Sonoma Discoveries Summer 2017

this issue: $4.95 VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 2 Summer 2017

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SCA’s Fiber Arts, Hammerfriar’s ‘Antarctica,’ Upstairs Art Gallery’s diverse new shows

Taste of Sonoma Weekend, Salmon Creek Farm Specialties, Fresh Peach Bellinis

Little House on the Trailer’s Dwelling Units, Caretaker’s Cottage in Forestville

Russian River Jazz & Blues, Community Concerts, Cajun Zydeco, Rodney Strong Concerts

Gravenstein Apple Fair, Fort Ross Festival, Bodega Seafood, Art & Wine, Old Grove Festival

sonoma

discoveries FOR THOSE WHO LIVE AND PLAY IN SONOMA COUNTY

INSIDE: Born to Track Hot Dogs by the Bay Parlez-vous Chevoo?

Sip & Dip at Trattore

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Pl ea s e en j o y o u r w i n es r es po n s i b l y. © 2 0 1 6 S o n o m a - C u tr e r V i n e y a r d s®, W i n d s o r, S o n o m a C o u n ty, C a l i f o r n i a U S A

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FEATURES

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Sonoma’s Abuzz

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Everybody Loves Chevoo

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Escape: Born to Track

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SUMMER 2017 DEPARTMENTS

10 Q&A: CHAT with Catherine Devriese, Visual Arts Director, Sebastopol Center for the Arts

12 WELL-BEING Growing Older? Stay Connected

16 A DAY WITH THE EPICUREAN CONNECTION

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Specialties of Salmon Creek Ranch

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OUT TO EAT Good Dog!

26 THE TASTING ROOM EXPERIENCE Trattore Farms in Dry Creek Valley

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EDITOR’S LETTER

DISCOVERIES PICKS: THE NEW NORMAL: WINE & CANNABIS COUNTRY

COMMUNITY: VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS NEED A HAND

ART & ABOUT

EVENT CALENDAR

ONE LAST THOUGHT 4

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42 HOME: CARETAKER’S COTTAGE IN PARADISE

44 SOLVING BIG PROBLEMS WITH LITTLE HOUSES

46 FIBER ARTS WONDERLAND

Dallas A. Saunders Artisan Textiles geyserville TAPESTRY GALLERY SUMMER 2017 Editor Patricia M. Roth Design & Production Brent A. Miller Managing Editor Sarah Bradbury

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Web Coordinator Laura Hagar Publisher Rollie Atkinson Associate Publisher Sarah Bradbury Sales Manager Paula Wise

Advertising Sales Cherie Kelsay Diana Lerwick Carol Rands Graphic Designers Jim Schaefer Morgan Rasmason Cover Photo Pollinator

by Loren Hansen

Sonoma Discoveries is published six times a year.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

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t’s summer in Sonoma County—and while many of us are breezing through the season—our farmers are hard at work. We depend on them for fresh local food, and they depend on pollinators, notably bees. Writer/ beekeeper Bo Kearns reports what many readers may already know—that the bees are dying and some species have been placed on the endangered species list. In Sonoma’s Abuzz!, Bo visits businesses and people from diverse walks of life to illustrate the task bees perform and report on the ways Sonoma County residents are helping to support bees and their survival.

That movement appears to be growing. In August, Sonoma County Farm Trails presents its annual Gravenstein Apple Fair, devoting the fair’s theme to pollinators and providing opportunities to learn about pollinators’ fascinating role in our food chain.

Listening for the sound of birds flying—even counting their wing flaps—and deciphering signs made by animals are part of what Jim Sullivan teaches students in the tracking classes that he leads in the little-explored areas of wild Sonoma. Yet, as writer David Abbott points out in Born to Track, Sullivan turns his students on to much more, and Abbott takes the reader on a trip “through the millennia” in this interesting piece.

Aussie entrepreneurs Susan and Gerard Tuck’s goat cheese company Chevoo has exceeded their expectations, and writer Holly Fox documents the couple’s story as they set out to elevate Americans’ meals with their specialty product. Just what is it that makes those cubes of goat cheese packed in olive oil infused with herbs so addictive?

Meanwhile, Abby Bard visited The Dog House in Bodega Bay, where a family-friendly diner cooking up hot dogs and more awaits you on your trip to the beach. You’ll love the vibe, a throwback to simpler times, and there are meals on the menu for your dog, too.

Marcy Gordon brings Trattore Farms to life in The Tasting Room Experience. If you’re in the mood to experience the Dry Creek Valley, Trattore Farms produces estate wine and extra virgin olive oil and offers a beautiful setting for tasting and touring.

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A great need exists for programs to help seniors maintain their independence and stay connected. Catholic Charities has a good track record for offering such services; and in West County, seniors are creating what they need via the “Sebastopol Village.” Details are in Laura Elise’s Well-being article.

Changes in legislation have eased restrictions on permanent second units and caretaker cottages, offering peace of mind to families who want to bring their loved ones close to home and to others seeking a simpler lifestyle. In this issue, two customers share their experiences working with Little House on the Trailer in Petaluma.

Everybody likes firefighters—yes, they can cook!—and volunteers deserve a shout-out for their tireless service. Julie Bohny shares small-town Monte Rio memories and interviews the town’s fire chief about what goes on today. Don’t miss the firefighter fundraisers on the Community page.

Sheana Davis shares the epicurean specialties she discovered during a visit to Salmon Creek Ranch. In One Last Thought, Gayle Okumura Sullivan makes peach bellinis—dreamy drinks that are perfect for summer celebrations.

Sebastopol Center for the Arts presents its International Fiber Arts Show this summer, which SCA’s Visual Arts Director Catherine Devriese talks about in Chat. In Art and About, see listings for galleries presenting new works and openings. Also, our events calendar capsulizes the best of the summer scene— from concerts to outdoor movie nights for kids.

As is Sonoma Discoveries’ mission, this issue brings you hidden gems, eye-opening forays into our natural world and places to go that you may not find anywhere else. Kudos to the writers and photographers who bring to light the people and places that make this county rock. Happy Summer!

Patricia Miller Roth Editor, Sonoma Discoveries patti@sonomadiscoveries.com

CONTRIBUTORS David Abbott has written about West County news, politics and people for nearly a decade since first hired as a part-time reporter for Sonoma West Times & News, where he was editor from 2009 to 2015. Although his focus has been to the west, he is familiar with and has written about the entire region and continues to contribute with stories about the outdoors and the interesting people in western and northern Sonoma County.

Abby Bard is a weaver who sells her handwoven clothing at local galleries and from her studio in Sebastopol. She is a member of Sonoma County Art Trails. She has a passion for growing food in an urban landscape. abbybardhandwoven.com Born in the 1960s, Julie Bohny is fascinated by the county’s rich history and its evolution. A full-time preschool teacher, children are her passion. She enjoys spending time with her family, friends, reading, writing, movies, hiking, the outdoors, and puttering around the house and yard. She and her husband met at El Molino High School in 1978 and are 17-year Sonoma County residents.

Sarah Bradbury is the associate publisher of Sonoma West Publishers, Inc. and the managing editor of Sonoma Discoveries. She has had the opportunity to photograph the county and its people for Sonoma Discoveries for more than 20 years.

Samantha Campos is a freelance writer from Maui, Palm Springs and Marin, now firmly planted in Oakland. She’s written about everything from dive bars to edible schoolyards, and Shrinky Dink art made by Russian royalty to the daily life of a coroner. A fourth-generation Californian, she enjoys frequent road trips exploring the state’s bounty.

Sheana Davis is a cheese maker, chef, caterer and culinary educator who creates edible experiences for food enthusiasts under the auspices of The Epicurean Connection, her gastronomic experience company. Learn more: theepicureanconnection.com.

Holly Fox is a Sonoma County native and an international reporter who has written for publications in Europe and the United States. As a writer, she is drawn to stories about food and drink and the places they’re from. She runs a small hotel and lives in Sonoma County with her husband and children.

Marcy Gordon is a freelance wine, food and travel writer. Her travel narratives have been featured in numerous anthologies including Best Women’s Travel Writing. She is the founder of a literary arts foundation (writingbetweenthevines.org) and is listed as one of the Top 100 Wine Influencers on Social Media, which basically means she drinks and tweets a lot.

Loren Hansen is a Sonoma County native who, after spending several years as a makeup artist and bartender in Winnipeg, Manitoba, decided it was time to return to the wine country and pursue her long-time passion for photography. She specializes in documentary-style event photography, as well as food and wine. You can follow her on Instagram @Lorenh_ photography or see more of her work at lorenhansenphotography.com.

Bo Kearns is a writer, beekeeper, UC Naturalist and docent at Jack London State Historic Park. He has written award-winning short stories and recently completed the manuscript for a novel set in Indonesia where he lived for three years. He enjoys hiking and running the trails in the regional parks.

Sonoma County native Laura Elise McCutcheon has been writing for newspapers for 20 years and working in the wine industry for nearly as long. In addition to writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exercising, camping, flower gardening, interior design, and just about anything that allows her to be creative.

Patricia Miller Roth is the editor of Sonoma Discoveries. She was previously a senior editor at Wine Business Monthly and has been a reporter and editor at various publications in California, from the San Joaquin Valley to the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a Master of Arts in Writing from the University of San Francisco. She lives in Sebastopol with her husband, two adopted wild horses, dog and cats.

Gayle Okumura Sullivan is co-owner and manager of Dry Creek Peach and Produce in Healdsburg, a boutique organic peach farm. With a background in marketing, she came to the farm in 2000, and has loved it since. During the summer you can find her at the market, in the farm stand, working with customers, or in the orchard.

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discoveries picks

The New Normal: Wine & Cannabis Country Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley presents a new, 3-part series delving into the signature varietal wines of Dry Creek Valley. Each classroom-style tasting seminar features a panel of winemakers and/or growers moderated by a wine industry pro. A social open-tasting follows. “Rare and exceptional wines will lead the way for our vintners to tell the story of Dry Creek Valley’s exceptional grapegrowing heritage,” said Ann Petersen, executive director, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley.

“Zealous About Zinfandel” (July 15 at Quivira Vineyards and Winery) explains the passion winemakers have for Dry Creek Valley’s historic grape.

“Cult Cabs” (July 22 at Passalacqua Winery) brings together pioneers of Dry Creek Valley Cabernet. “Zintopia” (July 30 at Preston Farm & Winery) features moderator Chef John Ash with a panel of Zinfandel specialists.

Each immersive experience runs 10 a.m.noon. drycreekvalley.org Breakfast with the Winemakers

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Wine & Weed Symposium

What do the cannabis and wine industries have in common? What impact will the legalization of cannabis have on the wine industry? This first-time event, presented by Wine Industry Network, is August 3 at Hyatt Vineyard Creek, Santa Rosa.

Experts from both fields begin with Cannabis 101, led by the executive director of the California Growers Association and the co-founder/ executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association.

Other speakers will address the business of cannabis, ranging from legal issues to new products, while a gallery of tabletop exhibitors and sponsors offer information and resources. After an outdoor buffet luncheon, a panel of wine industry professionals share how their careers evolved to include cannabis and the surprising similarities (and competitive markets) both commodities share. The event wraps up with a panel discussion followed by a networking social. wine-weed.com ZAP Simply Summer Celebration

On August 13, ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates

& Producers) hosts this popular summer event that offers extensive wine and food tastings featuring Zinfandel wines and blends. Known for its versatility, Zinfandel pairs with a wide range of foods to create unlimited expressions of taste. Fans have the opportunity to meet their favorite winemakers, as more than 60 wineries from appellations throughout California set up in an air-conditioned indoor pavilion at Trentadue Winery. The grounds provide a romantic, old-world Italian setting surrounded by vineyards, mountains, lawns and shaded gardens. Open houses at select wineries in the area the day before (August 12) are exclusive to ticket holders. Main event runs 12:30-3:30 p.m. Ticket includes admittance, wine tasting and ZAP logo wine glass. zinfandelevents.com/simply-summercelebration Sonoma Wine Country Weekend

Taste of Sonoma expands to two days, September 2-3, and moves to a different venue this year: Green Music Center at Sonoma State University. The new location is ideal for the event that has Sonoma County winemakers, growers and chefs orchestrating their world-class skills in concert so you can sample their wares in one huge celebration. Taste your way through the offerings of more than 200 wineries and 60 local chefs. Don’t get so focused on tasting, however, that you miss the tours, talks, demonstrations and marketplace. If all of that isn’t quite enough, an upgrade open to a limited number of guests—Club Reserve—gives access to sought-after and limited-production wines in a luxurious atmosphere with food prepared by notable local chefs. You can also expand the Taste of Sonoma experience with Winemaker Lunches, Dinners & BBQs, September 1-3 (details forthcoming). One and two-day passes available for both General and Club Reserve. sonomawinecountryweekend.com/ the-weekend/ SD

photo by Sarah Bradbury

For a similarly conversational approach (minus the wine-tasting), join Wine Road for its open Q&A forums where guests can meet and chat with winemakers in a casual breakfast setting. On July 28, at Martinelli Vineyards & Winery in the Russian River Valley, sit down for breakfast with winemakers from Martinelli, Inman Family Wines, and Hook & Ladder Vineyards & Winery. On July 29, at Fritz Underground Winery in the Dry Creek Valley, encounter

winemakers from Fritz Underground Winery, J. Rickards Winery and Deux Amis Winery.

A host will facilitate the Q&A with the three winemakers each morning. Everyone will have the chance to ask questions, but seating is limited. wineroad.com

photo by Sarah Bradbury

Winemakers in Conversation

community

Volunteer Firefighters Need a Hand

by Julie Bohny

photo by Sarah Bradbury

O

n a quiet street nestled among redwoods along the Russian River, a fire phone would ring in a house. Rosie Bohny, wife of assistant fire chief Alfred Bohny, Jr. of the Monte Rio Volunteer Fire Department, answered, “What’s your distress?” When necessary, Rosie would sound the alarm [horn] from her bedroom.

At a moment’s notice, business owners and residents serving as volunteer firefighters left their businesses or homes and rushed to the firehouse for dispatch.

My husband Troy, Al and Rosie’s youngest son, tells of his excitement as a boy going on calls with his dad. Al, as he was known, worked full time as a machinist. It took a village back then to take care of each other, share responsibilities, even look after each other’s children. They were friends who became family. Rosie still volunteers secretarial services to the department and to Pole Mountain in Cazadero.

Volunteer-based departments in our surrounding communities are highly dependent on public financial support to fund their mission. Gone are the days of Firemen Dances, which were hugely popular, but family-friendly events are now a great alternative. Former Monte Rio Volunteer Chief Emil Alberigi is still on the board, served as captain for 20 years and volunteers as head cook for events. The annual Fourth

of July Barbecue and Water Parade has long been a popular tradition.

Monte Rio’s current Fire Chief Steve Baxman has been called a hero in his own right. He started as a volunteer for the Freestone Department and came to Monte Rio at age 18 in November 1970. You would be surprised at the calls the department receives for public assistance, from natural disasters to fires and everything in between.

