Southern Sonoma Country Life

Straus Family Creamery's Two New, Gluten Free Ice Cream Flavors

Yesterday's grocery shopping yielded a selection of local ice cream pints to stock up the fridge in preparation for my 18-year-old son's wisdom teeth extraction, today (all four). Armed with a basket of smoothies and yogurt and soups, in perusing the ice cream selection, I noticed that Straus Family Creamery had extended its product line with two new, gluten-free ice cream flavors in time for summer sales - Cookies & Cream, and Vanilla Chocolate Chip.

Cookies & Cream is, I hear from the folks at Strauss, the first and only certified organic, gluten-free version of this flavor on the market today.

Both flavors are available in pint-sized containers at a suggested retail price of $4.79 and join other organic  favorites such as Mint Chocolate Chip, Caramel Toffee Crunch and Vanilla Bean, not just here in Sonoma County, but in grocery freezer sections throughout the Western United States. 

“We are excited to make these two long-time favorite flavors at Straus Family Creamery,” said Albert Straus, President of Straus Family Creamery, “We combined classic recipes with the best local, organic ingredients, using cream and milk that come from the Straus Dairy and the six other family farms we work with. As we continue to expand our range of products, we are able to better preserve and support family farming in Northern California.”

Straus Family Creamery’s Cookies & Cream starts off as flavorful organic vanilla ice cream. Next, generous pieces of  rich,  gluten-free chocolate cookies are mixed in (made by Pamela’s Products in Ukiah, 80 miles north of the Creamery, in Mendocino County). 

The new Vanilla Chocolate Chip flavor also features organic vanilla ice cream, made with the simple, all-organic,Non-GMO Project Verified ingredients of cream, milk, sugar, egg yolks and real vanilla extract. The ice cream is then blended with rich, chunky chocolate chips.

Straus Family Creamery has a strong commitment to organic integrity and sustainability. Because the creamery and the dairy work hand in hand, the entire production process is controlled, from field to bottle (or in this case, field to scoop!). High standards are met in every step of production.  Straus Family Creamery consistently strives to reduce its carbon footprint, to reuse more than 90% of water used at the creamery, and to rely on renewable energy to sustain its operations. 

 

Structural Landscape Designer Suzanne Biaggi's Ecology of Place Public Art Project Funded

Over 60 art lovers have stepped up to fully fund Sonoma-County-based Sculptural Landscape Designer, Suzanne Biaggi's Kickstarter campaign to complete an innovative new public garden at Cornerstone, in Sonoma.

In partnership with Sonoma Ecology Center, considerable work was already underway over at Cornerstone when the internationally recognized artist began to seek funding for the project's structural elements.

Biaggi, whose Ecology of Place for Phil Biaggi, celebrates her late brother, represents what she is most passionate about and what inspires her: "It highlights the importance of ecological balance to the future of our planet; honors the memory of my brother Phil; provides a place for discovery and contemplation; educates, by example, local restoration of native habitats; and employs universal design allowing the wheel chair experience to be same as the walking one."

The project is also about restoring what was originally there – wetlands, sometimes covered by shells washed up during high tide."We have already excavated for the wetlands, roughed out the path and have created the runnel (ribbon of water) that will border and cross the path as it meanders through the garden," says Biaggi.

It's also about what is here now –vineyards, symbolized by sculptural vines created from aluminum and steel wire. "The ever present wind can be seen in the patterns it creates as it passes over sculptural vineyards and activates a sound element – the abstracted voices of my brother Phil overlaid with Neil young -his favorite musician," says Biaggi.

Inspired by Kickstarter support for Sonoma County artist Ricky Watts' highly successful recent Phoenix Theater mural project, Biaggi set about her own campaign to complete her intricate vision for the latest installation at Cornerstone gardens.  

Backers will be invited to meet the artist at the Garden's preview party in July. Other incentives included private consultation time with Cornerstone Head Horticulturalist, Dawn Smith and the artist; limited edition 14x21 glicee signed and numbered print of Biaggi’s conceptual collage/drawing of the project. 

 

Historic Budweiser Clydesdale Barnwood - Old Growth Redwood Heads For Sonoma County's Heritage Salvage

Photos: Heritage Salvage 

Petaluma-based Heritage Salvage has recently scored all of the framing materials from the original Budweiser Clydesdale Barn, framed with old growth redwood from original water tanks .

In the process of being loaded on a semi along with the original metal storefront columns from the Brecht Butcher Supply buildings built in 1890-1917 (see photos below), the St. Louis Budwieser Clysedale Barn wood will arrive in Petaluma this May. 

Back in 1933, August A. Busch, Jr. and Adolphus Busch III surprised their dear Dad, August A. Busch, Sr., with the gift of a six-horse Clydesdale hitch to commemorate the repeal of Prohibition.

