfort, air quality and energy efficiency. Read more in David Leff ’s article on better home performance. And remember, even though your to-do list may be long, we hope you enjoy some long and lazy summer afternoons.

Patricia M. Roth patti@sonomadiscoveries.com

HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

TABLE of CONTENTS Summer 2014 Editor Patricia M. Roth Design & Production Brent A. Miller Photography Editor Sarah Bradbury

Take The Party Outside …10 Tips to make you shine at your next outdoor gathering

Contributors Abby Bard Barry Dugan Kimberly Kaido-Alvarez Sally Kenvin David Leff Jess Poshepny Publisher Rollie Atkinson Associate Publisher Sarah Bradbury Advertising Director Cherie Kelsay

Sales Manager Paula Wise

Advertising Sales Neena Hatchett Steve Pedersen Carol Rands Graphic Designers Jim Schaefer Deneé Rebottaro

For advertising placement inquiries, email paulawise@hbgtrib.com. Homes and Lifestyles advertising and editorial offices 230 Center St., Healdsburg, CA 95448 P.O. Box 518, Healdsburg, CA 95448 707-838-9211 Homes & Lifestyles is an advertising supplement to the July 10, 2014 issue of Sonoma West Times & News, The Healdsburg Tribune, The Windsor Times and The Cloverdale Reveille. This magazine uses zero Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) 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.

Catch 22 ........................................................................6 The seller’s market for the local seller/buyer

Better Home Performance .................9 How to increase comfort, air quality and energy efficiency

Lose the Lawn, Gain a Garden ......................................................17 A personal gardening adventure by the author and his wife

Bamboo Magic.................................................22 Versatile giant grass has many uses, from landscaping to livestock feed

Reclaiming an American Heritage ..................................... 24 Hanging the clothes out to dry

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real estate

Catch 22 THE SELLERS’ MARKET FOR THE LOCAL SELLER/BUYER

by Sally Kenvin

ccording to the California Association of Realtors, 2013 was the shortest time that homes sat on the market since 2005. Half the homes were on the market for six weeks or less with 25 percent of homes on the market for one to three weeks. The average time on market was 8 ½ weeks compared to 2012 where it was 26 weeks. Although the market has cooled off slightly, it is still a very fluid market. In April 2014, 352 homes were sold in Sonoma County. One hundred fifteen of them were on the market for less than 30 days, 120 were on the market for less than 60 days, and 50 were on the market for less than 90 days. The remaining 67 were on the market for between 91 and 181-plus days. One hundred fifty-two of these homes were sold at prices over $500,000 with 59 of them over $750,000. Adding to the mix is the housing affordability. According to C.A.R., a

HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

combination of continued price increases and relatively higher interest rates during the first quarter of 2014 led to decreased housing affordability in all regions of the state. Home buyers needed to earn a minimum annual income of $86,419 to qualify for the purchase of a $416,720 statewide median-priced, existing single-family home in the first quarter of 2014. In Sonoma County, the median home price in April 2014 was $475,260. Additionally, only 9 percent of homes for sale in Sonoma County were considered distressed properties in March 2014. Seller-Buyer Strategies

That said, how does this affect our local market? What are sellers and buyers experiencing currently? For folks who want to sell their home, stay in the area and either upgrade or downsize, it’s a Catch 22. They can get a great price for their home and usually sell it in a short amount of time, but they then must find a new home in a very

Sally Kenvin is the director of marketing and communications for the North Bay Association of Realtors.

tight market. As a seller who is also a buyer, they are facing bidding wars and escalating prices. Do they sell or do they stay? For example, Sharon Hawthorne, the broker for ASK Realty in Sebastopol, said: “Based on my experience, it appears that many first-time buyers are being priced out of the market largely due to 50-plus-aged buyers with equity built from property elsewhere moving to the area to enjoy the semi-rural lifestyle with the many accoutrements of a city environment. And, as Sonoma County becomes more diverse and sophisticated in its recreational, entertainment and cultural offerings, arts and music venues, wine and fine dining options, the general overall cost-of-living increase that follows prevents many non-professionals from being able to afford living here.” Hawthorne said she recently worked with a local seller who had plenty of equity but not enough income to qualify carrying two mortgages simultaneously. “She borrowed money privately from a friend in advance of finding a property, which allowed her to pay cash for her purchase and get moved out before putting her house on the market,” Hawthorne explained. “The most common successful strategy is, of course, to sell first and rent or move in with family so as to be able to make a non-contingent offer,” she added. A second option is to list one’s property with a caveat worded something like “sale contingent on seller acquiring replacement home,” she explained, “but this is challenging to accomplish in this low-inventory environment where sellers (who might sell to the seller) are not inclined to accept an offer contingent on a sale. Such a listing may also turn many buyers off, since they are anxious about missing out on other possibilities while waiting to find out if the seller can make a deal.” The third possibility is to list with a request for a rent-back. “This only works out for the seller-buyer if they are able to qualify to carry both

mortgages (until the currently owned property sells), and this arrangement can present a problem for their buyer if the rent-back extends long enough to be considered by the buyers’ lender to be a rental property (which typically carries a higher interest rate and requires more expensive insurance),” Hawthorne said. Hawthorne explained that the agent representing a seller-buyer needs to look carefully for the right opportunities where seller and buyer needs (besides price and property amenities) match closely, where their interests overlap in other ways in regard to timing. “So, though it may feel to buyers like sellers are calling the shots, it seems somewhat ironic in the current environment to label this a ‘seller’s market’ for Sonoma County homeowners who also want to re-purchase locally,” she said. Top issues facing local market

During a recent realtor panel discussion on the state of the market, the top three issues affecting the market for local buyers are: • L ow inventory numbers – no place to move for a local seller looking to buy locally • P rices are rising • B uyers are becoming disenchanted and impatient Again, contingency contracts could help, but sellers are not anxious to get into this situation. Currently, the norm is all-cash offers or conventional contracts with no contingencies, which make it hard for someone who needs to sell their home in order to purchase a new home. Additionally, there is a lot of money flowing in from Silicon Valley buyers looking for weekend or second homes. Betty Hagedon, a broker/associate with ReMAX/Full Spectrum in Healdsburg, related, “We recently had a local seller who wanted to list but was fearful due to the competitive market that they could not find a replacement home. Their