Most of it involves being that good neighbor, friend or host to vacationers visiting the town.

Steve says his department has 10 volunteers currently. They do all they can to be available, but the truth is Monte Rio and so many of our Sonoma County rural areas are now merely bedroom communities. People have to travel great distances to work so few are around during the day; and when they get home, they have busy lives and family obligations.

Steve showed me a calendar of weekly and monthly trainings and drills, proving that being a volunteer firefighter takes huge dedication.

Since Rosie isn’t blasting horns from her home any longer, I asked about the notification system. Pager and text systems work quickly, and response times are still very good; however, that could be a continuing challenge in the future if more small volunteer departments succumb to financial hardships and lack of volunteers.

As for Steve Baxman, he has been living and breathing this life since he was 10 years old. I posed the question of how he deals with the stress of seeing horrible things, or how he makes time for himself. He told me of his wonderful worldly travels with his “sweetie,” yet he thoughtfully works his travels around weather and fire danger times.

As we were winding down our conversation, a man pulled up to the station, saying a wall was coming down up on the hill above the station. Steve and I said our goodbyes, and he rode off like a cowboy to save residents from a possible landslide.

Below is a list of upcoming events from July through September that provide lots of fun and much needed financial support to local volunteer fire departments. Please be mindful to swing by as many events as you can and get to know the people behind those suits.

July 1: Monte Rio Fire Protection District Annual July 4th Barbecue, headquarters fire station, Monte Rio, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. monteriofire.org July 27: Monte Rio Fire Variety Show Barbecue, Monte Rio Amphitheater. 4-7 p.m. monterioshow.org July 15: Wine Country to the Rescue: Wine tasting, dinner by Northern Sonoma County firefighters. winecountrytotherescue. com August 6: Bodega Volunteer Fire Department Bodega Big Event,10 a.m-5 p.m.

August 26 & 27: Bodega Seafood, Art & Wine Festival. bodegafire.org Check other local departments for fundraisers throughout the year: cloverdalefiredistrict.com; forestvillefire. org; goldridgefire.org; gratonfire.com; ci.healdsburg.ca.us/248/Fire-Department; russianriverfire.org; facebook.com/ valleyfordfire; cscfire.org. SD sonomadiscoveries.com

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talk+

Chat with Catherine Devriese Visual Arts Director, Sebastopol Center for the Arts Interview by Patricia M. Roth

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How does your international experience and outlook, combined with your art studies, support your vision and goals as SCA’s Visual Arts Director?

I studied in London and travelled extensively, encountering different cultures and outlooks on art. When I arrived in Sonoma County, I

Photos by Sarah Bradbury

Please share how you became interested in the art world and who or what influenced you to follow an artistic path.

When you look at small children, some will be climbing trees and others will be drawing, painting, making “things” in clay or with paper.

I was that last type of kid. It was a privilege to be raised in the cultural town of Antwerp in Belgium; a town with a medieval town center but also hosting very contemporary cultural

areas like the open-air sculpture Middelheim park where I played amidst sculptures from Rodin, Wouters, Moore, Max Bill, Meunier, Hepworth… and so many more. I believe strongly that our environment shapes us. That is why I make high quality art accessible to all ages and especially children whose minds and hearts are still open and malleable. The good fortune I experienced as a child, I want to share with everyone.

photo by Sarah Bradbury photo by Sarah Bradbury

F

rom July 28 through September 3, the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, in collaboration with the Surface Design Association, presents Fiber Art VIII: International Biennial Fiber Arts Exhibition, one of many shows curated by Catherine Devriese at SCA since 2011.

discovered artists who were very skilled and authentic. I was struck by their total engagement and genuine connection to their work, which I found very refreshing.

As a local Art Center, we want a gallery that highlights local art but equally opens a window to “the world that’s out there” in skill and ideas. Incorporating artists from other locations inspires and teaches all of us.

What can people expect to discover at the upcoming International Biennial Fiber Arts Exhibition? (See article on Page 46.)

How do you and your team prepare for this major exhibition?

International Fiber Art VIII is a biennial, juried exhibition, which invites national and international artists to submit innovative and traditional fiber art work. We encourage the expression of contemporary concepts when using traditional or unusual materials. Every year we receive hundreds of applications and when three highly respected jurors (Wendy Lugg, Jason Pollen and Eszter Bornemisza) have the opportunity to select the best work of the year, it is bound to bring forward a very special and high quality show.

This year, in Gallery III, organized by Mirka Knaster, we will show “Korean Voices in Cloth: Translating Tradition into Contemporary Art.” The exhibition will be highlighting the ancient heritage of fiber art in Korea as well as its vibrant modern transformation of both traditional and unexpected techniques and materials.

We also organize tie-in events: interesting lectures and panel discussions by prominent fiber artists. Even a “Korean weekend” with fiber workshops and maybe a Korean meal. It will be an extremely exciting and interesting time for everyone with even a minimal interest in fiber arts. Our visitors get “wowed” and always complain that the exhibitions are too short!

It must be exciting for people to walk into a ‘world of fiber art’ because of the uniqueness of the pieces themselves. Yet, making all the pieces work together in the gallery space must present challenges and require a strategy.

I have curatorial oversight of all the exhibitions but have dedicated coordinators for certain shows, linked to their specific expertise in a medium or their interest in the theme of the show. For Fiber Art VIII, the show coordinators Bill Yoes and Joy Stocksdale are experts in the subject of fiber arts.

How to make pieces work together in a

gallery space is called curating. We generally take several days to curate: install and display work in the gallery. There are certain basic rules to follow but some decisions are made on an inexplicable, intuitive ground.

The process asks the same concentration and focus as when an artist creates her/his masterpiece. We “create” an exhibition. Bill and Joy have been installing the fiber arts show since the very first time (17 years now!) and they know how to handle with insight and care the often extremely delicate fiber art work. Our visitors range from people interested in the arts to established fiber artists.

Tell us about fiber arts—its evolution as an art form and the many interesting, often surprising materials that artists use in their work—including how it ranges from beautiful to controversial.

To describe the evolution of fiber arts would require an entire article. In the past, fiber creations were most commonly associated with women. Women were making wearable, useful, beautiful work: weaving, sewing, crocheting. In the 1960s and 1970s an international revolution in fiber art occurred. Artists in the United States and Europe explored the qualities of fabric to develop works that could be defined as art work. Since the 1980s, fiber work has become more and more conceptual, not only experimenting with materials and technique but also approaching cultural issues by using the medium in its unique quality. In our shows, for example, an artist will use the visual strength of shadows created by carefully lined up horse hair, or the powerful colors or felted materials, weaving patterns that are beyond the imaginable.

You have said that art is related to society.

Please expand on this.

Art is a reflection of our society. Some visual artists will choose a hyper realistic reproduction of their environment; others will present a philosophical, or political, a critical comment on the world. Or throughout art history we have seen examples on how artists encourage us to look at our surroundings and our lives.

You were voted Best Curator in the North Bay (by “Bohemian” readers, 2017). How do you feel about receiving this honor?

I was so grateful to be voted best curator in the North Bay. It is not in my “ex-Belgian” nature to boast. I am passionate about what I am doing without further thought. I love

the arts. I also love my incredible volunteers who make any vision possible. When we curate an exhibition, we try to give a new/ fresh experience to the visitors every time.

Yes, it is my passion to bring high quality exhibitions to a broad audience and to keep it accessible. It is rewarding to know that my efforts are appreciated and recognized by the public. I work hard and such recognition makes it worth even more.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

Over time I have discovered that every life is so fascinating! For me: Although Belgian, my parents lived in Africa and I was born there.

I did a luthier course and can build a violin.

I was a rose-judge in the Royal National Rose Society in England and juried in the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Every day I pinch myself and think… is this really the place I live in? The blue skies, the apple orchards, the ocean?... I love California! SD

About Catherine Devriese Catherine Devriese studied Pedagogy in Antwerp, Belgium and Heilpedagogy in the Netherlands. She also has a certificate to teach adults and young people, 16 and above.

Fluent in three languages, she worked as an executive assistant to the Director of Logistics in an international company in Brussels, Belgium and to the Diplomats in the Belgian Embassy and London, England. During a career break to raise her daughter, she became a student of Margaret Lillford (oil painting), which rekindled her love for the arts. Catherine attended the University for the Creative Arts in Epsom, England and graduated from the University of the Arts in London, England, with a Bachelor in Fine Arts. Catherine came to the United States in 2009 and has been working at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts as the Visual Arts Director since 2011.

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well-being+

Gary Kramer (left) greets client Randolph Barnes with a meal.

Growing Older? Stay Connected Exercise, healthy diet, plenty of rest —that’s not all your body needs

by Laura Elise

ave you had your dose of connection lately? Studies suggest your immune system is a bit of a social butterfly.

Getting adequate social support not only has the ability to boost your spirits, but appears to be essential to your physical health as well. That support can take many forms, from interacting with a friend or loved one (pets count, too), volunteering at your favorite non-profit or being part of a sports team, service club, senior center or church.

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Research continues to back up what many people have long known—loneliness takes its toll—and several programs are taking a lead to help residents not only live in their own homes as they grow older, but also stay socially integrated. These programs help the clients who are receiving the outreach as well as those who are providing it, as people on both ends are connecting with others in the process.

Take Gary Kramer, for instance, who believes helping those in need is a win-win.

For the retired 67-year-old Windsor resident

Photos by Sarah Bradbury

H

Photos by Sarah Bradbury

volunteering is about giving back to the community, and in return, he gets what he gives.

“My main reason for volunteering is I realize there are tremendous needs out in the community and a lot of them are not being filled. I’ve had a very fortunate and good life. I just really feel like giving back to other people and organizations that I am interested in,” he said, adding, “I am a social person. I was in sales for 29 years, building relationships. Now that I am retired I still miss the interaction with others and building relationships. And I find that volunteering allows me to fulfill those needs of mine.”

Kramer volunteers for a couple of nonprofits, including Catholic Charities. From caring for seniors, to feeding the homeless and providing encouragement to refugees, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa serves people of all faiths in six counties.

Kramer is involved in the Home Alone Program, one of over 20 programs offered by the nonprofit.

Home Alone Program

The Home Alone program is a telephone outreach program for Sonoma County seniors who are homebound. Last year, more than 35,000 calls were made to check in on senior citizens that live alone.

“Sometimes, it’s the only call they receive all day,” said Kelly Conrad, communications manager at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Santa Rosa.

Volunteers of the Home Alone program call people on a daily basis, just to connect and see how they are doing, Kramer said.

“Several people say this just makes their day. They wouldn’t know what to do without us. It’s a really healthy thing,” he added. “If we

don’t get a hold of them on my shift, the second shift calls them; and if the second shift doesn’t get a hold of them, we turn it over to the director to make sure [the person that hasn’t been reached is] okay.

The program has helped locate people who have fallen and couldn’t get up, for instance.

In addition to volunteering for the Home Alone program, Kramer also volunteers for Meals on Wheels, a meal program for Sonoma County seniors, operated by the Council on Aging, for which he delivers food to up to 25 homes every Thursday. He is also active in his church and helps out at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul on occasion, he said.

“I am just called as a person to do this. I see where we have tremendous needs in our community for helping people out who are less fortunate, and for me it’s self-satisfying,” Kramer said.

In his spare time, he hits the gym four or five days a week, catches a golf game when he can, and connects with family and friends—all of which “provide him with a lot of social activity.”

While not everyone is capable of getting physical exercise or going out into their communities, the key is staying connected to someone, if possible, even if it means simply talking on the phone.

“There’s growing scientific evidence that isolation is actually bad for your health. That being more socially connected in ways that are meaningful can help increase cognitive function and also improve feelings of well being,” said Dr. Deborah Barnes, an associate professor of psychiatry and epidemiology at the University of California, San Francisco and principal investigator of the Preventing Loss of Independence Through Exercise (PLIÉ) study. Catholic Charities is one of five partners involved in the study, funded by the

Sebastopol Village council member Susan Swartz (left) and gerontologist Nancy Unger (right) from 707 Villages, Inc. discuss aspects of The Village Movement; at right, Meals on Wheels volunteer Gary Kramer prepares for a delivery.

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Veterans Administration.

This particular program is for people who have cognitive impairment and dementia, focusing on the “abilities that are still maintained… with the goal of improving their function and quality of life,” Barnes said.

There are three aspects of it: “A physical component, which is training muscle memory for basic daily movements; a cognitive component, which focuses on in-the-moment, mindful-body awareness; and the third component is the social component, which is doing exercise in a circle and leaving time for interaction. We think in order for it to be successful, it needs all three of those,” she said.

A couple of pilot studies showed “very positive results, suggesting we were improving not only physical function, but also cognitive function and feelings of well being,” Barnes said.

“The clients really enjoy the sessions, and we have noticed two clients, in particular, that have exhibited challenging behaviors, previously, be able to calm themselves and really focus for the entire hour on calming themselves and tuning into their bodies,” Conrad said of those participating in the PLIÉ study at Catholic Charities.

Studies aside, however, not everyone is

gregarious and outgoing. Some people are shy; others introverted or truly isolated, due to their circumstances, and that’s nothing to feel bad about. If, however, you are one of these people and you want to be more actively engaged, the good news is you might just be a phone call away. In addition to the

Gary Kramer makes calls for Catholic Charities’ Home Alone telephone outreach program.

programs mentioned in this article, there are senior centers and outreach programs in many towns throughout the county.

For more information about senior services offered through Catholic Charities, including the I’m Home Alone program, call 707-528-8712. The Council on Aging

and Sebastopol, Healdsburg and other area senior centers also offer multiple outreach programs.

The Village Movement

The Sebastopol Village is a new option for seniors. It’s modeled after an international village movement that creates a social community and support network designed to help people age in place—to stay in their own homes and remain active in their towns and neighborhoods.

“It’s a virtual community that is mutually supportive and offers services and activities based on what the members want. The intent is to offer people as they get older the choice to age in place and to reduce isolation by offering interactive opportunities. In exchange for membership fees, The Village offers members organized social activities, provides various levels of support through volunteers who are often members themselves, and refers members to vetted services that exist in the community,” Sebastopol Village council member Susan Swartz said.

The Sebastopol Village will create a “neighborly support system and social network based on what members want or need, be it computer help, dog-sitting, organizing a poker club, or taking notes at

Breast Cancer Study Links Social Ties with Survival Rates

W

omen with invasive breast cancer who were also socially integrated—meaning those who had the most social ties with spouses, friends, community connections or family members— were shown to have significantly lower breast cancer death rates and disease recurrence than socially isolated women, states a recent study by Kaiser Permanente.

Data was collected and analyzed from breast cancer survivorship studies conducted in California, Utah, Oregon, Arizona, Texas, and Shanghai, China. Researchers examined how a range of lifestyle factors—including exercise, diet, weight management and quality-of-life factors, such as social ties—affect breast cancer survivorship. Within two years of being diagnosed with breast cancer, women answered surveys about their personal relationships and social networks. They were followed for up to 20 years.