"Realizing the marketing potential of a horse-drawn beer wagon, the company also arranged to have a second six-horse Clydesdale hitch sent to New York on April 7 to mark the event. The Clydesdales, driven by Billy Wales, drew a crowd of thousands as they clattered down the streets of New York City to the Empire State Building," writes the intrepid king of U.S. reclaimation, Bug Deakin on his Heritage Salvage site. "After a small ceremony, a case of Budweiser was presented to former Governor Alfred E. Smith in appreciation of his years of service in the fight against Prohibition."

Delighting thousands of Americans on its way, the hitch apparently continued on a tour of New England and the Middle Atlantic States, making a stop in Washington D.C. in April 1933 to reenact the delivery of one of the first cases of Budweiser to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

"The St. Louis hitch, driven by Art Zerr, also toured in celebration, stopping in Chicago and other Midwestern cities," reports Bug.

Soon after the hitch was introduced, the six-horse Clydesdale team increased to a team of eight.

A Dalmatian dog travels with each of the Clydesdale hitches, a tradition started in 1950 when a Dalmation was first introduced as the Budweiser Clydesdales’ mascot at the opening of a Newark Brewery.  These days, Anheuser-Busch owns around 250 Clydesdales - an enduring symbol of the brewer’s heritage, tradition and commitment to quality.

Restaurants and brew pubs throughout California and beyond have been clammoring for Heritage Salvage makeovers over the past few years. If you're in the market for something special in the custon-build department that would warrant the repurposing of some of this wonderful, historic old redwood haul, you'd best not wait too long. Contact Heritage Salvage for pricing.

Next to arrive will be  a bunch of materials from the 1869 Evans Grain Mill that Bug bought in Crestline, Ohio a couple of years ago. Stop by the shop at 1473 Petaluma Boulevard South or call 707 762-6277.

Coming Up Roses

“What a lovely thing a rose is!"

He walked past the couch to the open window and held up the drooping stalk of a moss-rose, looking down at the dainty blend of crimson and green. It was a new phase of his character to me, for I had never before seen him show any keen interest in natural objects. 

"There is nothing in which deduction is so necessary as religion," said he, leaning with his back against the shutters. "It can be built up as an exact science by the reasoner. Our highest assurance of the goodness of Providence seems to me to rest in the flowers. All other things, our powers, our desires, our food, are all really necessary for our existence in the first instance. But this rose is an extra. Its smell and its color are an embellishment of life, not a condition of it. It is only goodness which gives extras, and so I say again that we have much to hope from the flowers.”  - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Naval Treaty

Small Steps, Big Impact - 2013 350 Home and Garden Challenge

 

Sonoma County Daily Acts group is gearing up for celebrating community May 18th and 19th, aiming for a whopping 3,500 actions over the two-day, annual 350 home garden challenge.

Here's how you can boost numbers and green our county:

• Grow Food - Plant a few backyard veggies or start a community garden

• Save Water - Transform your lawn with native plants or install a greywater system

• Conserve Energy - Hang a clothes line, reduce your use of gas and electricity

• Green Your Ride - Go car free, organize a car pool

• Live Local - Move your money, eat, drink and shop local 

What will you do? Click here to register your green actions. 

Michael Pollan's New "Cooked" Book Tour Pit-Stop in Sonoma County, June 17

Watch How Michael Pollan Learned to Make Traditional Korean Kimchi on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

Order your tickets now if you'd like to hear esteemed author Michael Pollan read from his brand new book "Cooked" at the Seed Bank, Petaluma, Monday, June 17th.
I'd just like to add to this post that I cook for my family from scratch at least five days a week. So do a lot of my readers. Given that Mr. Pollan is considered a rock star writer amongst the foodie movement in America, I applaud him for hitting the road and agreeing to take so much time away from the kitchen table in order to tour the country to promote this new book!

Deck the Walls with Ranches & Rolling Hills - Marin Ag Land Trust 2013 Landscape Art Sale

Photo: Marin Agricultural Land Trust

Just as we can't get enough of our farm fresh local produce, Sonoma and Marinites are all about regional art collecting these days. 

And one of the best annual events in the area for scoring original, quality art from an extensive line-up of renowned regional artists is the upcoming Marin Agricultural Land Trust's Ranches & Rolling Hills Landscape Art Show and Sale, Saturday and Sunday, May 18th & 19th at Druid's Hall in Nicasio Square.  

Over the past 16 years, MALT has presented its Ranches & Rolling Hills event, benefitting farmland preservation.  Since its inception, the weekend-long celebration of paintings depicting the West Marin countryside has raised more than $1 million to protect working farms and ranches.

For serious collectors - A private preview lunch and sale: Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Be amongst the first to view and purchase art at a private preview lunch. Soak in the sights during a champagne and hors d'oeuvres reception and gather around the table with artists, farmers and MALT supporters to celebrate spring bounty with a farm-to-table lunch in the field located behind the gallery. This lively and fun lunch includes musical entertainment by The Easy Leaves. Pre-registration for preview lunch is required; $150 per person. For tickets to the preview luncheon, click here.

Public show and sale:

Saturday, May 18, 2-5 p.m. Coffee bar by Devils Gulch Ranch Haitian Coffee Project along with wine and beer from the MALT bar. Free admission.