home was listed with a rent-back, which allowed them to close escrow, have the peace of mind to still have a place to live and make an offer on a home with no contingencies that did close.” Hagedon has also found that the lower the cost of the home, the more there is a demand for these properties. “Because of the low inventory, it is creating multiple-offer situations. For example, if there is one cash offer, a standard conventional offer with 20 percent down, an FHA/VA offer and a contingency offer, the sellers almost always take the cash offer, as it’s the safe option. Buyers definitely need to be aware that they are competing with other offers. In the higher price ranges ($1 million-plus), the competition is not as fierce as there are not as many buyers.” Some words of advice from Lori Sacco, broker/manager from Vanguard Properties in Sebastopol: “If the local seller can’t arrange for a ‘rent-back’ as part of the contract (so they don’t have to move twice), then they should prepare to rent, possibly live with family or friends for a bit and to move out of their sold home without a certainty of where they are eventually going to settle.” Sacco added, “If you are lucky, you will find your new house first or you will find just the right seller who is patient and willing to accept a contingency offer, but be prepared to offer full price or over-asking price for a seller to consider taking your offer with a contingency contract to sell your home first.” So what is the message for local sellers who want to buy a new home and stay in the area? Based on the input from Sonoma County Realtors, local seller/buyers are probably going to have disappointments, but they shouldn’t give up. Hang tough, be prepared to be creative, act quickly and hope you find the right folks who are patient and willing to work with you. You will find your new home in Sonoma County. HL

HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

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insulation, and the ceiling insulation was therefore held back from the fixtures, causing a large hole in the insulation envelope around each of the fixtures. A good time to replace these old fixtures with airtight, insulation contact (AT-IC) fixtures is when the attic insulation is being replaced or upgraded. Uninsulated floors can be insulated from the crawl space, and uninsulated walls can be filled with cellulose insulation blown under pressure into the wall cavities through small holes drilled and then patched in the siding or through the interior drywall. Installing a vapor barrier over the dirt in the crawl space is a cost effective and simple way to keep ground moisture from entering the crawlspace and then the house Photos by Sarah Bradbury through leaks in the subfloor. Replacing old single-glazed windows will help to reduce heat loss in the winter and keep the house cooler in the summer, but the HOW TO INCREASE COMFORT, AIR QUALITY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY return on the initial investment for window replacement is usually not as high as with by David Leff air sealing or insulation upgrades. The last piece, the replacement of leaking heating and cooling ducts, is not a project for the o house is really green unless An audit will usually include a blower door do-it-yourselfer but it is very itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designed and built (or retest in which the interior of the home important. modeled) to reduce the amount is depressurized and smoke sticks or The Sonoma County of energy it uses, to have good an infrared camera are used to locate David Leff is Energy Independence indoor air quality and to be air leaks and inadequately insulated president of Leff Program distributes funding comfortable to live in. walls and ceilings. A duct blaster is Construction, a to homeowners in Sonodesign/build The use of green materials and installation used to test for leakage in the heating remodeling and ma County who want to of solar energy systems are important and necducts. new home improve the performance of essary but unless the building is properly insuThe good news is that, other than construction comtheir homes. This program lated, with as few air leaks as possible, correctly the installation of PV or solar hot pany in Sebastopol. will finance many energy sized and oriented high-quality windows, and water systems, the things that improve Leff Construction upgrades, including the ones a properly sized and installed heating and the comfort, air quality and energy includes home listed above, either alone or performance work cooling system, it will not meet the standards efficiency of an existing home the as part of a larger remodel, in many of its home of comfort, air quality and energy efficiency. most are things that are the easiest and building and reover a five- to 20-year term Building science has developed procedures least expensive to do. Sealing air leaks modeling projects. with an assessment, includand testing equipment that let a trained energy in the building envelope will have the ing interest, added to the auditor go through a home and, in about four greatest impact for the lowest cost. property tax bill and making hours, locate air leaks, find uninsulated or Every electrical or plumbing penetrathe entire payment tax-depoorly insulated surfaces, test for duct leaks, tion through the floor into the crawl ductible. In addition, a few tax credits still test the air quality, look for moisture problems space or through the ceiling into the attic is a remain from the 2009 federal economic and then produce a report with recommenpotential air leak. stimulus package for energy upgrades to dations for improving energy efficiency and Older recessed light fixtures and ceiling existing buildings. HL environmental quality. fans were not designed to be covered with

Better Home Performance

HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

TAKE THE PARTY OUTSIDE Tips to make you shine at your next outdoor gathering

OW THAT SUMMER’S HERE, IT’S TIME TO GEAR UP FOR OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING. DUST OFF THE TABLES, UNSTACK THOSE CHAIRS, UNCOVER THE BARBECUE, REFILL THE LANTERNS, AND UNPACK THOSE SERVING BOWLS AND SUMMERTIME DINNERWARE. I love to entertain all year-round but my favorite time is the summertime because it stays light longer, the nights are warm, and people are generally in happier moods. People enjoy spending time with their friends outdoors. All you need is some color, delicious foods, great drinks and good conversation. Here are some tips from my kitchen and home, where I entertain often, on how to achieve the perfect wine-country, summer dinner party without breaking the bank and so you come out looking like a rock star.

By Jess Poshepny

HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

THE DECOR

Nothing goes better than wood and color. It’s classic, rustic and so very wine country. I like to use my fiestaware in different shades set on top of a more neutral placemat. Mixing shapes adds depth to your table display, and you end up decorating your table more with the accessories and necessities rather than candles and knick-knacks. Napkin rings add a component of class to the napkin and make for a nice presentation atop the plate, welcoming guests as they sit. Burlap is in and goes with everything. I use my burlap-esque napkin rings with bright-colored napkins or those with a lovely design for a rustic-elegant look. Any sort of brown material or natural-colored beaded ring will do the same trick. With color and added charms on the table, all you really need to include are flowers (if you like).

THE FOOD

Photos by Sarah Bradbury

THE INITIAL CONTACT

Entertaining can be trying at times and a bit overwhelming because it feels like work. Being a host or hostess is not an easy task – you must do so many things: welcome your guests, greet them with a drink (knowing what each one likes is a plus), take their coats and leave them in a common place for later, make those who have not been to your home welcome and comfortable by showing them where the restroom is and introducing everyone. Make no assumptions; give everyone the information they need when coming into your home. I will leave a sign on the front door if we are out back entertaining guests already and explain what gate to use when entering. I will show my company to the restroom as I explain where to leave their belongings.

THE ATMOSHERE

Create a common space for people to gather and hang out while the cooking is being done. People are drawn to the kitchen so an island around the chef with small bites or a cheese board is an easy way to get everyone engaged. The barbecue is also where people like to congregate. Cooking is part of the entertainment. This also gives you, the host, the extra time you need to prepare dinner while engaging with your guests. Make sure everyone knows one another. A huge tip: I know all of my guests and when I have people over who do not know each other, I find a commonality between them: their job, a marathon they both ran, etc., so they can create conversation. This also allows me (the hostess) time to check the oven, chop something or powder my nose.

HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

My favorite things to cook are those I can prepare mostly ahead of time, like fish tacos. Use any sort of diced-up, cooked fish that you have left over, add in some fresh bay shrimp, and top it with a nice mango, carrot and red cabbage slaw. It’s fresh, it’s simple, and all you cook with the guests there are the mini corn tortillas! Top it with a little crème fraîche and you have a delicious masterpiece. I love to grill, and the smell of fresh veggies and meat on the grill, well, there’s nothing better. Your friends love it when you “wow” with creativity. I love to slice hearts of romaine in half and place inside down on the grill for just a little over a minute and then top it with Point Reyes Original Blue or Humboldt Fog cheese, kalamata olives, red onion and champagne vinaigrette. It’s savory, warm and fresh. Another great idea is a single dish meal that is easily thrown in the oven (after a hour or more of preparation obviously) and left alone until time to serve. This allows more entertaining time without interruption.

THE DRINKS

Summertime means refreshing cocktails and wine. I love serving color so rosé is right up my alley. Even for the non-wine connoisseur, a rosé is light, crisp, smooth and filled with flavors of kiwi and berries – things all enjoy. I always put a water carafe on the table with some local fresh herbs and citrus. It’s soothing, tasty and looks nice on the table. Rosemary sprigs with slices of mango also look nice; with a few slices of lime you have texture and great flavor as well as the most important aspect: color. I am a sucker for the aperitif, which, of course, is consumed before dinner. Long ago and more recently, the traditional aperitif has become more popular. My very favorite, Fernet Branca, can be mixed with other bar staples to make quite-the-desired refreshing summer cocktail. Fernet and many of the other popular aperitifs are bitters and not so desired by most people, so it’s important to mix with the right beverage and fruit or citrus. I love to serve a campari and ginger ale with two limes: a traditionally classic cocktail. Fernet Branca is great mixed with equal parts campari, shaken together with fresh-squeezed orange, topped with soda, and served with an orange slice. With so many of my friends loving all sorts of different drinks and cocktails, I always have a variety of craft beer on hand as well. The Daytime IPA from local producer Lagunitas or the California Common from St. Florian’s are always a part of my bar choices.

LIGHTS OF THE PARTY

Everyone is attracted to light – and if you’re planning an outdoor get-together this summer, illuminating the open air will add a touch of wonder to your space, like on starry nights. As kids, we used to catch fireflies in jars, watch them flicker, then release and watch them flash away. Another friend used to lay fireflies on her finger to make diamond engagement rings with their lights. That seems a romantic notion now, but somewhere east of us a sunburned kid is chasing lightning bugs. Hanging outside during the summer is a joy – and bringing whimsy and warmth to your patio, porch or backyard can be done easily with the soft glow of outdoor lights. Not just for Christmas anymore, they’re easy to find in local craft, home décor, hardware or floral stores, and online. String lights are versatile and can be hung just about anywhere. They are available in various fabrics, sizes and shapes: white organza stars, purple grape clusters, brushed bronze metal with cut-out shapes, red chile peppers, flowers, butterflies, birds, bugs, colored balls or tiny white lights. String globe lights from side to side of a dining area to create a café atmosphere, or use rope lights to line railings, twirl up tree trunks or around gazebos and down garden trails. Miniature lights come in short and long strings with different bulb styles and can be strung just about anywhere. Paper globe lanterns are also perfect for summer. Consider using LED lights. They emit less heat and use less energy than conventional bulbs. Along with string and rope lights, you can get LED candles and lanterns to group on tables. After your outdoor party’s over and you turn off the lights, take a moment and look up in the sky. While you won’t find a lightning bug here in the west, you just might see a falling star. –Patricia M. Roth

HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

GRILLED ROMAINE SUMMER SALAD The Italian in me rarely uses a recipe only because sometimes all you need is “a little of this and a little of that.” This recipe can be changed in so many ways by adding a different kind of salt, such as black salt or fleur de sel, or even adding sliced pear to the top. Here is how I like to present this. For a party of eight: 4 hearts of romaine cut in half ½ red onion thinly sliced 2 cups seedless kalamata olives sliced in half, long ways I 6-ounce block of Point Reyes Blue (to be used as much or as little as you’d like) I bottle of Girard’s Champagne vinaigrette Take sliced onion and drizzle the champagne vinaigrette over it and set aside. This will minimize the potency of the onion. On a hot grill place the hearts face down until lightly charred, roughly 1-2 minutes depending on the heat of the grill. Plate the hearts face up, one per plate, and crumble the blue cheese on top right away to allow it to melt in between the leaves. Place the red onion and kalamatas on top and then drizzle the champagne vinaigrette all over. Finish with a few more crumbles of the blue cheese as a garnish. This is so colorful and unique, it will not need anything more on the plate for garnish. Note: Some guests do not prefer blue cheese. A great substitute is Humbolt Fog: it will crumble and has a slight “blue cheese” coloring but it’s goat’s milk with a grape-leaf dust in between, so it’s perfect for wine country.

Photo by Jess Poshepny

THE MUSIC

It can be an easy task picking out the music but it’s truly an important piece of the puzzle when having people over. I like to pick music that people cannot really sing along to because it can be distracting, and it’s nice to have everyone chat with each other. My favorites are the Buena Vista Social Club and Cabana Beach Club. These are great stations to put on Pandora. Once dinner is over and everyone is having fun and just socializing (because now they know each other better), I put on something age-appropriate: classic rock, oldies but goodies, or something similar.

SHOP LOCAL

Dinner parties are fun and, in the grand scheme of things, pretty simple to put on. With some of these tips and easy-to-make dishes, you can throw a fun, wine country dinner party for your friends on the fly or pre-planned. Remember to always shop local and buy local for all of your summertime entertaining fun. We have so many wonderful farmers markets for produce and a wide variety of local wineries that sell some pretty fantastic rosés to showcase. Cheers! HL

HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

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then consulted several landscape contractors. The next step was without question the most important of the entire process: Choosing the right landscaper. We interviewed three landscape contractors/designers. We solicited bids and got some preliminary drawings from a few of those. None of them bowled us over. That’s when we called Jani Weaver, owner of Garden Weaver Designs. She came over for a consultation one evening and we knew immediately that we liked her, that she was very knowledgeable about plants and gardens, and we knew we could work with her. We drove by several front yards she had designed and installed and liked what we saw. At first, I was somewhat reluctant Photos by Sarah Bradbury to hire Jani because she doesn’t provide plans, and she was a little vague about an estimate. “I don’t draw plans,” Jani said in a recent interview after our garden was completed. “I work conceptually. I have the ability to see a garden and see what you can do with it. Nine times out of 10 my original idea is the best idea, in my mind and the customers’ mind. I work organically.” A PERSONAL GARDENING ADVENTURE BY THE AUTHOR AND HIS WIFE My apprehension with an unstructured plan was not unusual, she said. “Many Story by Barry Dugan people are not comfortable with that, they want a drawing,” said Jani. “Drawings are hortly after we moved into our to keep a seldom-used lawn green. time-consuming and they are expensive new home we knew that the My wife, Cathy, and I spent many and inevitably they get changed as the front yard garden was not long hours discussing what we each enviprocess evolves. So you have for this world. The old mulberry sioned for the yard. We walked the this expensive drawing that tree provided wonderful shade neighborhoods surrounding ours in isn’t what happens in the “We work together on hot summer days, but its roots were rotting Montgomery Village in Santa Rosa. end. Some people are buying and decide where and it was nearing its end. The lawn, and I use I had in mind a rock-strewn, rolling a plan and hiring someone the garden needs to that term loosely, was in a sorry state. Years of landscape of succulents and sage, to come in and plant it. That be quiet and where neglect, patches of bare ground and the invasomething like a coastal hillside with stifles any creativity. We it needs to be a little sion of crab grass made it a painful experience a hint of desert. Her vision includdon’t do that.” louder. It’s not just to turn on the sprinklers; we were throwing ed more trees, and graceful flowing The Process precious water on a lost cause. groundcover cascading over rock walls. this static thing.” Once we hired Jani, we So we started saving for the day when Neither of us got those things, but we Jani Weaver started killing the lawn we’d do what any water-conscious Californian did get exactly what we wanted, a garand had the mulberry tree would do: Tear out the turf and plant low-waden we both love, that fits our home, removed, along with a ter plants. Two years later, and three years into our tastes and ultimately our budget. privet that was on a side one of California’s worst droughts in recorded How did we achieve that? I won’t yard. Killing the lawn, for history, we know we made the right decision say it was easy, but it was always interus, involved using an herbicide and going and now have a beautifully landscaped garden esting; and once we made the decision to get through several cycles of what is known as in our front yard that we can enjoy without usunder way, it was a great adventure. We drew the live-kill cycle of spraying, watering the ing thousands of gallons of water each month up our own sketch of what we wanted and

Lose the Lawn, Gain a Garden

HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

Top left: Pavers were used to replace the cracked concrete driveway. Top right: Dwarf conifers (like this Sherwood Compact Mugo Pine) play key roles in the overall design of this garden. Bottom right: A variety of plant types with different sizes and colors were used, emphasizing the importance of having a large palette of plant materials from which to choose.

lawn and respraying, to ensure it was dead. There are other options, including mulch and cardboard and digging out the turf, but those weren’t ideal for our situation. We did take advantage of a city program that paid us to remove our lawn. Several communities in Sonoma County have similar programs, so it’s worthwhile to find out what is required. In Santa Rosa, it was a simple process that was worth the time we spent on it. Once the lawn was dead and the tree removed, the real work started. Jani gave us some books to read and we started researching plants we liked and drove or walked by dozens of gardens. We visited nurseries and tree farms; we made lists. We discovered the world of dwarf conifers and agonized over which specimens to buy and how many we could plant. We ended up with five conifers, two maples and many other plants we had not been familiar with previously. “It’s important to get a sense of what you like,” she said. “It’s very personal. It’s an aesthetic. Does the garden speak to you?” Originally, we didn’t plan to remove the badly cracked concrete driveway because it was not in our budget. It was explained to us very tactfully that once we had this beautiful new garden in place, we’d still have this incongruent eyesore of a driveway. Our scouting expeditions included looking at various styles of pavers and other surfaces. We decided on pavers for the driveway – a decision we did not regret. On the first day of work Jani and her three-man crew showed up and they started the “rip and tear” process of clearing the dead turf and loosening the soil. Then they started on the “hardscape,” laying out the paths and locating planting areas. “You garden off the hardscape and you take this whole big piece of real estate in front of the house and you have to have it make sense,” she said. “When someone wants to tear out their front lawn I ask them, what is this front yard for? Is it curb appeal? Roses? Vegetables? Everyone has their dream about what front yards are for them. People have to look at their lives and decide what they want.” While the foundation of our vision of rock walls and mounds was being shaped by the crew, Jani was out buying plants, trees, and shrubs, based on our discussions with her and how the paths and mounding were evolving.

HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

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A simple rock wall was used to set off the planted area from the sidewalk and highlights the trees and plants.

She also spent time selecting rocks based on our discussions about sizes and shapes, and a couple of semi-circular rock walls evolved out of those talks. Her crew was amazing; they worked quickly but were never in a hurry. They interpreted Jani’s vision into reality. They bent steel borders into graceful curves and placed – and replaced – rocks in just the right spot. “It’s very much like a choreographed ballet,” said Jani. “They work like an experienced team.” After the ground was prepared and topsoil delivered, the plants started being placed — not planted — but placed in certain spots to see if the placements were working. “The plants need to fit culturally,” said Jani. “They need to look like they belong with each other. If you (or your contractor) don’t know your plant material, you won’t know that. For instance, you don’t plant lavender under a Japanese maple tree, because culturally they don’t speak to each other. You have to have a large plant-material palette.” If anyone has a large palette, it’s Jani. But she didn’t take over the process. We collaborated. As plants were unloaded and temporarily placed, we all stood back and talked about where we thought they belonged. We discussed how much the low rock walls should curve and where the maple trees would go. “I work collaboratively,” said Jani. “We work together and decide where the garden needs to be quiet and where it needs to be a little louder. It’s not just this static thing. It has to live in this

neighborhood with people walking by. The whole thing about sustainability is planting the right thing for the right place.” Our garden is low-water, but the first year even drought-resistant plants need to be watered. “Plants are not drought-tolerant until they are established,” said Jani.