“It is well established that women generally, and those with breast cancer with more social ties, have a lower risk of death overall,” said Candyce H. Kroenke, a research scientist with the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division

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of Research and lead author of the study, which has been published in the American Cancer Society journal “Cancer.”

While other studies link regular social interaction to a healthier immune system and faster medical recoveries, the Kaiser study is believed to be the largest study to date of social networks—the web of personal relationships that surround an individual—and breast cancer survival. The current study included 9,267 women diagnosed with stages 1 to 4 invasive breast cancer enrolled in the After Breast Cancer Pooling Project. It involved four studies of women with breast cancer, including one conducted at Kaiser Permanente Northern California.

Compared to women who were socially integrated (many ties), women that were characterized as socially isolated (few ties) were 43 percent more likely to have a recurrence of breast cancer; 64 percent more likely to die from breast cancer, and 69 percent more likely to die from another cause, the Kaiser study states.

—Laura Elise

doctor appointments,” Swartz added.

“Sonoma County has the third largest population of 85-year-olds and over in the country, and by 2030 it is projected that 30 percent of county residents will be 65 and older,” she said.

Sebastopol gerontologist Nancy Unger stressed the importance of this type of living arrangement. Unger is also a board member of 707 Villages, Inc., which essentially umbrellas the Sebastopol Village and aims to add more villages throughout Sonoma County in the future.

“I believe this is the only way that we are going to be able to cope with the huge numbers of us who are aging,” Unger said.

“I believe what we have in place now [for independent and assisted-living arrangements, skilled nursing and in-home care] is only usable by the extremely wealthy, and most of us don’t have that kind of money and we don’t want to give up our homes and communities…

And there are lots of us.”

But again, it’s not just about getting physical needs met. People, old and young, benefit from some soul food, too.

“It’s a basic human need: social connection,” Unger said, adding, “And even for people who have cognitive impairment and dementia, it remains an important human need.”

While the 64-year-old Unger is promoting a concept that will help people “support one another both instrumentally and socially,” she, too, is receiving those benefits in the process.

“I am able to feel that my life continues to have purpose and that I can bring my expertise to bear, and I can work with some of my best gal pals,” she said.

The Sebastopol Village will not compete with other senior services but will hope to fill in the gaps as well as be a one-stop resource through the 707 Village, Inc. central office for members looking to see what is available. The Sebastopol Village will be the first in the larger 707 Villages, Inc., which will expand into other towns in the country. Other networks are already up and running in more than 200 communities in the U.S., according to Unger.

The Sebastopol Village is still in the formation phase, but hopes to open by the end of this year or early next year. Meanwhile, ongoing informational meetings to introduce the concept to Sebastopol area residents will continue. Meetings will be announced on Nextdoor.com, via flyers and word of mouth.

For more information, call 707-343-9595; visit 707villages.org; or email to gotvillage@ gmail.com. 707villages is also on Facebook.

SD

LEFF-AD-MAY/JUNE-DiscoveriesMag-4.75x4.75-outlines.indd 1

3/16/17 11:41 AM

The Tides Wharf & Restaurant IN BODEGA BAY

No Seats Available Without a View of the Bay

Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner fuLL Bar • coffee shop • fish Market Gift shop anD snack Bar www.InnattheTides.com (707) 875-3652 835 Hwy One, Bodega Bay sonomadiscoveries.com

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food+

A DAY WITH THE EPICUREAN CONNECTION

Specialties of Salmon Creek Ranch written by Sheana Davis photos by Sarah Bradbury

Clockwise from top left—the ranch’s store offers farm-fresh products to customers; geese roam their enclosure while the ranch’s dog takes a rest in the shade; grass-fed Scottish Highland cattle; Salmon Creek Ranch owner Laura Brabyn cleans duck eggs for sale.

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RECIPES

Goat Stew with Couscous Created by Sheana Davis, The Epicurean Connection Serves 4-6 2 pounds boneless goat stew meat, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, divided 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon A bounty of organic eggs produced by free-range pastured ducks

I

was out visiting a chef in Bodega Bay several months ago, and she had a selection of meats she was cooking up that were totally delicious and tasted so fresh, I had to know more. Chef Jodie Rubin directed me to Salmon Creek Ranch, which is located between the two villages of Bodega and Bodega Bay on the Sonoma coast. The ranch consists of 400 acres of rolling hills, pasture, redwood groves and forest, as well as a mile and half of Salmon Creek, a designated riparian habitat. Prior to becoming Salmon Creek Ranch, it was part of the dairy ranching business.

John and Lesley Brabyn purchased the ranch in 2007 and obtained CCOF (organic) certification for its pastures. The ranch is now home to grass-fed Scottish Highland and Angus cattle, free-ranging, cage-free, pasture-raised ducks, Kiko goats and Embden geese.

The Brabyns are from farming backgrounds, as John was raised on a dairy farm in New Zealand and Lesley on a ranch in Ventura County that dates back to 1886. Their daughter Jocelyn pitches in when she’s available. The family cares deeply for the environment and you can see their efforts if you tour their property. Farm tours are occasionally offered, depending on the weather, where you can walk along the creek as well as see a variety of animals in other parts of the ranch.

When you plan your trip to Salmon Creek Ranch, bring a cooler. You’ll find all kinds of culinary delights in their farm store, The Mercantile, including ranch meats, certified organic duck eggs, frozen Embden geese, honey from their hives, pet treats (when available) and other products, such as tanned goat hides and note cards.

One of my favorite parts of Salmon Creek Ranch is they are dog-friendly (for dogs on leash). To plan your trip, contact the Brabyns at 707-876-1808 or visit salmoncreekranch.com. SD

1/4 teaspoon chili flakes (optional) 1/4 cup Sonoma County olive oil 6 garlic cloves, minced 1 cup white onion, chopped fine 1 cup carrots, cut into ½-inch cubes 1/2 cup dried chickpeas 2 cups vegetable or beef broth 1 cup canned diced tomatoes Green onions and edible flowers for garnish

Directions

Place goat meat in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt, pepper, coriander, cumin, cinnamon and chili flakes. In a heavy bottom soup pot, heat olive oil over medium flame and add in the meat, garlic, onions and carrots, stirring to brown meat evenly. Sauté for 8-10 minutes, add in chickpeas, broth and tomatoes and simmer over low flame for 1 hour or place in crock-pot for 2 hours on medium. Taste, adjust seasoning and serve over a bed of herbed couscous. Garnish with green onions and edible flowers.

Herbed Couscous 2 tablespoons Sonoma County olive oil 1/4 cup finely chopped shallots 1 cup uncooked couscous 1 1/2 cups broth 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 1/4 cup Italian parsley, chopped fine 1/2 cup green onions, sliced thin

Directions

Over medium flame, in a small saucepan, heat oil and add in shallots; sauté 2 minutes or until tender. Stir in couscous; sauté 2 minutes. Add broth, salt and pepper and bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.

Cover, remove from heat, and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Stir in parsley and green onions. Serve with goat stew. Enjoy with a glass of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.

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food+

Popular menu items and the whimsical, vintage-décor interior of The Dog House make it a special stop along Highway One in Bodega Bay.

OUT TO EAT

Good Dog! A Diner with a View

by Abby Bard Photos by Loren Hansen

P

icture these scenarios: You’ve got a car full of hungry kids and a dog that just spent the day rolling in wet sand at Doran Beach. Or you’ve just worked up an appetite hiking on the Kortum Trail or surfing at Salmon Creek. Now you’re looking for a casual place to eat that won’t break the bank. The big, red, hot dog flags that flank both entrances to Smith Brothers Road off Highway 1 in Bodega Bay show you where to turn westward and head down to The Dog House, quite possibly the friendliest place to eat in West County.

Specializing in Chicago-style hot dogs, served with all-you-can-eat fries and oldfashioned, thick, blended-from-scratch milkshakes, this family-run and family-

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oriented little diner at the south end of town has both indoor seating and outdoor picnic tables looking out at the bay. While your hand-cut fries are crisping in the fryer and your cooked-to-order burgers (beef, turkey or veggie) are sizzling on the grill, you can study the walls covered with colorful signs and posters and the nostalgic knickknacks on the counters, while the kids occupy themselves with crayons and coloring books. If you’re a sports fan and your team is playing, you can grab the remote and switch the TV from music to your game. When your hot dog or burger is ready, dress it up at the condiment bar, find a place to sit and enjoy the bay view, watch the wind-surfers and the occasional bald eagle flying overhead.

The dog-friendly vibe goes two ways—

The Dog House not only serves hotdogs, they serve your dogs. Free dog biscuits are provided for your four-legged friends, with plenty of space for them to gnaw and enjoy them among the succulent-filled pots surrounding the picnic benches. If your dog has a bigger appetite, you can ask for the dog meal: no bun, no fries, just the meat, sometimes cheese, with a dog biscuit on the side.

Shannon Marsi, along with her parents Rebel and John Marsi, bought The Dog House in June 2013 from the family of original owner Van Hoover, who passed away the previous January. Shannon had worked for Van for 10 years, starting when she was only 17, and, when he was gone, “Van’s kids wanted us to take over,’’ she recalls. The Marsi family are long-time members of the community and Rebel has fond memories of some customers that go back for years: “I’ve seen them in their mommy’s belly, and now they’re bringing in their own kids.”

Just across Highway 1 is the Bodega Bay School (where Rebel’s oldest granddaughter is a student). A photo is prominently displayed of the day they hosted all 24 students for lunch on their field trip to the post office next door. Now Shannon and her fiancé Sean Amoroso, a commercial fisherman, have a daughter of their own, 11-month-old Liliana, who was gleefully babbling away in her high chair, teething on a pickle plank during our conversation.

Shannon took some time off after giving birth, but she’s happy to be back at work.

“I missed it, I love seeing all my people.”

Shannon and her two younger sisters grew up on a ranch in Bodega, where Rebel and John were property managers for 26 years, surrounded by lots of animals—dogs, cats, ducks, chickens and cows. Both of her parents still work part-time at the ranch, but Rebel trades off cooking duties behind the counter at The Dog House with Shannon, while John’s specialty is both hunting out and creating the eclectic colorful décor of the restaurant—indoors and out. He likes to go online to scout colorful bits of whimsy, like the replica posters of 15-cent soft drinks, the homages to Betty Boop and wiener dogs (both the edible and four-legged kind) that decorate the interior, the miniature lighthouses that sit on a shelf high above the counter, and the dog magnets that line the shelf bottom. John also built the 18-foot long metal sculpture of a wiener dog that

Members of the Marsi family, owners of The Dog House. Dogs (and dog owners) appreciate the free dog biscuits.

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Shannon Marsi and daughter Liliana are all smiles at The Dog House.

stands at attention above the grass-roof Gardens in Santa Rosa (also the provider of the restaurant, visible from Highway 1. of romaine lettuce, onions and tomatoes).

Each year, he builds a float for the Bodega The first generous, crisp, hot portion fills Big Event—the annual fire department the paper boat, nestled against your dog or fundraiser—for the one-block long parade. burger (an oval patty of fresh ground chuck, There are always dogs onboard, and the hand-formed to order), which is folded into humans toss gummy hot dogs to the crowd. a lightly grilled, sesame-topped bun.

John clearly loves this aspect of his work, The hot dogs are made by Vienna Beef saying, “You’ve got to have fun!” The family Ltd., a company founded by Austriansells hot dogs from the cart John built, which Hungarian immigrants who introduced is also available for other events. their family frankfurter recipe at the World’s Although The Dog House Columbian Exposition (aka is right by the shore, you The Chicago World’s Fair) in won’t find fish-and-chips here.

1893. This all-beef hot dog— The Dog House Shannon explains, “When you and the condiments that go 537 CA-1, Bodega Bay (707) 875-2441 cook fish in the same oil as the on top—are what make it the fries and onion rings, it leaves quintessential Chicago-style them tasting ‘fishy,’ and kids dog. In addition to sauerkraut, don’t like that,” so they leave ketchup and mustard (French’s the fish-and-chips to the other Bodega Bay classic yellow or the spicy and vinegary restaurants and keep The Dog House “the Vienna Brand Dusseldorf), you can dress up alternative to seafood.” The exception to the your dog with an array of toppings from the rule is the wild salmon burgers, but those are condiment bar: bite-sized, briny, mediumgrilled, not fried. Chicken tenders have been hot Sport Peppers, neon-green Chicago-style added to Van’s original menu; otherwise it’s cucumber relish, kosher pickle planks, and basically the same fare that The Dog House fresh chopped onions, crisp lettuce, and has been offering since 1986. sliced tomatoes.

Let’s talk about those all-you-can-eat The menu includes two types of Vienna’s fries. They are hand-cut daily from Kennebec all-beef chili (one with beans and one potatoes that are grown locally by Imwalle without), burgers (beef, turkey, salmon 20

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and garden), a BLT, grilled cheese, steak sandwich, chicken sandwich, and eight varieties of hot dogs, including corn dogs, bratwurst and chili cheese. You can order bacon on anything. The onion rings are sourced from Brew City, thick-cut, and beer battered. Milkshakes, malts and floats (made with Cascade Glacier ice cream from Eugene, Oregon) come in chocolate, strawberry and vanilla. In addition to coffee, tea and fountain soft drinks, you can choose from eight kinds of Snapple, Red Bull, San Pellegrino citrus sparkling waters, and Stewart’s root beer, cream soda, orange and cream, and key lime sodas. They also serve domestic and premium beers and their own custom label wines (produced by Windsor Vineyards) by the glass or bottle.

And if you’re out and about before The Dog House opens at 11 a.m., Captain Davey’s Ice Cream and Espresso, right next door, opens at 7:30 in the morning to get your day started. Captain Davey offers 16 flavors of Cascade Glacier ice cream, sundaes, hot and cold espresso drinks made from Coast Roast Coffee, Italian sodas and hot cider, and pastries from Village Bakery.

The Dog House is open daily 11-6. You can call ahead for takeout: 707-875-2441.

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A colorful summer salad is another way to enjoy Chevoo. Grilled corn is sublime spread with Chevoo’s marinated goat cheese. Photos by Eric Wolfinger

Everybody Loves Chevoo Marinated goat-cheese company captures the hearts of everyday folks and foodies

by Holly Fox

T

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because it’s kept in the oil, I can just throw it on a salad, or can quickly make a pasta,” says Susan. The Tucks say that Australians regularly spread marinated goat cheese on toast or mix it into scrambled eggs for breakfast, too.

The Tucks knew that this kind of cheese was not common in the United States, but had a hunch that Americans would take to the product’s easy versatility, flavor and convenience. Gerard applied to the Stanford Graduate School of Business and was accepted. The business classes he was taking were allconsuming, and during the 12-month program the family took just one vacation, a long weekend in Sonoma County.

“We’d never heard of it, never been to it and then we came and we’re like, we could totally raise our family here and start the business here,” Susan says.

After Gerard finished his business degree, the family moved to Sonoma

and launched their cheese business.

“The way the Silicon Valley is to tech, Sonoma County is to specialty food companies,” says Gerard. “It really fosters those new startups that want to try something different.”