Sunday, May 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Also open to the public with food available for sale from Black Mountain BBQ and wine and beer from the MALT bar. Free admission.

 

 

Secret Gardens of Spring Hill

“And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles.” 

All quotes in this post are from Frances Hodgson Burnett's, The Secret Garden
 

“However many years she lived, Mary always felt that 'she should never forget that first morning when her garden began to grow'.” 

 “At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done--then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago.” 

“The Secret Garden was what Mary called it when she was thinking of it. She liked the name, and she liked still more the feeling that when its beautiful old walls shut her in no one knew where she was. It seemed almost like being shut out of the world in some fairy place. The few books she had read and liked had been fairy-story books, and she had read of secret gardens in some of the stories. Sometimes people went to sleep in them for a hundred years, which she had thought must be rather stupid. She had no intention of going to sleep, and, in fact, she was becoming wider awake every day which passed at Misselthwaite.”

“Everything's a story - You are a story -I am a story.” 

“How it is that animals understand things I do not know, but it is certain that they do understand. Perhaps there is a language which is not made of words and everything in the world understands it. Perhaps there is a soul hidden in everything and it can always speak, without even making a sound, to another soul.” 

“Hang in there. It is astonishing how short a time it can take for very wonderful things to happen.” 

Susan Villa's enchanted Spring Hill country property, a little ways out of town to the West of Petaluma reveals a treasure trail of secret gardens to the unsuspecting guest. Each year, at the end of April, through May, the master gardener's myriad of h

idden groves and trellis-shaded gardens springs to life in all shades of magnificent. 

The gardener, collector and her family tend to their densly planted, private property themselves. Many of the hundreds of flourishing rare and popular specimens were started by Susan from cuttings. A labor of love rarely seen on such scale and complexity. What an absolute delight to escape the world for an afternoon of wonder on the optimum afternoon for capturing the magic of the month. 

 

April's Industrious Weed Whacker's Take Care of Business the Natural Way

Photo: Dominic Rivetti

Much to the delight of my family, nature's own weed whackers made their much anticipated annual Spring reappearance at the top of the hill of the property behind our's this week. 

No nasty herbicides, no noisy, pollen spewing machines. Just a few busy goats doing what they do best!

Ecology of Place - A Kickstarter for Sonoma County Public Garden Art Space

 

 

Southern Sonoma County based award-winning Sculptural Landscape Designer Suzanne Biaggi's latest imagining started its groundbreaking beginnings before complete funding for the myriad of essential materials was fully secured.

"I was been invited by Cornerstone Gardens, partnering with Sonoma Ecology Center to create a public garden at Cornerstone in Sonoma," said passionate creative, Biaggi, whose stunning works have been published numerous times in the nation's top glossy magazines. The project has already been started and is a work in progress. "More funding is needed for the sculptural elements so I'm asking you to help me to complete this important installation," says Biaggi, who has set up a Kickstarter page to boost the coffers in oder for the project to progress at a timely pace. 

"This project represents what I am most passionate about and what inspires me . It highlights the importance of ecological balance to the future of our planet; honors the memory of my brother Phil; provides a place for discovery and contemplation; educates, by example, local restoration of native habitats; and employs universal design allowing the wheel chair experience to be same as the walking one," says the artist.

Here are some highlights of what is happening and is planned for the project entitled ECOLOGY OF PLACE dedicated to Phil Biaggi:

It’s about restoring what was once  there at Cornerstone, on the outside of Sonoma – wetlands, sometimes covered by shells washed up during high tide. "We have already excavated for the wetlands," says Biaggi "roughed out the path and have created the runnel (ribbon of water) that will border and cross the path as it meanders through the garden."

It's also about what is here now –vineyards which will be symbolized by sculptural vines created from aluminum and steel wire.The ever present wind will be seen in the patterns it creates as it passes over sculptural vineyards and activates a sound element – the abstracted voices of Biaggi's brother Phil overlaid with Neil Young -his favorite musician.

I'm both a big fan of Suzanne Biaggi's work and a regular visitor to Cornerstone Gardens, so I'm going to help her kickstart this project. Having put in my few $$s for the recent mural painting on the side of Petaluma's historic Phoenix Theater, it's so invigorating to see what can be accomplished when a lot of people each give a small something to further the arts in our communities. 

This particular of the artist's Garden creations is about discovery and contemplation. A pathway snakes its way through the landscape. The entire garden cannot be seen at one time because plants from the wetlands, hedges, and berms will obscure the view. "One must travel through the garden to discover what lessons and truths it holds and come to one's own conclusions.Custom seating and shade will be provided along the way for one to pause and contemplate.The path is designed for slow navigation and for all to be able to enjoy and participate," says Biaggi. 

"With your help we are going to create a stunning sculptural garden that will inspire and educate thousands of people in the awareness of sustainability and global warming," she says. Sonoma Ecology Center will be leading tours through the installation to demonstrate and teach how one can restore native habitat in their own personal gardens.