RESOURCES Sonoma Marin Saving Water Partnership savingwaterpartnership.org Town of Windsor/Windsor Pays ci.windsor.ca.us

BambooSourcery.com 666 Wagnon Road, Sebastopol

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About a week after the process started, the vision was taking shape. The maples were in place, the conifers placed strategically, and the groundcover placed in well thought-out intervals, and in odd numbers. There are no rows of soldiers in our garden. In our sidewalk planter strip we opted for small gravel, accentuated by series of river rocks. Just as Jani had intended, the plants speak to each other. No plant is fighting for attention, but there are a variety of shapes, colors, heights and densities each playing a role. And they talk to each other. During the preparation and installation process, we couldn’t wait for Jani and her crew to show up each day. It was a delight to watch them in action, the give-and-take between her and the workers, consulting on the curve of a border or placement of a boulder. We stayed out of the way, but still stayed involved. We were part of the team, but left the heavy lifting to the professionals and marveled at their handiwork. “I love my job,” said Jani. “I love to watch the transformation of a garden and have it come to life in my mind and then see it take shape in the ground.” There are different levels of expertise when considering a garden contractor. There are landscape architects (most expensive), landscape contractors (construction) and garden designers, who tend to be “painting the picture.” She notes that finding the right person to design and install your garden is an important decision. “Ask friends, walk around neighborhoods,” Jani advises. “See their work. It’s a personal relationship. You should ask yourself, who do you want to spend your time with and who do you want to give your money to?” With the drought reaching historic proportions, plenty of lawns are being pulled out. That’s a good thing, but you also have to have an idea for what to do after that. And for many of us, the key is finding the right person with which to consult on such an important project. “You don’t just take a huge piece of lawn and tear it out and then throw plants at it. It’s not just digging a hole and planting a plant, it’s much more than that,” said Jani. “It’s the use of the garden and the practicality of it. You want to work with someone who understands the breadth and width of all the things that come up.” HL

NURSERIES UTILIZED by Jani Weaver

Emerisa Gardens, Santa Rosa Pond and Garden, Cotati Urban Tree Farm, Fulton Sweet Lane Wholesale Nursery, Santa Rosa Landscapes Unlimited, Inc., Petaluma Vine and Branches Wholesale Nursery, Windsor Peacock Horticultural Nursery, Sebastopol

THE DUGANS’ PLANT LIST TREES Cercis Canadensis, ‘Eastern Redbud’ Acer j. Aconitifolium, ‘Fernleaf Fullmoon Maple’ Acer p. ‘Red Dragon,’ Red Lace Leaf Japanese Maple Compact Dwarf Conifers Sherwood Compact Mugo Pine Pinus thunbergii Thunderhead Pinus mugo ‘Jakobsen’ Meyers Dwarf Greek Fir Cedrus deodora ‘Prostrate Beauty’ PLANTS Daphne odora ‘marginata,’ Winter Daphne Daphne x t. ‘Eternal Fragrance’ Ilex C. ‘Sky Pencil Japanese Holly’ Cordyline x ‘Jurred,’ Festival Grass Nandina domestica ‘Monfar,’ Sienna Sunrise, Heavenly Bamboo Liriope spicata ‘Silver Dragon’ Arctostaphylos ‘Emerald Carpet’ Chilean Guava Cape Rush Reed Agave ‘Blue Glow’ Drimys Lanceolata ‘Tasmanian Pepper Bush’ Garrya elliptica ‘Evie,’ Silk Tassel Bush Carex ‘Berkeley Sedge’ Leucadendron ‘Winter Red’ Lorapetalum ‘Pipa’s Red’

SCEIP FINANCING

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gardens

Left to Right: Pleioblastus viridistriatus or “Dwarf Greenstripe” generally grows three feet tall but can grow twice that; bamboo gate; Joe Ruffatto, owner/ operator of Bamboo Sourcery Nursery and Gardens, standing in a grove of Phyllostachys bambusoides. Photos by Sarah Bradbury

Bamboo Magic VERSATILE GIANT GRASS HAS MANY USES, FROM LANDSCAPING TO LIVESTOCK FEED

by Abby Bard

fell in love with bamboo on a 3-day trek in Northern Thailand some years ago. Stopping for lunch one day in a poppy field, Chan, our trek leader, brewed tea for the group by pouring boiling water into a length of thick bamboo and serving it in freshly cut bamboo cups. Later that evening, after following narrow trails up and down the mountains through bamboo forests, we arrived at a village and were shown to our lodgings. I took off my boots, rolled out my sleeping bag on the woven bamboo floor and stretched out, gazing up at the ceiling, a lattice of bamboo poles, thatched with bamboo leaves. Chan made rice for dinner over a charcoal fire, using water that had been piped into the village from a mountain spring through a series of split bamboo troughs. Before I left Thailand I sent home a collapsible umbrella for my garden, made of painted cotton stretched over a frame of woven thin strips of bamboo. The cotton eventually deteriorated from the elements, but the framework remained intact. Bamboo is actually an evergreen giant grass, common in tropical areas around the world, particularly in Asia and Central and South America. A native North American variety called “canebreak” grew widely in

HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

Mississippi and other southern states, and it is now a threatened species. In our part of the world, versatile bamboo has found its way into our homes as window coverings, flooring, fencing, basketry and kitchen tools; but, despite its beauty and variety, homeowners have been hesitant to welcome it for landscaping. A West County treasure

Jennifer York and her husband Joe Ruffatto, owners of one of the largest collections of bamboo in the country, Bamboo Sourcery in Sebastopol, are well aware that bamboo has gotten a bad rap as a landscaping plant. That’s why education is a big part of their business. “People believe if you plant it, you’re doomed,” laughed York. York grew up surrounded by bamboo. Her father, Gerald Bol, a long-time collector and past president of the American Bamboo Society, turned his passion into a nursery in 1982. After he died in 1996, York took over the business. Now she and Ruffatto run it together, combining her background as an environmental educator with his 30-plus years of experience as a contractor. Most of their customers are homeowners looking for the natural screening

VISIT A BAMBOO FARM Bamboo Sourcery 666 Wagnon Rd. (off Bodega Highway) Sebastopol, CA Appointments recommended: 707-823-5866 bamboosourcery.com West County Oasis Bamboo Garden 3525 Stonypoint Rd. Santa Rosa 707-585-7415 westcountybamboo.com LEARN MORE American Bamboo Society 315 South Coast Highway 101, Suite U PMB 212 Encinitas, CA bamboo.org

that bamboo provides. In an urban setting, where houses are close and neighboring windows face each other, choose a variety to plant between your house and the neighbor’s that is tall enough to provide privacy while still allowing the light to come in the windows. You could also plant it on two adjacent sides of a patio for a quiet, peaceful corner. If you like an outdoor shower in the hot months, bamboo makes a perfect enclosure to surround a flagstone and gravel shower deck, absorbing the shower runoff. It’s also useful as a windbreak or a screen on the street side of a house to mute the sound of traffic, or to separate a workshop or garage from the living areas of a home. Some customers want to use bamboo for crafts, others are interested in providing feed for livestock, and some come from all over the world just to study the more than 300 varieties that are grown at Bamboo Sourcery. Selecting bamboo