The Tucks named their company Chevoo (pronounced Sha-Voo), a portmanteau of chevre and EVOO (extra virgin olive oil), and sold their first jar of cheese in September 2015.

For the first year they worked out of another company’s facility. Then, they opened their very own, custombuilt, 10,000-square-foot plant in northern Healdsburg last fall.

“Since opening, we have been approached by two other rapidly growing specialty food brands, and will soon absorb 100 percent of their production into our facility. We will essentially triple or quadruple our production volumes from July 1, 2017, and bring all of that business and employment to Sonoma County,” Gerard says.

At the new facility, small conveyor

Photos by Sarah Bradbury

he early research and development for Susan and Gerard Tuck’s goat cheese company Chevoo took place in the kitchen of their student housing at Stanford University. The couple remembers the kitchen counters covered in a range of flavor-combination experiments: goat cheeses blended with different herbs, spices and salts; botanicals steeping in olive oil like one would steep a tea bag.

The Tucks had come to Stanford and California all the way from Australia with their three children and the dream of winning over the hearts of American consumers with little jars of goat cheese packed in oil. The Tucks say that in Australia this kind of marinated goat cheese is so popular it’s become a staple, something many Aussies are eating every day and always have on hand.

“I threw a jar of marinated cheese in my trolley, in my cart, every week and the idea was if anyone drops by,

Aussie entrepreneurs Gerard and Susan Tuck with their youngest daughter Poppy at Chevoo’s Healdsburg facility Photo by Sarah Bradbury

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Chevoo employee Hara Apiag in the production room where Chevoo varieties are packed into jars and labeled. Photos by Sarah Bradbury

belts move the glass jars through the production process. First a large metal dispenser pours a sprinkling of pink peppercorns into each jar, then chunks of goat cheese are packed in by hand, followed by just the right amount of olive oil before the jar is sealed and labeled.

The olive oil arrives at the facility already infused following a careful recipe developed by the Tucks, and the goat cheese is blended with the various spices and flavors on-site.

“It’s not as though it’s an overnight process,” Gerard says about the different olive oil infusions they use. “They basically take the teabag of the crushed garlic, lemon oil, rosemary out of the oil once it reaches a certain flavor threshold. It’s literally based on taste.”

Even the season can affect the timeline, which can take anywhere from four to eight weeks.

Chevoo currently produces three flavors—and will be launching a new one this summer.

Their original flavors include Smoked Sea Salt and Rosemary, Aleppo-Urfa Chili and Lemon, and California Dill Pollen and Garlic.

The first flavor listed in each pairing is what is blended into the goat curd. The second is what’s infused in the olive oil. Each combination

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is the result of Susan and Gerard’s extensive testing, starting back in their kitchen at Stanford, and their relationships with their suppliers.

“We have sourced the highest quality botanicals,” Susan says. “I can’t tell you how many botanicals we tried, and part of the reason it tastes so good is we pay a premium for really good quality spices.”

Each combination is meant to be even more delicious than the sum of its parts. For example, the Urfa spice has an earthiness to it, while the Aleppo chili is fruity and has a lot of heat, according to the Tucks. But it’s the lemon flavor infused into the oil that makes it work. “If you have this product straight off the line, it’s way too hot for me, from the Aleppo,” Susan says. “But then when you put it in the lemon-infused oil, it cuts through the heat.”

In the production facility an employee in a white robe, blue rubber gloves and a hair net is blending small jars of goat cheese with different flavors with an immersion blender. The other day, the Tucks say, they tried 50 different combinations. They’ve become experts on the ratios needed, depending on how spicy or herbaceous or powerful the flavors of the ingredients are.

“We try to stay really open-minded to what might surprise you,”

Susan says.

“We are very excited about our new flavor, because we have never tasted anything like it. The flavor combination is Tupelo Honey & Lime—and it is sublime. We are making it by blending Tupelo Honey (from Savannah Bee Company) through our chèvre and then steeping lime in our olive oil blend. The combination is magical, with the nutty floral sweetness of the Tupelo Honey, pairing beautifully with the bright summery freshness of the lime. It may be our best flavor yet,” Gerard says.

The couple’s goal is to produce a product that is convenient, flavorful and encourages people to entertain and cook at home more—a cheese and oil that elevates any meal or snack in between. The cheese can be included on a cheese board or served with bread and charcuterie, of course. But the Tucks suggest trying it melted into pasta, spread on toast with avocado or crumbled over steamed asparagus. The oil is great for dipping bread into or drizzling over salad or pizza, they say.

“There are so many simple meals that can be made with only two ingredients, plus Chevoo,” Gerard says.

“I think we eat more salads because of marinated cheese,” adds Susan.

“Our kids eat it a lot on baguette.

They’re always putting it on bread.

They have it most days instead of butter.”

The Tucks started out going store to store to convince them to carry Chevoo, selling their first jar in the fall of 2015. By the end of 2016 Chevoo was in 400 grocery stores, mostly on the West Coast. It will be on shelves in more than 1,000 stores nationwide by June 29, 2017.

“We have been blown away by the growth and by how quickly people are incorporating Chevoo into their daily lives,” Gerard says.

Locally Chevoo is sold by many independent grocery stores, including Oliver’s Markets, Big John’s in Healdsburg, Pacific Market in Sebastopol and Dahlia & Sage Community Market in Cloverdale.

More at: chevoo.com SD

Photo by Eric Wolfinger

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wine+

Trattore Farms’ “coltura promiscua” is a blend of vineyards and olive trees with a view overlooking upper Dry Creek Valley.

THE TASTING ROOM EXPERIENCE

Trattore Farms A Twist in the Dry Creek Valley Mix

by Marcy Gordon Photos by Loren Hansen

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L

ooking to experience some “coltura promiscua” in Dry Creek Valley? Then, swipe right on Trattore Farms. Although coltura promiscua may sound risqué, it’s merely the term for farming mixed crops in a field. At Trattore the mix is grapes and olives, one of nature’s most prolific botanical pairings.

Nothing unsavory, poloyamory-esque or Fifty Shades of Green about it, unless you consider that both like the terrain to be, well, a little rough.

It’s not surprising that wherever grapevines grow, olive trees are usually close by. Grapevines and olive trees are highly compatible and have similar soil and climate requirements. But there are surprises at Trattore Farms and Dry Creek Olive Oil Co. nested inside the undulating hills at the North end of Dry Creek Valley.

First the view—it’s unexpected as you approach the entrance, but simply breathtaking when you reach the summit. Then there’s the on-site olive mill and oil-production facility, and finally the wines, featuring a Rhône-heavy portfolio with a boutique level of production hovering around 3,000 cases.

Owner Tim Bucher grew up on a dairy farm on Westside Road in Russian River Valley and he and his siblings once grew and sold French Colombard grapes. Originally Bucher wanted to design and build tractors, but while in engineering school at UC Davis, he developed an interest in Computer

Science. He continued his studies at Stanford where he met his wife Mary Louise in the Stanford engineering program.

While his career veered away from agriculture, he always held tight to the idea of opening his own winery.

Eventually his dream became a reality and Trattore, Italian for tractor, opened in October of 2015. Bucher now lives on the Trattore estate where he gives the final approval on all the wines and Mary Louise, a master miller, makes the olive oils Winemaker Kerry Damskey, along with assistant winemaker Ryan Schmaltz, are the guiding hands of the wine program, creating wines with great finesse and delicate balance.

The 40 acres of vineyards and olive trees are set on steep rolling hills. Originally water ran through the valley and river rocks are found all over the property. The excellent soils and sun exposure on the hillsides make ideal growing conditions and RhĂ´ne varieties grow especially well there.

Vineyard, Orchard and Olive Mill Tour

Time permitting, the best way to experience Trattore is to make a day of it. Start with the Get Your Boots Dirty Tour and then flex your newly acquired knowledge about wine and olive oil to fully enjoy the tastings of both.

Trattore Farm strives to connect guests to the land with a comprehensive yet relaxed and educational experience.

The 90-minute walking tour takes guests through the diverse soils of the olive orchards and the vineyards, into the olive mill and the wine cellar, ending with a guided wine and olive oil tasting. During the walk, sustainable initiatives are also explained with regard to the use of solar and their own on-site wastewater treatment facility—one of the few wineries with one. All water used in the winery and tasting room flows downhill to the treatment plant to remove harmful bacteria, then it’s reused for irrigation.

In the olive mill, you can get an up-close view of the giant 7,000-pound granite sonomadiscoveries.com

27

stone wheels that grind the olives and the centrifuges that separate the solids from the liquids and extract the oil. You’ll also learn how various oils are co-milled with fruit to make flavored oils.

The tour aims to enlighten visitors on the olive-oil making process and outlines the strict standards for California extra virgin olive oil and why it’s become one of the finest oils in the world. Multiple varieties of olives—Italian, Spanish and Greek—are used and blended in a process that has many similarities to winemaking.

Big View, Big Flavors

The Trattore tasting room is spacious and airy with a rustic elegance and an almost spa-like serenity despite its size. One end of the tasting room showcases a few shiny examples from Bucher’s prized tractor collection that look more like vintage race cars than farm equipment. But the main attraction of the tasting room is the riveting view. No matter the season, rainy or bright, the changing foliage and light is like a Monet painting come to life. The patio, outfitted with comfy low-slung couches and high-top tables, is the perfect perch to relax and catch 28

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Trattore Farms and Dry Creek Olive Oil Co. trattorefarms.com 7878 Dry Creek Road Geyserville, CA 95441 Open 11 a.m.-5 pm daily No reservations needed for tastings. Dogs welcome on outside patio only.

Tastings: • Estate Menu: 4-6 Estate wines, along with portfolio of extra virgin olive oils. $20 tasting fee is waived with the purchase of one or more bottles of wine or olive oil.

• Reserve Menu: 4-6 wines, including wines from their Appellation Series, plus a tasting of the full selection of olive oils. Tasting fee of $30 is waived with a wine purchase.

Tours: Daily at 10 a.m. on weekdays, 10 and 11 a.m. on weekends.

Book tours through CellarPass. Need 24-hour notice.

the magical sunsets.

Settle in on the patio or cozy up to the wine or olive tasting bars inside. All tasting menus include both wine and olive oil samplings. Two wine flights are offered— The Estate Menu and the Reserve Menu at $20 and $30 respectively.

Both flights have their inherent charms, but the Reserve Menu consisting of the 2015 Viognier, 2015 Roussanne, 2014 TF Pinot Noir and 2014 Stone Soup, is a must.

Flights come with light nibbles. Truffle oil popcorn with some Roussanne perhaps? Yes, please.

For something heartier, charcuterie and cheese plates may be purchased. The plates are available daily, featuring local purveyors such as Valley Ford Cheese and Creamery, Zoe’s Meats from Santa Rosa, and Bohemian Creamery and Kozlowski Farms of Sebastopol.

On weekends you may find yourself face to face with the Buchers—Tim pouring wine and Mary Louise at the oil bar—greeting guests and sharing their enthusiasm and knowledge of the oils and wines.

Sundays, from April to October, wood-

fired pizzas are offered fresh and hot from the oven featuring house-made pizza dough from the resident dough maker—a difference you can taste. Try a glass of the Stone Soup or Grenache with the Trattore Classico: Red sauce, Mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, Tavola Toscana Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Or pair some Viognier or Roussanne with The Goat: No sauce, goat cheese, Anjou pear, Italian herbs and Meyer lemon olive oil.

Along with the whimsical tractor and logo-branded merchandise, Trattore has a selection of one-of-a-kind housewares.

Follow your nose to the display of scented olive oil soaps made from Trattore’s own olive oils and handcrafted by Soap Cauldron in Sebastopol.

Of particular note are the white ceramic olive-oil dipping dishes designed by artist Mary Judge and inspired by the hillside terraces of Tuscany. The graduated levels of the plates highlight the different hues of the oils from dark to light. Both beautiful and functional, they come in a cloud and leaf motif. Be forewarned: You may find it difficult to leave without one.

Suggested Sips: 2015 Roussanne – Beautiful floral nose with pear, apricot, citrus and honey hints. Full bodied with a complex and viscous mouth feel. Aromatics translate over to the palate with lush acidity.

2013 Stone Soup – This field blend, made with all five grapes grown on the property (Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel), is big and bold with an intense bouquet. Age-worthy, yes, but once you taste it, you’ll be hard-pressed to lay it down.

More than Expected

To some, Trattore Farms may appear as an anomaly—a large estate producing limited quantities of wine. But while the infrastructure is certainly in place to increase wine-case production, Trattore is not looking to become big for the sake of getting big.

Instead Bucher and his winemaking team are interested in growing slowly, maintaining the quality of the wines and producing reds that are lighter style with lower alcohol.

Trattore Farms brings a twist to the mix in Dry Creek Valley most widely known as big, bold Zinfandel country. With their focus primarily on Rhône varieties and commitment to producing the finest olive oils, it’s more than coltura promiscua—it’s a delicious dichotomy. SD sonomadiscoveries.com

29

’s a m Sono

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by Bo Kearns

Interest in beekeeping, home gardening and bee-friendly spaces surge as locals rally to protect declining species

T 30

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he bees are vanishing in alarming numbers— and no one knows why. Last year the US lost approximately 40 percent of its bee population. It’s a major concern and not just because of the lack of honey. Bees pollinate a third of the world’s food supply.

They are the source of the many good things we have come to love and expect. Without bees, there would be no melons or juicy mangoes, no crisp apples or nutritious blueberries, no potatoes or pumpkin pie. And forget that cup of morning coffee or Valentine’s Day box of chocolates. Pantries would be sparse, food bland.

Photos by Sarah Bradbury, Loren Hansen and Gary Ottonello

Honeybees are not native to the US. They were brought in by 17th century settlers for crop pollination. Unlike solitary native species, honeybees live in colonies and have greater pollination concentration. Both honeybees and native species are in decline.

Bees have been a part of civilization since the earliest of times. In the Caucasus region of Eurasia, archeologists uncovered a 5,500-year-old jar of honey, the oldest ever.

Honey was found in Tutankhamun’s tomb. And yet now, after eons of proliferation, the bees are dying. The rate of attrition accelerated in 2006 when colonies vanished without a trace. The phenomenon became known as Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD. Recently, bee species in Hawaii and the rusty-patched bumblebee in the Midwest were placed on the Endangered Species List, the first insects to achieve this dubious distinction.

So why are the bees dying off? Lack of suitable habitat and pesticides that weaken their immune system are reasons often cited.

Fortunately, Sonoma County hasn’t been idle waiting for answers. Many have already rallied to help the bees.

The Sonoma County Beekeeping Association (SCBA) is the largest of 16 local bee associations in California. “In 2010 we had 50 members,” says Ettamarie Peterson, beekeeper for 25 years and past president of SCBA. “Now we have over 450. I suspect the press alarm about CCD had something to do with it. Everyone wanted to help. Many wanted to become beekeepers.”