Bamboo canes have a variety of formations (some solid and some hollow) and a veritable rainbow of colors. The species determines the size, with the culms popping out of the ground at the diameter that the mature canes will have, shooting up to their full height in a couple of months. The leaves also have distinctive shapes and growth habits. It’s fascinating to stroll through demonstrations gardens on the 7½-acre, pesticide- and herbicide-free property. York and Ruffatto want the customer to have a successful experience with bamboo; they’d rather not sell something that’s not appropriate for the space. To help customers make their selection, Ruffatto will ask: “How much room do you have? What’s the temperature range? How tall do you want it to be? What cane color are you looking for? How bushy do you want it to be?” What is key is sizing the bamboo for the space – and leaving room for maintenance. Certain types of bamboo need to be contained; there are rhizome barriers and planter boxes constructed specifically for bamboo. A couple of years ago I attended a day-long, hands-on workshop at Bamboo Sourcery taught by architect Darrel DeBoer that introduced the principles of working with this versatile, renewable material. York and Ruffatto plan to invite him back soon. In the meantime, his book, “Bamboo Building Essentials,” is available in the office. Office manager Judy Gann will help you find the appropriate books and tools you need for working with bamboo and provide price lists for all the plants available. It’s best to make an appointment so Ruffatto or nursery propagator Vince Scholten can answer your specific questions, but feel free to drop in during business hours and browse. The farm is kid-friendly and pet-friendly, so you’re welcome to make your visit a family event. HL

“Bamboo enhances and transforms gardens into peaceful sanctuaries of light, movement, sound and space, touching our spirits and stirring our souls. Bamboo can beguile and possess. You may shortly find yourself becoming ensnared with ‘Bamboo Magic.’” Gerald Bol, Bamboo Sourcery founder

(clockwise from top): Phyllostachys bambusoides or “Slender Crookstem” often grows with marked zig-zags or S-curves in the lower part of the culm and is one of the tallest growing bamboos in northern California; self-serve retail area where customers can read plant descriptions before buying; Chimonocalamus fimbriatus, a clumping bamboo of medium height, has canes that turn butterscotch to mahogany color and small spiked nodes.

HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

RECLAIMING AN AMERICAN TRADITION HANGING THE CLOTHES OUT TO DRY

hen a red, white and blue flag dances in the wind on a warm summer day, around the fourth of July, more than a few American hearts melt. Reminded of simple ideals and endless possibility, visions of “living the dream” on a little piece of property “in the land of plenty” may come to mind. Maybe there’s an apple pie sitting on the kitchen table and a woman out in the backyard next to the garden with a basket of clean clothes, hanging crisp white sheets on a clothesline while playful kids run wild and free. Bringing back a few key elements of the self-sufficient pioneer spirit could do America some good and help preserve valuable resources for the next generation. Hanging out the clothes to dry this summer might be a logical step in the right direction. “People are finally getting it that we need to do this,” said local clothesline activist Laura Shafer (linedry.com). It was in the early 1970s that Shafer began crusading for the clothesline cause, but her intentions were not only driven by a strong commitment to Mother Earth but also a quest to preserve personal rights. Believe it or not, clotheslines are prohibited in quite a few living situations.

By Kimberly Kaido-Alvarez

HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

LINEDRY.COM’S TIPS & TRICKS FOR HANGING OUT It is air and wind as much as sun that dries clothes. Shade dry for best results on man-made fabrics. Plant wonderful smells near your lines, lavender and lemon verbena and thyme. Turn most clothing inside out to prevent fading and for faster drying of pockets and seams. Shade-dry silk and fine fabrics. Linen in hot sun = less wrinkles. Hang T-shirts upside-down. Use hangers for button shirts, or hang from collar points. Give all items a good snap when hanging up, which will help prevent stiffness (especially on towels), and again when removing. This softens fabric and removes any creatures or tree bits, also cuts down on wrinkles. If clothes or towels are still too stiff or slightly damp, throw ’em in the dryer for a few minutes. It will still save you lots on your energy usage. If using plastic pins, do not leave on the line permanently and use caution as some varieties have been known to weaken with age and sun and can break under spring tension, causing sharp fragments to go into the eye when using. Wood lasts a long time if taken off-line. When hanging fitted sheets, fold elastic in around edges and hang over line with pins at folded edges. Find an outdoor dryer and hanging style that suits you. It is a matter of taste in any case.

HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

Photo by Laura Shafer

Once the invention of the dryer went public in the 1940s, it eventually became an economic status symbol to have one and no longer was fashionable to hang the clothes out to dry on a clothesline. An association with poverty and clotheslines is a prejudice that still lives in the minds of some people; in many gated and retirement communities, condominiums, apartment complexes and mobile home parks, clotheslines are restricted or banned to this day. “The fear is that an apartment complex may look like a slum if clothes are allowed to be hung out to dry, but I think we should be proud of it,” said Shafer, who noted that with global warming issues, an act like hanging out the clothes should

be respected and encouraged by society and its leaders. “We’re trying to get the White House to put up a line,” added Shafer. Times have changed since Shafer started her activism, and organizations like Project Laundry List have worked for years to educate the public on the benefits of this act. Their website provides an online source of information about the topic. “The laundry line is a simple, straight-forward, low-tech solution to saving energy,” said Ryan Johnston, homegrown program coordinator for Daily Acts, a Sonoma County environmental education program. Going outside to hang the clothes on a line means getting in touch with weather patterns and the landscape.

Celebrate the Arts SALUTING SONOMA COUNTY ARTISTS

Jerry Takigawa, False Food #3

“What we’ve found to be part of the larger environmental problem is a lack of connection with nature,” said Johnston, who feels like hanging the clothes out to dry daily might begin to reestablish simple bonds with the great outdoors. Shafer’s home clothesline design is a prime example. She’s planted a garden around it, and various flowers and herbs make the chore enjoyable for her. “I purposely hang my pillowcase over a lemon verbena,” said Shafer. If you’ve ever taken a whiff of this plant it would be easy to understand why; it’s incredibly fragrant. The scents of other herbs and flowers also creep into the fibers of the fabrics on the line, creating original fresh scents that no chemical fabric softener can duplicate. Shafer has unique ideas for constructing clotheslines and made a little side business of setting up clothesline systems for others. One of her signature designs involves the upscale of an old canvas umbrella. “Instead of throwing these away, they can be made into an attractive clothesline,” Shafer explained. “It used to be that you couldn’t find clotheslines and accessories at a hardware store,” Shafer said, but no longer. Today there is a wide selection at local hardware stores. Sebastopol Hardware Center carries all the basic necessities for building a clothesline. Natural fiber cotton rope of different lengths and strengths are available as well as clothesline spreaders that keep multiple clotheslines from tangling with one another. Lines made from synthetic materials designed to be non-staining and mildew-resistant are also on display, and they even have old-fashioned wash boards for those interested in putting not only the dryer but the washer to rest on a warm summer day. “We get a good amount of people coming in looking for clotheslines,” said Peggy Marsh-Arreguin, assistant manager of Garrett Hardware in Healdsburg. Various clothesline styles, like retractable and pole styles are in stock, along with accessories like clothespins, clothespin holders and pulleys. This local hardware store that prides itself on customer service hires individuals who are ready and willing to help with a multitude of projects, clotheslines included. “If someone does not know the answer to a question, they will find someone else who does,” explained Marsh-Arreguin. According to Project Laundry List: “If all Americans who currently do not use a clothesline started to use one for 10 months of the year, we could avoid 12 million metric tons of carbon monoxide from entering the atmosphere.” Getting started is perhaps the hardest part but, then again, blazing a trail for the good of the next generation is something that Americans just might eagerly roll up their sleeves to do. HL

ALL YOU NEED TO STAY TUNED TO THE LOCAL ART SCENE, EVERY MONTH. The Healdsburg Tribune The Windsor Times

Celebrating 150 Years for CA State Parks 50 Years for Austin Creek SRA Support Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods! Events take place at Armstrong Redwoods and Austin Creek SRA

Sat, July 12, 2014 - Art in the Park Noon to 5, Art Exhibit & Sale • FREE Admission • Wine/Beer tasting Music • Food

Sat, Aug 2, 2014 - Sunset Dinner 5:00 pm, Austin Creek Gourmet dinner w/wine pairings Tickets and menu online - $100 per person

Sat, Sept. 13, 2014 - Old Grove Festival Mother Hips - “California Soul” Opener: Midnight North Armstrong Redwoods Forest Theater Gates open at 4:30 pm, Adults $25, $40 or $60 Child free w/paying adult, food and beverages for sale

Visit www.stewardscr.org for details (707) 869-9177 • stewards@stewardcr.org HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

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July 6 FREE FOOD PRESERVATION CLASS 6 p.m. Learn how to freeze, can, pickle and dry berries, stone fruit and vegetables. Instructor Wendy Krupnick keeps a year-round garden and has preserved food for her own use and to give as gifts for many years. All canning supplies available at discount after class. Sebastopol Hardware, 660 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol. 823-7688. July 19 WOOD-FIRED MAKER DINNER 6 p.m. Sit at the table with makers of this feast and enjoy a rustic, seasonal menu created in a wood-fired oven by Rustic chef Anne Cornel. Includes local cheeses and wines from MacPhail Family Winery. $69. relishculinary.com.

July 26 WEST COUNTY COMMUNITY SEED EXCHANGE Work party. 9-10:30 a.m. Seed library, 9-11 a.m. Free workshops, 11 a.m.-noon. Get free seed, learn what varieties are growing and why. St. Stephen’s Church, 500 Robinson Rd., Sebastopol. westcountyseedbank.blogspot.com.

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August 9 HEALDSBURG ZUCCHINI FESTIVAL 8:30-10:30 a.m. Zucchini contests and car races. Healdsburg Farmers Market, North and Vine streets. healdsburgfarmersmarket.org.

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SHOP WITH THE CHEF & COOKING DEMO 9 a.m.-noon. Chefs introduce you to farmers who grow food for their creations. Donna Del Rey of Relish Culinary will have samples at around 10:45 a.m. Healdsburg Farmers Market, North and Vine streets. relishculinary.com, healdsburgfarmersmarket.org. August 10 WINDSOR ZUCCHINI FESTIVAL 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Car races for kids, contests with cash prizes, chef demonstration and country games. Windsor Town Green, downtown Windsor. windsorfarmersmarket.com.

August 10 WINDSOR ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLE SHOW 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Antiques, vintage and retro collectibles from the last century. Chair caning demo and free on-site appraisals by Eagle Estates. Windsor Town Green, downtown Windsor. windsorfarmersmarket.com. August 15 ON THE FARM: DRY CREEK PEACH WITH CHEF JOHN ASH 5:30-8:30 p.m. Farmers Gayle and Brian Sullivan lead a tour of their organic farm. Chef John Ash weaves Dry Creek peaches throughout the savory and sweet four-course menu. J. Rickards wines. (Event repeats Sept. 5) $144. Dry Creek Peach and Produce, Healdsburg. relishculinary.com. August 16-17 OCCIDENTAL ARTS AND ECOLOGY CENTER FALL PLANT SALE 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Keep your garden going all winter with heirloom, open-pollinated and organic plants, including beautiful and often-rare varieties. Bring boxes. Nursery. 15290 Coleman Valley Rd., Occidental. Nursery, 874-9591; OAEC office, 874-1557 x101, oaec.org. August 16 OPTIMIZING YOUR GARDEN IN A DROUGHT YEAR Sonoma County Master Gardeners Food Gardening Specialists will help you do a mid-season assessment of your garden. They will discuss managing pests and insects, succession planning, weed control and other aspects of successful gardening. 484-3613. August 17 OCCIDENTAL ARTS AND ECOLOGY CENTER TOUR 2:30 p.m. See the land, community and gardens. Hilly terrain. Sturdy shoes, brimmed hat, weather-appropriate clothing and water bottles recommended. 15290 Coleman Valley Rd., Occidental. Nursery, 874-9591; OAEC office, 874-1557 x101, oaec.org.

(area code 707 unless otherwise noted)

Custom Framing with a commitment to quality

1067 Vine Street | Healdsburg August 24 OAEC PLANT SALE AND TOUR 1-2:30 p.m. oaec.org. August 30 WEST COUNTY COMMUNITY SEED EXCHANGE See July 26. WestCountySeedBank.blogspot.com. September 5 ON THE FARM: DRY CREEK PEACH WITH CHEF JOHN ASH 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. See Aug. 15. relishculinary.com. September 6 LANDSCAPE STRATEGIES FOR DROUGHT AND BEYOND. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sonoma County Master Gardener free library workshop. Healdsburg Regional Library, 139 Piper St., Healdsburg. sonomamastergardeners.org. VEGETABLES FOR FALL 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sonoma County Master Gardener free library workshop. Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library, 6250 Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park. sonomamastergardeners.org. WONDERFUL WORLD OF WORMS 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sonoma County Master Gardener free library workshop. Windsor Regional Library, 9291 Old Redwood Hwy. Bldg. 100, Windsor. 565-2608. SANTA ROSA IRIS SOCIETY RHIZOME SALE 9 a.m-3 p.m. Rhizomes available that will bloom into just about any color you would wish for. Demos on dividing rhizomes and the planting and care of iris. Luther Burbank Art and Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa. 433-8633. September 7 OAEC TOUR & OPEN NURSERY 1-2:30 p.m. oaec.org.