This might partially explain the jump in membership. Perhaps it also has something to do with the county’s agricultural heritage. Or maybe it’s the region’s farm-to-table movement and the focus on organic food. Or perhaps it’s just that locals feel strongly about their environment and protecting the special place where they live.

SCBA members range from Ukiah, down through the county and over

to Napa. The club is divided into five geographic ‘cluster’ mentoring groups. Workshops, hive dives and bee cafés offer learning opportunities and an exchange of experiences. Three years ago SCBA launched a classroom educational program. It’s been a huge success.

Sixty-five schools and 6,500 students have participated. One of those was Live Oak Preschool in Healdsburg. “This was our second year,” says Therese Walker, executive director.

“Four-year-olds tend to be afraid of bees. All they know is that they sting.” The preschoolers make cardboard hives and discuss all the things that happen in a bee colony. They get real excited when the SCBA team lets them try on the beekeeper white suit and veiled hat. One teacher even dresses up like the queen bee.

“It’s fun, educational and they’re no longer afraid,” Therese says.

Preschool through high school teachers may request a classroom visit by filling out a form on the SCBA website. And for anyone interested in bees and beekeeping, association meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Rohnert Park 4-H Center.

There’s always a guest speaker and meetings are open to the public.

The appropriately named Beekind store in Sebastopol opened to sell honey at about the same time as the CCD scare 10 years ago.

“People came in feeling sorry for us,” said Katia Vincent, co-owner along with her beekeeper husband, Doug. “They were concerned we wouldn’t have any honey. Then everyone wanted to help. They wanted to be beekeepers,” Katia says, echoing Ettamarie’s comments. “So we began stocking hives and accessories.”

Beekind is now the go-to-place for beekeeping equipment, honey and even bees. Visitors linger around a revolving multi-tiered tasting tray sampling an assortment of local, regional and international honeys. The names on the jars are tempting—Bolinas Eucalyptus, Toyon or California Christmas Berry, Tupelo and Italian Truffle are just a few. Customers purchase honey for its soothing, sweet taste. They also buy it for the health benefits. Raw honey is a source of vitamins, minerals and natural antibiotics. “Some hospitals use honey to treat wounds and reduce scarring,” says Katia. A starter hive, bee suit and accessories costs $500 to $650.

“We offer free introductory classes three times a year,” Doug says. “It’s a chance to learn what’s involved before making the plunge.”

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Serge Labesque’s classes In addition to the River Road stand, Hector and his family sell raw at Santa Rosa Junior honey, pollen, beeswax candles and vegetables at nine farmer’s College are a must markets in the area. for beekeepers. The Cheaper imported honey can be sessions are well purchased at supermarkets. But attended and many buyers beware! There are no FDA take the classes more standards for commercially sold than once. “Dedicated honey. Often honey produced beekeepers want to do commercially is heated to a the right thing for their high temperature to prevent bees,” Serge says. “The crystallization. Though more they know, the better there is nothing wrong with the chances of success. I learn crystallized honey, consumers Photos by Sarah Bradbury new things about bees all the prefer the familiar thick liquid time.” consistency, unaware that heat Some would find that hard to believe. With a full beard, soft destroys antioxidants and the antiviral voice and the focused mind of a scientist, Serge is Sonoma County’s properties that provide health benefits. And cheap honey may have bee guru. Serge disavows feeding bees sucrose or treating hives. “It been diluted. Be safe: buy local. weakens the genetics. It’s not good for the bee’s long-term survival.

Beekeepers in Sonoma County tend to be hobbyists. Yet Mike We should let nature improve on nature.” He’s a strong proponent of Turner of Windsor turned his passion and love of bees into a career. working with local bees and not purchasing As a professional beekeeper he manages hives packages online. Bees not acclimated to for wineries, farms and residences. “I’m like Sonoma County’s environment have less the pool guy or the gardener,” he says. “I chance of survival. And those from other provide a service. My service just happens Gravenstein Apple places may bring pathogens and weaken to involve bees.” Hiring a manager is ideal Fair Sweet on local populations. for those who want to help bees and the Pollinators Students in Serge’s classes learn good environment but don’t have the expertise or beekeeping practices and how to detect and time to acquire it. Mike provides hives—and The Gravenstein apple and the deal with issues early on. The aptly named bees too. On occasion he gets new bees when bees and other small creatures Varroa destructor is one of those issues. he’s called in to remove a swarm. “People that pollinate them are the focus of the 44th Annual Gravenstein The tiny mite arrived in North America panic when they encounter a swarm. It’s a Apple Fair, scheduled for August from Asia in 1987. Some say it’s an even natural reaction. Swarms look menacing, 12 and 13 in Sebastopol’s Ragle greater threat than CCD. Varroa hide and but they’re not. They’re actually quite gentle.

Ranch Park. Produced by Sonoma reproduce in the hive’s larval cells. They Bees swarm because they’ve outgrown their County Farm Trails, the theme for live off the larva and introduce viruses. hive. They’re just hanging out until they find this year’s fair is a timely one: “In Bees with strong genetics can fight them off; another spot.” SCBA’s website has an extensive Praise of the Pollinators.” Attendees weak hives are doomed. list of beekeepers who will come and take a will learn from local experts about the importance of bees and other Some beekeepers develop an interest swarm away. pollinators to our food supply and in bees at an early age. Hector Alvarez Mike manages seven hives for Jordan what they can do in their own of Hector’s Honey Farm in Fulton is a Vineyard and Winery in the Alexander Valley. yards to help them survive. There third-generation beekeeper. In Mexico his The winery’s property encompasses 1,200 will be beekeeping demos, cooking grandfather was a hobbyist and his father acres, most of which is natural habitat. demos using honey, and meadowned 120 hives. As a youngster Hector “The bees seem to like it here,” Chef Todd making demos followed by a mead tasting. Tilted Shed Ciderworks would tag along to help while learning Knoll says. Jordan’s apiary is situated in a is creating a special cider for the trade. Now with more than 700 hives, lush meadow opposite the culinary garden. this year’s fair that will contain he has considerably expanded the family “Eventually we’d like to replicate the Häagenhoney from Capracopia (also tradition. At his River Road farm stand Daz Honey Bee Haven at UC Davis,” Todd known as Redwood Hill Farm) and customers purchase jars of his golden says.

Gravenstein apples from various honey—blackberry, wildflower, lavender, In the meantime there’s no lack of pollen Farm Trails members. Michael and star thistle. And there’s an assortment and nectar for the bees. Walking past the herb Joshin Thiele of Gaia Bees, a leader in the biodynamic apiculture of freshly picked vegetables grown on the garden one detects the distinctive fragrance of movement, will speak about his farm’s fertile 14 acres, all pollinated by rosemary intermixed with basil. And there’s work; and master basket weaver Hector’s bees. Cows, chickens and goats dot thyme and blue borage. Flowerbeds of dark Charlie Kennard will demonstrate the landscape. Weathered white bee boxes rich earth brim with bright flowers. Further how to weave a basket hive called a occupy a spot in a corner. Goats wander on there’s an orchard and an experimental skep, used often as swarm catchers. among the hives munching tall green grass, berry patch. “I use honey as a sugar substitute In the children’s corner, kids will facilitating a flight path for the foragers. in recipes whenever I can. It adds character,” discover how to make seed bombs that encourage pollinators, flower Stacked bee boxes sit on pallets enabling Todd says. He uses bee pollen, too. “It makes crowns and seed mosaic art. For easy transport to parts of the county where a good salad topping. It’s multicolored and tickets and more information, visit blossoms proliferate throughout the season. it’s healthy.” He’s even commissioned a potter GravensteinAppleFair.com.

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The Melissa Garden, an inspiration Nymph Melissa of mythology spooned honey to the infant Zeus… and Melissa is the Greek word for bee.

On their 40-acre undeveloped property outside Healdsburg, Barbara and Jacques Schlumberger created a 2-acre bee sanctuary—a fantasyland for bees. “We were concerned about the plight of these fragile creatures. We wanted to have a special, natural place where they could thrive,” says Barbara.

And The Melissa Garden is that place. It’s a world devoid of pesticides. A world of copious untainted pollen and nectar. A world absent of all the bad things humans wittingly or unwittingly do to their environment.

Plants bloom most of the year, yet it is spring when the garden comes to life. Pollinators proliferate—not only bees, but butterflies and hummingbirds too. The garden turns into a kaleidoscope of color—bright yellows, subtle reds and deep purples set against a background of vivid young green. The first to bloom are the California poppies, borage and the native blue Phacelia tanacetifolia. Local manzanita and mustard grow on the hillsides. And moss-covered rock taken from the property border the pathways providing a feeling of ageless time. The garden centerpiece is a circular tiered fountain where water cascades over the sides. “There used to be lawn here,” Barbara says.

“It required a lot of maintenance. This is so much better. And it’s a place for bees to come for a drink.”

The Schlumbergers thought only beekeepers would be interested in what they had created. Not so.

People from all over the world—master gardeners, naturalists, garden clubs and those wanting to learn more about habitat gardening all came to share their stories. “My favorite time was when the kids from the Waldorf School came to visit. We’d sit under the oaks and talk about the bees. Then I’d ask them to sit quietly and listen to the sounds of nature—the bees humming, the birds chirping in the trees, the rustle of the leaves.”

After living on their spectacular property for 16 years Barbara and Jacques are downsizing. The property is for sale. “It’s sad to leave,” Barbara says wistfully. “Yet we have so many wonderful memories from our time here.“ Then her eyes light up and she smiles. “But don’t think I’m going to stop helping the bees. No way. Wherever we end up, I’ll still be planting for the pollinators.”

The site and garden were designed by Kate Frey, author of the book “Bee-Friendly Gardens” and coowner of The American Garden School in Forestville.

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Photos by Sarah Bradbury

Photo by Kate Frey

Photos by Sarah Bradbury

to make honey pots from the property’s clay-infused soil. The small containers with honey will accompany aged, nutty cheese selections. Visitors come to Jordan for the wine—and the experience. On tours they get to visit the culinary garden and the apiary. They can hike the vineyards or drive past scenic vistas where cattle roam the hillsides.

Jordan Winery is an oasis in the midst of a grape-growing monoculture where bees often struggle to find diverse sources of pollen and nectar. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Sonoma County needs both bees and grapes. Hedgerows, natural brush and buffer strips alongside vineyards can provide bee habitat. And the selective use of vineyard cover crops can also help. Cover crops protect soil from erosion, improve fertility and serve as a haven for beneficial insects. During the winter months much of the valley is blanketed with vibrant yellow mustard, a cover crop that attracts bees. But then the arrival of spring brings morning fog and, by necessity, tall mustard stalks have to be tilled or mowed to prevent frost from settling on top and penetrating the canopy.

Then other seasonal crop mixes like red clover, rye, fava beans, dandelion and the easy-growing purple Phacelia californica can take over and continue to nurture the soil and provide nutrients for the bees.

So what about the many of us who don’t own a vast property, a vineyard or are not inclined to become beekeepers?

What can we do? The good news is that bees actually thrive even better in urban settings and neighborhoods where there’s plant diversity, irrigation and less use of pesticides. They are attracted to colorful flowers, fragrant herb and vegetable gardens, and pots of bright blossoms on a deck. They like certain trees and shrubs, too—bay, manzanita, eucalyptus, bottle brush and citrus are favorites. What’s not good is the use of systemic neonicotinoid pesticides, a nicotine-based chemical linked to bee decline. In a reaction to environmental and consumer concerns, Costco, Lowe’s Home Improvement and Home Depot have adopted bee-friendly policies aimed at reducing the use of neonics.

Sonoma County is in the vanguard of a movement to save the bees—and our food supply. With the ongoing support of home gardeners, dedicated beekeepers, farmers, wineries and vineyards—that can happen!

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“Without pollinators our food supply would collapse—beautiful landscapes would become barren.” —Bo Kearns

Photos by Sarah Bradbury

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BORN TO TRACK

Occidental tracker takes students on a journey through the millennia

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by David Abbott Photos by Loren Hansen

“Tracking started out for hunting and killing, but now it’s evolving into conservation.”

Jim Sullivan

T

racking is an ancient art that can put us in touch with our most basic inner selves and our ancestors that came down from the canopies on the savannahs of South Africa, and with all the distractions of the modern world—from the jobs that keep us under banks of neon lights all day, to the electronic devices that take us out of the moment—it can be refreshing to head into the wilds of Sonoma County to reconnect with our origins.

Through its community education program, Santa Rosa Junior College offers an 8-week animal tracking and bird language course taught by Occidental resident Jim Sullivan, whose story is as fascinating as the subject he teaches. He also hosts a monthly Tracking Circle for experienced trackers.

I joined up with Sullivan and a group of intrepid would-be trackers during a break in the stormy winter for a philosophical soirée to Bodega Dunes as part of an introductory class. Despite weeks of rain, a beautiful day greeted us as we took a glimpse into the world and mindset of the modern tracker.

His class description reads thus: “As we learn about animal tracks and bird language, we’ll also explore how the ancient trackers moved through sacred time, and we’ll tap into the contemporary cognitive sciences to further illuminate what it means to engage wild animals in deep time, in their own territories.”

Sullivan gathered the group together to help familiarize them with their surroundings and make them aware of the world directly around them.

“We were born to track,” he said as he stood in a trampled clearing near the entrance to Bodega Dunes State Park. “It releases an ancient capacity in us.”

He explained that hunter-gatherers’ brains formed because they had enough protein in their diets to feed brain tissue. By extension, the brain developed to facilitate tracking: the eyes developed to send the proper messages to the brain, which organized itself to be able to understand and “read” its prey and anticipate behavior.

Several birds flew overhead as Sullivan described the differences

Jim Sullivan

between a crow and a raven and told us to count the number of wing flaps made by a raptor to propel itself through the air to help determine its species. He asked us to listen, deciphered birdcalls and explained about the way deer tear at leaves with the tongue and palette, as they have no upper teeth, while rodents cut leaves with their teeth.

We went on, observing tracks and ruts, made by people, animals and vehicles, and listened to the planes flying overhead.

All the while, Sullivan pointed out things that seemed obvious, but existed in a place just beyond immediate perception. He told us about reading an animal’s gait by the prints it leaves behind and broke apart pieces of scat to help decipher its source: coyotes have longer digestive systems than cats, so the feces is darker because it spent longer in the gut; paw orientation differs at different speeds.

After three hours we had crossed the millennia and had not even left Sonoma County.

A few of the trackers in the group were long-time or repeat students of Sullivan’s, such as Cazadero resident Ginger Hadley, who scouted out the route for us, and Joe Martinelli, who began tracking at the age of four. Martinelli said that the class has given him a vocabulary to go with his tracking and he looks forward to passing it along to his sons who are in their 30s.

“It wakes me up in my bones and excites them,” Martinelli said. “It helps me understand where I came from. Jim has inspired me and reminded me there’s a huge story in the track. Hopefully, we’re not lying to ourselves when we tell that story.”

Crossing the millennia

According to Sullivan, the origin of tracking goes back 4 to 7 million years, to our ancestors, the primates living in the forests of South Africa. They were living up in the trees on fruits and nuts and small monkeys. They were also socially strong and well organized. It was during a planetary dry period when they came down to the ground, to follow fruit that was falling and fermenting on the ground.