WINDSOR TOMATO & PEPPER FESTIVAL 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free tasting of more than 50 locally grown varieties of tomatoes, salsa and hot sauce tastings, chef demo with The Green Grocer. Windsor Town Green, downtown Windsor. windsorfarmersmarket.com.

707.433.9351

framingartshealdsburg.com

September 9-11 FOURTH ANNUAL NATIONAL HEIRLOOM EXPOSITION 11a.m.-8 p.m. Not-for-profit event centered on the pure food movement, heirloom vegetables and anti-GMO activism. More than 100 speakers and 300 natural food vendors. $10/one day, $25/three days. Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa. theheirloomexpo.com. September 13 SHOP WITH THE CHEF & COOKING DEMO 9 a.m.-noon. See Aug. 9. relishculinary.com. September 19, 20 & 21 20TH ANNUAL FALL HOME SHOW A one-stop shopping experience for your home improvement and fix-up needs. Grace Pavilion, Hall of Flowers, Garden Annex & Finley Hall. $7, $4 seniors/Friday, children free. See website for hours. sonomacountyhomeshows.com. September 27 PRESERVING THE HARVEST 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sonoma County Master Gardener’s Harvest for the Hungry Garden. 565-2608, sonomamastergardeners.org. Oct. 3-5 SONOMA COUNTY HARVEST FAIR Local and artisanal products, Wine tasting, food pairing, craft beer and cider tasting, marketplace, chef demos and workshops. Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa. Hours/tickets: harvestfair.org.

APPROVAL Lara’s Landscaping

Client: Mill Steet Antiques Run date: 7-10-14 Ad title/slug: 1/9 page color Returned approval due by: 6-16-14 Scheduled to run in: H&L Summer 2014

•• Competitive Competitive Prices Prices For For Today’s Today’s Economy Economy

Please check this proof carefully for errors and omissions.•• Custom Your signature constitutes acceptance of Design & Custom Designbelow & Installation Installation full responsibility for all errors, omissions and legal and ethical compliance& this document. Sonoma West •• Residential Residential &inCommercial Commercial Publishers will not accept liability for errors overlooked at this stage of proofing. Any changes from your previ•• Lawn Maintenance Lawn Maintenance ously approved copy will be charged extra according to Concrete Work both••time and materials. Concrete Work Advertiser agrees to pay appropriate rates and production costs as specified in the current rate card. All conditions of the latest rate card apply. OK AS IS

Locally Owned and Operated Serving Sonoma County Your signature and date 707-843-9960

OK with corrections - no further proof needed Alejandrolara3728@gmail.com Your signature and date

2ND PROOF HREQUIRED - SI Tauthorize a $10 charge OMES + LIFE YLES SUMMER 2014

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Northern Carpet Care

All work guaranteed

Carpet â&#x20AC;˘ Upholstry cleaning Pet odor removal â&#x20AC;˘ Commercial cleaning Tile and grout cleaning

Free estimate

433-1545 or 857-3237

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707-431-0400

Ca. Cont. Lic. 971620 Hours 8:30-5:00 M-F

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Drought Got You Worried?

APPROVAL

Client: Carlisle Run date: 7-10-14 Ad title/slug: 1/3 page square color - client made Returned approval due by: ASAP Scheduled to run in: H&L Summer 2014

apluslocksmith@att.net

Serving Northern California for more than 35 years

We Have the Tools and Supplies to Assist with Water Conservation Demands!

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OK with corrections - no further proof needed Your signature and date

2ND PROOF REQUIRED - I authorize a $10 charge

Healdsburg Printing, Inc. Not just newspapers...

â&#x20AC;˘ b/w or full color flyers â&#x20AC;˘ programs & newsletters â&#x20AC;˘ brochures & calendars Client: A Plus Locksmith Run&date: 4-24-2014 â&#x20AC;˘ post cards product cards Ad title/slug: Home & Lifestyles (1/9th) â&#x20AC;˘ spiral bound books

www.cvbsupply.com â&#x20AC;˘ 707-473-9722 Your signature and date

RResidential esidential tt 3FQBJS BOE 3FQMBDF -PDLT 3FQBJS BOE 3FQMBDF -PDLLT tt ,FZT $VU ,FZT $VU tt 1BEMPDLT 1BEMPDLT tt ,FZMFTT &OUSZ 4ZTUFNT ,FZMFTT &OUSZ 4ZTUFNT tt -PDLPVUT -PDLPVUT

14979 Grove St., Healdsburg

Call for a quote today ay y!

APPROVAL

Returned approval due by: 3-27-14 at 11:00 am

Mon-Fri, 6:30 am-5 pm; Sat (April-October) 7am-12pmScheduled to run in: H&L 2014 707 433-1680 jobs@healdsburgprinting.com 160 Grant Avenue â&#x20AC;˘ Healdsburg Please check this proof 30 carefully for errors and omisD Mill Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448

HOMES + LIFESTYLES SUMMER 2014

APPROVAL

Client: CVB Supply

Run date: 7-10-14

sions. Your signature below constitutes acceptance of full responsibility for all errors, omissions and legal and ethical compliance in this document. Sonoma West Publishers will not accept liability for errors overlooked at this stage of proofing. Any changes from your previously approved copy will be charged extra according to both time and materials. Advertiser agrees to pay appropriate rates and production costs as specified in the current rate card. All conditions of the latest rate card apply.

The Kitchen of your Dreams... Outside

Setting the standard for outdoor living

www.onfiresantarosa.com 3181 Cleveland Ave, Santa Rosa â&#x20AC;˘ 707.526.3322 â&#x20AC;˘ Closed Sundays

3244 Gravenstein Hwy North Sebastopol, CA 95472 707.823.9125  www.harmonyfarm.com Open 7 Days a Week

You have the willÉ we have the way! Come in and weÕ ll show you how.

Rainwater Harvesting

Irrigation Design & Supplies

For your backyard or your lower forty! Storage Tanks, Grey Water Systems, Pumps, Down Spouts, Drain Pipe, É all the accessories you need.

Drippers, Tubing, Emitters, Timers, etc. Improve plant production while reducing water with drip irrigation! Free system design with purchase of supplies!

Container Gardening

Certified Organic Plants & Seeds

Garden Pots & Planters, Planter Accessories, Grow Bags, Tomato Cages & Supports, Potting Mix, Seed Starting Kits, Wood & Metal Trellises, Raised Beds and much more.

Vegetable Starts, Natives, Drought Tolerants, Cover Crop & Vegetable Seeds, Bare Root Fruit & Nuts, Organic Pest Control & Fertilizers.