“They liked to get drunk,” Sullivan said. “Then they came sonomadiscoveries.com

39

down to the savannahs into the tall grass.”

The move to the ground led to further evolution of the species, as they rose up from their knuckles to peer over the grasses. The ability to do that gave them advantages over other animals and eventually their eyes began to focus at longer distances and became a “stalk of the brain.” This led to further reorganization of the brain around the visual stimulus.

“Vision and tracking were supported by thinking,” Sullivan said.

“Two million years ago, trackers were getting meat so they had the protein to develop brain matter.”

The human brain developed to the point where it is on the level of complexity with the universe, although much of what it does is on an unconscious level.

“The conscious mind is a small thing compared to the unconscious,” Sullivan said. “We leave a lot to the unconscious brain. If you move toward the unconscious, you’ll find the unconscious is more right than the conscious.”

But tracking is about more than evolution and getting into

at the University of Vienna in 1957. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in science with a focus on biology.

From there, he joined the infantry and entered into officer training. He served in Korea from December 1960 to March 1962, but resigned his commission in protest of U.S. foreign policy in Asia.

“One of my fellow officers told me if I wanted to make a career in the military, I needed to study guerilla warfare,” Sullivan said. “I read Che Guevara [“La Guerra de Guerrillas”] and five pages into it, my mind completely changed.”

He was discharged in August 1962 and eventually made his way to Haight-Ashbury during the height of the free speech and antiwar movements. Like many West County elders, he moved into the hills during the back-to-the-land movement and has lived on the Joy Ridge property off and on since he moved there in 1976.

After a career as a landscape designer/contractor, he retired in the early 1990s.

Sullivan focuses on the “tracker’s mind” and posits that our ancestors prior to the last Ice Age had better memories and physically

the mind of prey. It is also a reminder of the relationship we have with time, particularly taken in concert with birdcalls. As Sullivan explained, “Tracking happens in the past. Bird language is immediate contact with the animal in present time.”

“We are not in direct contact with reality,” he added. “Pain is not in the hand, but in the brain. The working model of the self is not in real time and that should give you a sense of humility in your contact with the world.”

were in better shape than modern humans.

“They were not negligent about their minds,” he said. “It was a new thing in the world and they started seeing the difference between them and the other animals.”

When he began his tracking pursuits more than a decade ago, there was not much in the way of recorded knowledge and most of what existed was passed along orally. Sullivan credits a New Jersey man by the name of Tom Brown, Jr. for the current state of available information, and he soon hopes to write his own book featuring his ideas on the philosophical aspects of tracking.

“Tracking started out for hunting and killing, but now it’s evolving into conservation,” he said. “Tracking is about making meaning. What does it mean for something to be meaningful?

Meaning has a simple definition: it’s putting sensory input into context with what you know.”

The tracker on the hill

I later met up with Sullivan to talk about the philosophy of tracking, an area he has “staked out.” For most of his 80 years on Earth, and in Sonoma County, Sullivan has tramped the hills of the West County around his home at the top of Joy Ridge, northeast of the town of Bodega.

Sullivan is a fourth generation Sonoma County resident. His family moved to the area in 1873. He was born in Santa Rosa, “when the population was only 10,000.” His father Harvey and uncle Austin ran Keegan Bros. haberdashery, a multi-generational family men’s clothier, so the family was high profile and wellconnected.

Sullivan’s life path took him to the University of Notre Dame, where he played football with Paul Hornung, but gave up the game because of the physical toll it was taking on his body. In pursuit of his degree, he attended the Institute for European Studies and studied 40

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Resources

Community Education link: communityed.santarosa.edu Jim Sullivan’s websites: Jasfineart.com, animaltrackingandbirdlanguage.com Tracking Autumn and the Deer Rut Oct. 21-24: Four days of observing Bodega Dunes Wildlife and Deer with Jim Sullivan and educator, wildlife ecologist and author Meghan Walla-Murphy of Occidental. Space limited. Contact Sullivan: 707-834-9927

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Join us to experience Sonoma County Just south of the town of Healdsburg, our winery and tasting room are nestled in the sweeping vineyards of Russian River Valley. Taste our exceptional quality wines, take a tour or join us for one of the many events held throughout the year.

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11455 Old Redwood Hwy, Healdsburg, CA | 800.678.4763 | RodneyStrong.com

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Caretaker’s Cottage in ‘Paradise’

by Patricia M. Roth photos by Sarah Bradbury

R

obin Berardini knows that time is precious—and as a realtor, she knows a thing or two about housing.

So when her 82-year-old mother had to move out of the Southern California house that she long shared with her Italian sister, Isabella, Robin decided to bring her mom to Forestville, Robin’s home of 28 years, and provide her with her a place of her own.

“I didn’t want my mom to be put in assisted living. She would have been so sad, and it would have broken my heart. I needed to come up with another solution,” Robin said.

Fortunately, Robin’s solution had a positive ending—or rather, offered a new beginning. Today she and her mother Connie live 30 feet away from each other. “She’s right across the driveway… My mom has the highest spot and the best view on my property. She sees orchards, vineyards, redwood trees, the Geysers and Mount St. Helena from her chair on the porch,” Robin said. “And I get to see her every day.”

Recent state and local legislation have eased the costs and hurdles of making such a major move possible. Previously families would have had to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a second unit on their properties for loved ones.

The County of Sonoma now offers special use permits for temporary home-care cottages and has eased some restrictions for permanent second units.

This was exactly what Robin’s family needed. “When my mom was my age, she told me, ‘Honey, I don’t want to live with you. It’s important for us to have our autonomy.’ Since I had been a realtor for so long, I had heard this often. Then I found

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Robin Berardini is now able to enjoy daily visits with her mother, Connie, after Robin placed a Little House on the Trailer home-care cottage on her property in Forestville.

The efficient unit features a full kitchen, bathroom with full-size shower, laundry nook, and generous bedroom.

Stephen Marshall with Little House on the Trailer,” Robin said.

Robin met with Stephen at his Petalumabased company, which builds what are best known as affordable backyard accessory dwelling units (ADUs). He builds two kinds: Home Care Cottages and Second Units.

The Home Care Cottages are recreational trailers that look like regular houses. To be eligible, the caretaker must have a physician’s note. Turnaround from start to finish can be swift—around 90 days, Stephen said.

The cost to buy a basic trailer is $65,000; onsite expenses run about $15,000. There’s a $600 one-time fee the owner must pay to the county, and an annual $125 renewal fee thereafter, he explained.

Second units are permanent buildings that become an improvement to the owner’s property. They require a building permit, an engineered foundation, utility hookups and fire protection. At Little House on the Trailer, the units cost $100,000, and typically $50,000 in permits and site work (see story next page by Samantha Campos).

“Because things are so particular to sites, general information is hard to make useful or relevant to individuals. You need a consultant to embark on one of

these projects and I have a consultant for obtaining permits, and I refer people to him,” Stephen said.

Though Robin has 30 years of real estate experience, she said hiring a consultant to navigate the process was important.

Otherwise, “It’s confusing,” she said. “The county has its own set of guidelines, which they are loosening, and the city has its own set of guidelines, too.” She started by talking to Stephen Marshall, who guided her through the process. “He was a godsend… having that man by my side. It was so emotional and I wanted to make sure I was doing everything right.”

Robin said they looked at floor plans and talked about her mom’s needs. “The unit is so efficient. We upgraded to French doors and 9-foot ceilings. We have a full kitchen, which we upgraded with a dishwasher.

Down the hall there’s a bathroom and a fullsize shower, and to the right is her generous bedroom with a full-size closet. We put her TV on the wall and installed a pocket door to save space. In the living room, in the corner, we got a circular dining table.

We bought two couches made by women in South Carolina that turn into two single beds. It’s darling. “

Because Robin works full-time, she also hired a companion for her mother who prepares meals four days a week and “gets her out and about during the day. James has a cute dog named Jasper, who’s a little ambassador for Sonoma County. James takes my mom out and they go galavanting all over Sonoma County,” Robin said.

It took seven months for Robin to orchestrate packing and moving her mother from Southern California, where she had lived her entire life, into her custom-made cottage in Forestville. “She thinks she is in paradise—in fact that’s what she tells me: “I live in paradise,” Robin said.

The change in housing laws that enabled Robin to place a cottage on her property has made a marked difference in Robin’s family life and future. “It’s overwhelmingly beautiful to see my mother blossom and be happy and to get to know her. I’ve learned more about my mom in the last six months than the last 40 years. My heart is very full for her,” she said.

Robin’s advice to others who may be considering what she and her mom have done? “Don’t waste time, life is precious.

Enjoy your family.” SD sonomadiscoveries.com

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Stephen Marshall of Little House on the Trailer stands in a model of a secondary unit. Photos by Sarah Bradbury

Solving Big Problems with Little Houses

J

ust over a year and a half ago, Jane Ingalls retired as an Earth Sciences Librarian at Stanford University. Now on a fixed income, Ingalls knew she wouldn’t be able to afford to continue living in the Bay Area. But she did have land in Mendocino County. And she had known Stephen Marshall for years.

Marshall owns and operates Little House on the Trailer, a Petaluma-based business that has designed and manufactured secondary units for the past nine years. Also known as accessory dwelling units, these homes range from 400 to 800 square feet, are fully customizable and delivered with utility hookups, generally within two months.

After much research and consideration, Ingalls

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purchased her own Little House in September of 2016. “They were so pretty, so nicely designed,” she said, noting the showroom on Petaluma Boulevard North. She wanted windows that would take advantage of her property’s beautiful views, and she wanted the living room to be big enough for her family’s Oriental rug. She also opted for sliding glass doors, a deck on the south side, and linoleum wood flooring.

“From the time I ordered it until the time it was ready [for delivery],” said Ingalls, “it was just like two months—it was really fast.” Ingalls even went with Marshall to the manufacturing factory in the Central Valley, and was fascinated by the efficiency of the assembly line.

Ingalls’ home, which she is using as her primary

photo by Sarah Bradbury

by Samantha Campos

residence, is 800 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths. “Even though the rooms are small, I have so many windows and it looks out on so much open space that it doesn’t feel confined,” she said.

Little House on the Trailer also designs and manufactures smaller secondary units, but unlike the media darlings seen on TV, they can only be moved by a professional transport service. As of this year, new statewide legislation lowers costs and reduces requirements for secondary dwelling units. Sonoma County is currently considering implementing villages of accessory dwelling units to tackle homelessness. And in unincorporated areas of Sonoma County, home care cottages receive special permitting.

Marshall and his team are currently working on a project in Healdsburg, where the City has completed all of its policy revisions to the new state regulations and have reduced fees by about half. The City also removed requirement for sprinklers, which can run to $10,000 potentially, and removed parking requirements mandated by

the state. “All together I’d say there’s been an easy $20,000 removed from the burden,” said Marshall, who noted that prior parking requirements killed 90 percent of secondary unit projects.

A 70-year-old general contractor, Marshall built his first house in Inverness in 1973. After building about a dozen conventional houses, he became a cabinetmaker for 30 years, mostly supplying high-end houses in Stinson Beach and Pacific Heights. But after a few years, he changed course. “I decided to open up this other business because I kind of finished with the high-end world,” he said, “and I was curious about affordable housing—that’s actually driven my interest.”

Marshall attended Stanford University in the 1960s and studied product design, building some geodesic domes and recycled shacks up in the hills above Palo Alto with a community of design students. “And it’s really where my passion was,” he said. “I just couldn’t find an outlet for it. I thought about going to work for a mobile home manufacturer in Indiana, but at the time,

they weren’t interested in radical young design students. So I moved to Marin County and became a builder.”

At Little House on the Trailer Marshall initially built everything by hand, with his crew. Now he’s using major factories, just to get the prices that his customers need. He used to do accessory dwelling units in Marin County for $300,000—just for the unit alone. But that’s not what’s inspiring to him.

“I’m excited, actually, passionate about, something being affordable, even more than something being the most extravagantly well built,” he said, “because I’ve done that. In my experiences it goes into second or third homes for very wealthy people. No one’s really benefitting.

“I’ve always felt this way—that there are people that have everything they need and people that don’t have everything that they need, and the people that don’t have it outnumber the people that do have it,” said Marshall. “I just think that even though I’ve got mine, I would be much happier that everybody had something modest than a few people having something grand.” SD sonomadiscoveries.com

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heritage+

Korean textile artist Youngman Lee

Fiber Art Wonderland SCA’s International Fiber Art Exhibition adds workshops, lectures, Korean Weekend this year

by Patricia M. Roth Cycle of Life by Susan Kathleen Doyle

W

hen you enter the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, inside the Sebastopol Veterans Building, you will find yourself marveling at the wonderland of techniques and materials displayed at the Eighth Biennial International Fiber Art Exhibition. The show opens at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 28, and runs through Sept. 3.

More than 500 national and international artists answered the call to submit innovative and traditional fiber artwork to International Fiber Arts VIII, held in collaboration with the Surface Design Association. Jurors Wendy Lugg from Australia, Jason Pollen from Kansas City and Eszter Bornemisza from Hungary selected 80 pieces for SCA’s signature show.

“The jurors are all well known, knowledgeable and skilled in their field, and the jurors can see when something is really well-done. Some of the weavings

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are mind-blowing so it’s hard to describe—that’s why people should come and see it. It’s very rewarding,” said SCA Visual Arts Director Catherine Devriese.

Multi-dimensional, colorful, surprising and sensual in texture, there will be pieces hung on the wall, suspended from the ceiling and staged upon landing zones.

Some will invite you to wander through them as you might a maze of filtered light; others may lure you in with their details— as in last year’s “Trail of Tears/The Long Walk,” featuring Czechoslovakian glass teardrop beads, antique-bone-pipe beads, feathers, hand-painted ropes and digital printing on fabric.

Through their unique works, artists cast energy into an artistic arena of social, political and personal expression. In the warp and weft of their tapestries, artists may summon you to listen to stories unearthed from the past or made up for fun. In one piece (see photo), co-created by a fiber artist who will be talking at an

accompanying workshop, stitches bind silk buds, leaves and flowers into a dress made to cover a friend’s coffin. Fabrics such as polyester have been manipulated into seemingly iridescent stone-like structures, metal is knitted into forms— and the list goes on.

Joy Stocksdale of Sebastopol has coordinated the show with Bill Yoes since it started 17 years ago. “I’m always amazed to see who enters and at the amount of people who are interested.

Then, of course, I’m surprised when we unpack the boxes and get to see and touch the fiber art,” she said.

Stocksdale is herself a fiber artist and teacher, with work exhibited throughout the US. She also developed polychromatic screen printing. She offered a perspective on fiber art in the US. “Individual fiber artists became recognized in the sixties, when fiber art was influenced by an upheaval of culture, and people began to appreciate that approach because it

was unique work and wasn’t following tradition—people painting fabrics, embroidering their jeans and tie dying t-shirts, for example. Fashion designers of the period used motifs and hand-made techniques borrowed from the counterculture,” she noted.

“More currently, knitting, crocheting, tiedyeing and printing have had a resurgence with the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Movement.

It is born out of a need for something better designed and one-of-a-kind, substantially made, creatively approached, and has the hand of the maker instead of stamped from automation,” Stocksdale said.

West County weaver and Sonoma Discoveries’ contributor Abby Bard, who began weaving 40 years ago upon encountering fabrics from Guatemala, said the international show gives her an opportunity “to see the imaginative ways artists around the world express themselves, particularly with their use of innovative technique. Since I spend many hours alone working in my studio here in Sebastopol, I’m fascinated to see the work of other fiber artists and the directions they are taking,” she said.

“I love when I see a piece of fiber art, and wonder: ‘how did they do that?’ It’s refreshing to see how other artists combine materials and colors, and it inspires me to go deeper in my own technique… Fiber art, full of texture and dimension, is best seen up close.”

design. Master Seamstress Koo Haej will display children’s ceremonial dress sets. Both adults and young people are encouraged to attend.

In Sheila O’Hara’s August 19 lecture, ‘Handweaving in the Computer Age,’ she will explain how computer technology has supported the creation of complex weave structures, “allowing the dream of individual thread control to become possible.” O’Hara’s latest work includes lush landscapes, real and imaginary, and a series of jacquard tapestries inspired by Edward Curtis photographs of Native American

Exhibition Extras

Indians. Her work, often humorous, is shown in public, private and museum collections, including the de Young Museum.

How do fiber arts serve as a barometer of change in the visual arts of our time?

How does art intersect with cultural, social and political issues? A panel of fiber artists will address those questions and offer their own fiber art examples in “A Conversation about Fiber Art Today.” Join Carole Beadle, professor emeritus with the California College of the Arts and professor at College of Marin, and Bay Area fiber artists Lara Myers, George-Ann Bowers, Teddy Milder, Susan Doyle and Roz Ritter on August 20.

Then on to Mali on August 26 with Cynthia LeCount Samaké. “The West African country of Mali is home to more fiber artists and designers than most other countries of the world. The presentation, ‘Rhythm and Hues: Cloth and Culture of Mali’ gives long overdue recognition to the talented Africans who create stunning fabrics

Workshops and lectures will be held in conjunction with the exhibition this year.

There will be a Korean art exhibit in one of SCA’s galleries and a Korean Weekend with entertainment, food, workshops and lectures.

Korean textile artist Youngmin Lee teaches two hands-on workshops about the most unique form of Korean textile art: bojagi, wrapped cloths pieced together from small scraps of cloth. Jogakbo, or patchwork bojagi, is said to be relaxing.

“While working on the bojagi, wish for the happiness and well-being of the recipient of your finished bojagi,” noted the workshop description.

SCA welcomes Korean dress historian Dr. Minjee Kim, whose presentation “Fashion and Textile Art of Korea: the Dynamism of Interrelationships” covers how traditional wrapping cloths and clothing construction developed into a genre of textile art and an inspirational source in contemporary fashion

Malian man in locally made stunning garment

and shows vibrantly colored examples of their contemporary work,” according to Samaké. The former UC Davis world textiles instructor now travels the world through her tour company, Behind the Scenes Adventures. She and her husband, Barou Samaké from Segou, Mali, led tours with dye workshops to Mali until travel there became too dangerous for foreigners.

Fiber Art

Stocksdale, a board member of the Textile Arts Council for the de Young Museum, believes fiber art is starting to get the attention it deserves as an art form. “Currently fiber art is gaining more acceptance in the broader art world. Some artists are crossing over from painting and sculpture into fiber art, which wasn’t happening before the 1970s as much. For the most part, I think there is more acceptance of fiber arts in the fine arts area. I think fiber art is becoming a more respected art form.”

Dallas Saunders, owner of Dallas A. Saunders Artisan Textiles in Geyserville, agreed.

“Right now, I think fiber as a medium is incredibly exciting. Artists are creating new spaces/experiences with three-dimensional pieces large and small. It is also very exciting to see artists taking new interest in knitting, quilting and needlepoint,” Saunders said.

Though Saunders’ gallery/showroom is a bit of a destination, she said it has not deterred people from coming. Interest in the jacquard tapestries by internationally acclaimed artists such as Kiki Smith and Chuck Close and artisan mill-woven textiles in the gallery/showroom continues to increase. This interest seems to align with the popularity of SCA’s signature show.

“Now I want to explore the medium more extensively,” she said.

“It is one of the most popular shows ever,” said Stocksdale. Sebastopol is an outof-the-way place but it’s being recognized for the show because we do it consistently, people look for it and anticipate it coming.

A lot of artists seek out the show, as well as appreciators.” SD Resources For more about SCA, presenters’ websites, and date of upcoming exhibition tour, visit sebarts.org. Fiber Art VIII Opening Reception: July 28, 6-8 p.m. joystocksdale.com abbybardhandwoven.com dallassaunders.com sonomadiscoveries.com

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ART&ABOUT

Cloverdale Arts Alliance Gallery

Through July 21: “Sauté” promises sizzling art with guest sculptor Mike Laflin and guest collage artist John Hundt; featured resident artist Pamela Heck; and resident artists Laura Paine Carr, Jane Gardner, Terry Holleman, Sharon Kozel, Paul Maurer and Hanya Popova Parker. Open Fri.-Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 204 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. cloverdaleartsalliance.org Dallas A. Saunders Artisan Textiles

Through Sept. 3: Belgian jacquard tapestries woven by internationally recognized artists: Chuck Close, April Gornik, Diane Andrews Hall, Gus Heinz, Robert Kushner, Ed Moses and Kiki Smith. Open Fri.-Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. or by appt. 275 Hwy. 128, Geyserville. dallasasaunders.com Dovetail Collection Gallery

Handmade furniture featuring traditional craftsmanship and the beauty of fine woods, home decor and art from American artists and master craftsmen. Open Thurs.-Mon. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and by appt. 407 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. dovetailcollection.com Erickson Fine Art Gallery

Representing the best of Northern California painters and sculptors: Bobette Barnes, Joe Draegert, Finley Fryer, Chris Grassano, Susan Hall, John Haines, Ken Jarvela, Jerome Kirk, Donna McGinnis, Michael Mew, Tom

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Monaghan, Jean Mooney, Jeanne Mullen, Bob Nugent, Carlos Perez, Sam Racina, Carol Setterlund, Jeffrey Van Dyke, Paul Van Lith, Antoinette Von Grone and Kathleen Youngquist. Open daily 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Wed. by appt. 324 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg. ericksonfineartgallery.com Graton Gallery

Through July 9: “Line and Color” featuring Bruce Hopkins, artist reception June 3, 2-5 p.m.

July 11-Aug. 13, Third Annual “Anything Goes” Show, artist reception July 15, 2-5 p.m. Aug. 15-Sept. 24: “New Work” with Susan Proehl and Sandra Rubin, artist reception August 19, 2-5 p.m. Sept. 26-Nov. 5: “New Work” with Marylu Downing, artist reception Sept.

30, 2-5 p.m. Open Tues.-Sat. 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 9048 Graton Rd., Graton. gratongallery.net Gualala Arts’ Dolphin Gallery

Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thurs.Mon. 39225 Hwy. 1, Gualala. gualalaarts.org Hammerfriar Gallery

Through August 16: “Beneath the Sea Ice” Paintings from Antarctica by Lily Simonson.

Artist talk, with special guest and biologist Gretchen Hofmann (who worked with Lily in Antarctica), July 29, 7-8 p.m.

(RSVP required). Paintings can be viewed under black light to experience what Lily did when she scuba-dived in Antarctica.

She is an artist who frequently embeds in research expeditions

Oriental Poppies by Carolyn Wilson, Upstairs Art Gallery

Gualala Arts Center

“Art in the Redwoods” Aug. 12-13. See Events Calendar for details.

Weekdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m., weekends 12-4 p.m. Gualala Arts Center, 46501 Old State Hwy., Gualala. gualalaarts.org

to remote environments. Her works have been exhibited across the US and Europe, her art appearing in a range of media outlets. Open Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 132 Mill St., Suite 101, Healdsburg. hammerfriar.com The Hand Fan Museum

The nation’s first museum dedicated solely to hand fans, displaying a core collection of more than 500 fans from around the world. Open Wed.-Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 219 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. handfanmuseum.org Healdsburg Center for the Arts

Through July 16: “POP! The Power of Printmaking,” a juried exhibition that explores the unique ability of printmakers to express concerns about the world around them. Experience the thoughts, ideas and visions these artists share through their printmaking.

Open daily (except Tues.) 11 a.m.-5

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p.m., Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 130 Plaza St., Healdsburg. healdsburgcenterforthearts.com

The Sculpture Trail

This is a year-round outdoor art display in the northern Sonoma County communities of Cloverdale and Geyserville.

Discover quality works by sculptors from California and beyond. These contemporary sculptures range from the humorous to the thoughtprovoking, and some contain a message or story. The exhibit changes yearly the first week in May. Find sculpture location maps at 101sculpturetrail.com.

Heron Hall Art Gallery

Sept. 1-Jan. 4, 2018: “Natural Juxtaposition” featuring photographs by Dave Strauss.

Opening reception Sept. 16, 3-5 p.m. Laguna Environmental Center, 900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa. lagunadesantarosa.org Kitty Hawk Gallery

Fresh hotspot for local and global emerging artists.

Contemporary and conceptual work and rare finds. Open Mondays and Wed.-Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 125 N. Main St., Sebastopol. kittyhawkgallery. com

Towers Gallery

Presents local two- and threedimensional fine art, unique gifts and artisan foods. New shows and receptions held throughout the year. 210 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. 894-4331 (call for hours). towersgallery.org

Occidental Center for the Arts

Through July 30: “ROOTS” – an exhibition of works

by Sonoma County artists interpreting personal roots, historical roots, ancestral roots, tree roots, seedling roots or others. Open Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and during OCA events or by appt. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct., Occidental. occidentalcenterforthearts.org Paul Mahder Gallery

Introducing new works by represented fine artists along with new artists and collections.

All artwork is original and exclusive to the gallery. Visit the website for current exhibitions.

Open Wed.-Mon. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 222 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. paulmahdergallery. com The Ren Brown Collection Gallery

Showcasing contemporary Japanese prints, handmade ceramics and jewelry, Japanese antiques, along with California artists and sculptors. Open Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 1781 Coast Hwy. 1, Bodega Bay. renbrown.com

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Sea Angel by Lily Simonson, Hammerfriar Gallery

Upstairs Art Gallery Sebastopol Center for the Arts

Through July 23: “Blue,” its many shades and meanings.

Concurrently, in Gallery II: “Painted Words - Juried Showcase of Lettering Arts” with work selected by juror and calligrapher Carl Rohrs.

Gallery III: “The Art of the Portrait” featuring printmaker Pieter Myers, who brings the classical medium of copper plate photogravure to portraiture.

July 28-Sept. 3: “Fiber Art VIII” an international, biennial juried exhibit cosponsored by the Surface Design Association.

Highlights inclulde Korean Weekend Aug. 5-6 with workshops on traditional Korean fiber art; a presentation Aug. 19 by Sheila O’Hara, an innovator in the use of computer-generated designs for tapestries; a panel discussion Aug. 20 led by renowned textile artist and teacher Carole Beadle along with five other Bay Area fiber artists; and a presentation Aug. 26 by Cynthia LeCount Samaké, who leads textilethemed trips all over the world.

Hours: Tues.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4

p.m., Sat.-Sun. 1-4 p.m. 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. sebarts.org Sebastopol Gallery

Through July 29: “Birds of a Feather” features the work of wildlife photographer Jim Cyb, whose images often incorporate time-lapse images of one bird composited in photoshop to create a single photograph, recording the bird’s movement across a rocky terrain or the arc of its dive for food. Reception to celebrate Jim’s art and Sebastopol Gallery’s 10 years, July 15, 4 to 6 p.m. Open daily 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 150 North Main St., Sebastopol. sebastopolgallery.com The Passdoor

Artisan and second-generation woodworker Wayne Berger creates artwork and custom furniture pieces that are on exhibit and available exclusively through The Passdoor this summer. Open daily 11 a.m.6 p.m. or by appt. 6780 McKinley St. #150, Sebastopol. thepassdoor.com

Featured in July: Carolyn Wilson Watercolor, mixed media and collage depicting travels to Britain. Small works in oil by Cynthia Jackson Hein. August: Lenona Winter exhibits plein-air oil paintings of favorite Sonoma County places, as well as lightfilled still-life paintings done in her Sebastopol studio. Laura Roney’s oil paintings are shown in the Small Works Gallery. September: Debbie Harding’s pastel paintings of landscapes and flowers. Tony Mininno will occupy the Small Works Gallery with landscapes of Sonoma County. Sixteen resident artists display an impressive array of original paintings, fine art reproductions, jewelry and artisan crafts. Voted one of the top three galleries in the region. Open daily 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Located in the heart of Healdsburg on the Plaza at 306 Center Street. upstairsartgallery net

Discover art & the artists at the Center for the Arts at the Veteran’s Memorial Building

Open Studios • Oct 14-15 & 21-22 Preview Exhibit • Sept 29-Oct 22 282 S. High St, Sebastopol

707-829-4797

www.sebarts.org Gallery Hours: Tues-Fri 10a-4p, Sat-Sun 1-4p

by Local Sonoma County Artists

NYC Since 1971 • GEYSERVILLE 2017

275 Highway 128, Geyserville 95441 at Dallas A. Saunders Artisan Textiles

707-708-9065

150 North Main St. Sebastopol, CA open daily 11 to 6 • 707.829.7200

www.sebastopol-gallery.com

You’ll love what you find!

Antique Society on Sebastopol’s Antique Row 2661 Gravenstein Hwy So. (Hwy 116) • Sebastopol www.AntiqueSociety.com Open Daily! Cafe on Site!

707-829-1733

• Architectural Items •

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ONGOING

Bodega Lab Tours

Discover the marine community living below the surface of our coastal waters and the estuary of Bodega Harbor. The lab, operated by UC Davis, features harbor and sub-tidal seashore aquariums and other displays. Public drop-in tours, most Fridays from 2-4 p.m. for groups of less than 10. Docentled tours for larger groups on other weekdays can be reserved in advance. 2099 Westside Rd., Bodega Bay. bml.ucdavis.edu ONGOING

Rescue Horse Farm Tours

Every Saturday, Icssoma Farm—the site of a horse rescue nonprofit called Well Trained Horses—offers tours during 8 a.m. feedings. “On your visit you’ll begin to understand some of the dramatic differences between how horses and humans see the world and how to interact with horses based on their physiology,” said founder Susan Jan Hornstein. Call at least one day in advance. welltrainedhorses.com SECOND AND FOURTH TUESDAYS

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1

Friday Night Live at the Plaza & Street Fair, Cloverdale

Cloverdale Arts Alliance announces free, family-friendly concerts, from The Lil’ Smokies June 30 to retro soul band Monophonics Aug. 25. The Street Fair has a new footprint plus fresh food choices, artists, crafters and wellness products.

Fun kids’ activities. Street Fair 6 p.m., music 6:30 p.m. cloverdaleartsalliance.org THROUGH SEPTEMBER 6

JULY 29

Peacetown Summer Concert Series

Fort Ross Festival California State Parks and Fort Ross Conservancy bring this annual event to a beautiful coast setting to celebrate the Kashia, Russian, Alaska Native, and California ranch-era people who have called Fort Ross home over the centuries. Family-friendly event features live Americana music, costumed historical vignettes, buggy rides Russian bell ringing, a beer garden, international food bazaar (from Russian borscht and piroshki to salad ‘Greens for the Blue’ supporting the Marine Ecology Program), traditional music and crafts, storytelling, windmill demos and talented artisans (Native American jewelry, blacksmiths, candle and rope making and more). 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. fortross.org

OCA Readers Theatre Group

Readers adapt a script from literature, bringing the text alive in ways that enable the audience to visualize the action. Occidental Center for the Arts, Occidental. occidentalcenterforthearts.org TUESDAYS THROUGH AUGUST 1

Kids’ Movie Nights

Windsor Movies start 15 minutes after sunset, from Aladdin on July 11 to Trolls on Aug. 1. townofwindsor.com 52

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Dance in the grass or just kick back and enjoy the music at one of Sebastopol’s most popular outdoor summer events. Two bands play nightly, from Sol Horizon and Smiling Iguanas on July 5, to Gator Nation and Wild Catahoulas on August 30.

Experience love, joy, Lagunitas beer, fine local wine and food trucks. All ages are encouraged to play in Peacetown.

Wednesdays, 5-8 p.m. Ives Park, Sebastopol. Learn more and read about the “Ways of Being in Peacetown” at peacetown.org.

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14

THROUGH AUGUST 30

Tuesdays in the Plaza Concerts, Healdsburg

Performers range from Cahoots on July 4 to Soul Ska on July 25 and Mustache Harbor on Aug. 29. Concerts, 6-8 p.m. Plaza Park, Healdsburg. ci.healdsburg. ca.us/335/Summer-Concert-Series

THURSDAYS THROUGH AUGUST 31

Summer Nights on the Green, Windsor

Live concerts, from the Urban Outlaws on July 13 to Beatles Flashback on Aug. 31,. 6-8 p.m. (except July 6). Farm-fresh produce, vendors and family lawn games all summer long.

Windsor Farmers Market, 5-8 p.m. Free shuttle and parking.

Townofwindsor.com

Rockin’ the River Community Concerts

A family-friendly, dancingin-the-street party happens every other Thursday at the Guerneville Plaza. Enjoy acts like Zepparella, billed as the allfemale Zeppelin powerhouse, on July 20; and the Best Intentions, who close out the season with their “Motown Mania” shows on Sept. 14. Free. Learn more: rockintheriver.org

R

JULY 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 1

Healdsburg Water Carnival

Healdsburg Museum: Destination Healdsburg

A throwback event from early Healdsburg, experience old-fashioned fun for all ages at Memorial Beach. Barrel races, rides on Sandy the Swan, live music, food and beverages, free admission. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov

See historical artifacts, stories and photos from Healdsburg’s tourism history before the predominance of the era of the grape. Of special interest is a scale architectural replica of West Street (now Healdsburg Avenue) during the 1930s, handcrafted over months

by John Lacaillade with Maggie Bates.

The stagecoaches in the 1860s transported visitors to “Nature’s Scenic Wonders.� What was the impact of the automobile from 1920s through the 1950s? The 1960s and 1970s were known for agricultural splendor, cows, sheep and prune blossom tours.

Healdsburg Museum, 221 Matheson St., Healdsburg. healdsburgmuseum.org

Cloverdale Performing Arts Center Celebrating 10 years of live theater, music and literary arts!

Civil War Days

Circa-1863 Civil War re-enactment with marches, color parades, battles and artillery demonstrations. Kids 6 and under free. Proceeds support artillery horses (rescued ex-harness race horses) under care of the California Historical Artillery Society. Freezeout Road, Duncans Mills. civilwardays.net Family Movie Nights in the Plaza

The Alexander Valley Film Society partners with the City of Healdsburg to bring family-friendly movies to the Healdsburg Plaza: July 25, Toy Story; Aug. 22, Finding Dory. A must for film fans, families AVFS supporters. avfilmsociety.org, facebook.com/ avfilmfestival

July 13 --July 15 --July 16 --August 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 & 13 --August 24 ---

September 9 --September 14 ---

.

Wildflowers for Photographers, Poets & Artists

Rodney Strong Summer Concert Series

Join esteemed Audubon Canyon Ranch Resource Ecologist Dave Self on an excursion to see and photograph (or sketch, paint or write about) wildflowers on the Modini Mayacamas Preserves. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. egret.org

GMC’s 3rd Annual Bluegrass Festival

Featuring Del and Dawg Bluegrass Band Mark O’Connor and the O’Connor Family Band, and Sierra Hull. 2 p.m. Weill Hall and Lawn, Green Music Center. gmc.sonoma.edu

JULY 30

Free Mariachi Band Concert

Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jóse Hernåndez embraces the romanticism of MÊxico’s land, people and beauty of the heart. The band travels the world to sold-out audiences. This event is a joint collaboration between the GMC and the Santa Rosa Symphony. 7 p.m.

Weill Hall and Lawn, Green Music Center. gmc.sonoma.edu

Free readings and interviews with literary figures. July 13, Carolyn Cooke and Randall Babtkis, 7 p.m. A literary salon follows the reading. Suggested donation $10. 209 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. cloverdaleperformingarts.com

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AUGUST 1

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JULY 13-JULY 22

Books on Stage

JULY 28 JULY 8-SEPT. 9

JULY 9

JULY 15-16

JULY 25, AUG. 22

2017 marks the 27th year that concertgoers will be treated to intimate musical performances, surrounded by acres of lush vineyards. This year’s lineup includes Chris Isaak, Kenny Loggins, Chris Botti and Kool & The Gang. Bring a picnic basket; sliders, salads, crabby cakes and more for sale. Rain or shine. rodneystrongconcertseries.com

AUGUST 4

Diana Krall World Tour

Green Music Center. 7:30 p.m. Weill Hall and Lawn. gmc.sonoma.edu

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CALENDAR

AUGUST 10-13

AUGUST 25

Art in the Redwoods Festival

An Evening with Ira Glass

Held under the redwoods on Gualala Ridge since 1961, this arts festival includes a benefit dinner Aug. 10, champagne preview Aug. 11, and festival Aug 12-13 with indoor art exhibition and outdoor activities. See website for details.

Gualala Arts Center, Gualala. gualalaarts.org

Join the host of the NPR radio show, This American Life, for an evening of stories and his approach with the creative process. 8 p.m. Person Theater, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. lutherburbankcenter.org

AUGUST 12

Metini Day

Hosted by the SuNuNu Shinal Pomo Dance Group, this Fort Ross event is open to all. Arts, crafts and food booths. 11 a.m.6 p.m. fortross.org

Gravenstein Apple Fair Now in its 44th year, this popular fair retains its sweet charm while keeping up with today’s agricultural trends and issues.

The 2017 theme is “In Praise of Pollinators” (see page X).

The schedule includes live music on two stages, life on the farm area, artisan cheese lounge, chef’s tent culinary demos, craft cider tent and the do-it-yourself arena. Don’t miss the apple-pie eating contest, games and contests, arts and crafts, and so much more. Be sure to buy a box of fresh heirloom Gravensteins from a local farmer. Check website for details and give a nod to the 2017 Apple Core members and volunteers who make it happen under the shady trees of Ragle Ranch Park in Sebastopol. The fair is Sonoma County Farm Trails’ main fundraiser. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. both days. gravensteinapplefair.com

Car fans—it’s your turn. 1973 and older American cars and trucks will be on display at the Monte Rio Community Center.

Pancake breakfast, raffle prices, poker walk and awards. 8 a.m.3 p.m. Free. russianriverhistory. org, monterio.org

Tour D’Organics Sebastopol

AUGUST 26-27

Savor organic fruit and produce in this destination bicycling event. Choose from four scenic routes. Register online or in person at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. seb.org

23rd Annual Bodega Seafood Art and Wine Festival

AUGUST 19

Alexander Valley Film Society Drive-In Movie

The Alexander Valley Film Society brings Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to the Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds for a fun drive-in movie night. 6:30 p.m. gates, 8 p.m. movie. Avilmsociety.org, facebook.com/avfilmfestival AUGUST 24

Looking for more calendar events in the area?

Visit our website for a complete listing of area events. sonomadiscoveries.com

sonomadiscoveries.com

19th Annual Russian River Car Show

AUGUST 13

AUGUST 12-13

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AUGUST 26

Rumi’s Caravan Benefit Concert

An evening of poetry and music performed in the ecstatic tradition to benefit the Center for Climate Protection (climateprotection.org). Caravan poets include Kay Crista, Larry Robinson and Doug von Koss accompanied by violinist Cynthia Albers, flutist Lars Johannesson and percussionist Tobias Roberson. 6:30 p.m. wine and cheese; 7:15 p.m. performance. Osmosis Japanese Meditation Garden. osmosis.com

Enjoy the fresh ocean air and live music, juried art and crafts, games and contests, seafood dishes plus wines and microbrews at this popular summer festival that benefits the Bodega Volunteer Fire Department and Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun. closes at 5 p.m. Watts Ranch, 16855 Bodega Hwy., Bodega. bodegaseafoodfestival. com

SEPTEMBER 9-10

Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival Don’t miss the 47th annual event at Johnson’s Beach.

Line-up not available by press time but expect some great acts with all the amenities of being in the Russian River area, close to downtown Guerneville, the Redwoods and more. The beach rents canoes, kayaks and paddle boats, and cool places to stay and camp.

No shuttle service this year.

Johnson’s Beach & Resort, 16241 First St., Guerneville. russianriverfestivals.com

SEPTEMBER 2-3

Cajun Zydeco & Delta Rhythm Festival

SEPTEMBER 13

The first day features nationally known and critically acclaimed bands that spread the joy and irresistible dance rhythms of Cajun Zydeco music. The next day offers a new musical genre for this event: Rockabilly, one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, blending Western musical styles such as country with rhythm and blues, leading to “classic” rock and roll. 11:30-7 p.m. Ives Park, Sebastopol. winecountrycajun.com

The Cloverdale Historical Society presents a special program about the Contributions of Latino Immigrants to California’s Economy. Gaye Le Baron is the featured speaker. 6:30 p.m. Cloverdale Performing Arts Center, 209 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. cloverdalehistory.org, cloverdaleperformingarts.com

SEPTEMBER 5-7

Free readings and interviews with literary figures. New York Times bestselling author Amy Stewart, 7 p.m. A literary salon follows. $10 suggested donation.

209 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. cloverdaleperformingarts.com

6th Annual National Heirloom Exposition

Catch up on what’s been changing in the Pure Food Movement. You’ll find three halls with more than 100 speakers of interest to farmers, gardeners and good food activists.

The kids’ area is bigger and better, lasting

Sun, Soil and Skilled Labor

SEPTEMBER 14, 23

Books on Stage

921 PINER ROAD • SANTA ROSA, CA 95403

SEPTEMBER 16

Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods Old Grove Festival Immerse yourself in a magical night of Americana and bluegrass music in the beautiful Redwood Forest Theater. Entertainment includes Dead Winter Carpenters and One Grass Two Grass. Bring a picnic or purchase a meal. Check website for menus; concessions also available.

Event benefits Stewards. Gates 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. opener, 6:30 p.m. headliner. Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, Guerneville. stewardscr.org

three full days, and free to kids up to 17.

Discover natural food vendors, community projects, forgotten craftsmen, leaders in Green Tech industry, heritage breeds of livestock and poultry and more. Bring water and a hat. Details: theheirloomexpo.com SEPTEMBER 8-9

Cloverdale Car and Motorcycle Show

Friday night cruise and live music in the plaza; Saturday more than 250 classic cars and motorcycles will line the boulevard. cloverdalecarshow.com

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SEPTEMBER 23

EarleFest

A lineup of national and and regional Americana musicians are booked for California’s premier Americana music festival. Great vibes, cause, edibles, beer and wine. Fundraiser for the Earle Baum Center.

SOMO Village Event Center, Rohnert Park.

Earlefest.com

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.

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one last thought+

too; mix fruit puree with a light sparkling wine. And if you do not want alcohol, why not substitute seltzer or even ginger ale? It is a wonderful way to celebrate and toast a special person, event or happening. It is also just a delicious drink.

I have experimented with many bellinis and bellini recipes—tough job I know—and I think I’ve got it down. Here goes: Ingredients: • One and a half pounds ripened organic peaches: wash and pit. Do not peel the skin for it adds to the color and texture of the mix, making it very important to use organic. You also want ripe peaches, not firm, for the sweetness and blendability.

• One-third cup simple syrup: equal parts sugar and water. I heat equal parts sugar and water, until the sugar is dissolved. I then store the syrup in a container in the fridge for later use. It is great to add to lemonade, iced tea or iced coffee.

• Freshly squeezed lemon juice from half a lemon. This helps prevent discoloration of the fruit, and be sure to remove seeds before squeezing.

Cheers to Summer & Peach Bellinis

by Gayle Okumura Sullivan

56

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is made from white peaches, in order to achieve a beautiful pink blush color. We grow 30 varieties of peaches, and 10 or so are of the white variety, and a few of those are just perfect for bellinis. The peaches have a red exterior, deep red color around the pit, a bit higher water content, less acid and exquisite flavor.

A bellini is a cocktail mixing (traditionally) white peach puree with Prosecco. It is light, refreshing and stunning.

You can make a Bellini using other fruit,

photo by Sarah Bradbury

S

ummer is here and days are longer, temperatures are rising.

Around Memorial Day our Dry Creek peach season begins, and we raise a toast and celebrate the wonders and bounty of the season. And if you’ve tasted a peach, you’ve tasted summer.

We have a ritual here at the farm and it hails from Harry’s Bar in Italy. It’s the bellini. Our friend Circe Sher from the Hotel Healdsburg gave us the idea after returning from a trip to Venice. Traditionally, a bellini

Process: In a high-speed blender, mix the peaches, simple syrup and lemon juice, so peaches are completely broken down. Once fully blended, put the mixture through a fine sieve; I use a chinois. You want your mix to have texture, but not too much. Freeze puree in a Ziploc until ready to use.

I typically make bellinis by the pitcher, and I use two cups of puree to one bottle of Prosecco. Pour softened puree into the pitcher, then add the nicely chilled Prosecco, and mix it all up. Served in champagne flutes, it will be the hit of the party! Of course you don’t have to make a whole pitcher; you can scoop out the puree by the tablespoon and mix it by the glass.

Nothing quite beats a cool peach bellini on a hot summer day (or really any day). Cheers!

P.S. The bellini is named after the pink glow mastered by 15th century Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini. SD

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