Southern Sonoma Country Life

Fortuitous First Full Day Back in GB

Had I chosen to return back home to glorious Great Britain today as opposed to yesterday, I would have walked straight into the happiest day of the year.

For according to Cliff Arnall, a psychologist at the University of Cardiff in Wales, his formula for the 19th of June takes into consideration various emotional, physical, and stress factors in determining the most blissful day of the annual calendar.

By all accounts in today's British media, a winning combo of brighter evenings, childhood memories and the prospect of summer vacations puts today at the top of the cheerful spectrum.

Arnall's equation reportedly looks like this: O + (N x S) + Cpm/T + He.

O is time spent outdoors.

N is time spent in nature.

S is more socialization in the summer.

Cpm relates to positive memories of childhood summers.

T factors in temperature.

He is vacation anticipation.

And given the fact that I woke to the sound of doves gently cooing in broad daylight at 4.45am this morning, it is true to say that the incredible lengthy days from dawn to dusk during the British summer do perk up the spirits considerably!

If I had arrived today and not yesterday I may not have had the two and a half hour hold up at Hertz rental car hq at Heathrow airport with exhausted teens and pre-teen in tow with our great pile of luggage to haul a couple more hours north.

A car-rental hold-up welcome visit from my sister, Lindsey and the lovely little Phoebe kept the spirits from flagging as the adorable toddler entertained us with a repertoire of dancing and airplane spotting!

Revived considerably with a plate of Nonna's pasta and homemade meatballs, stuffed peppers and salad from her garden before making our trails to my hometown in the countryside, where the boys and I have strolled to the butchers and bakers, lunched on ham sandwiches and strawberries, stretched our plane-cramped limbs with a leisurely swim and started about the business of extending this 'happiest day' into the next few, wonderful weeks.

Meanwhile, the mad Italian husband has been golfing since dawn and oldest son took a train to the North to tour a university he might be taking into consideration. Now that would be a good thing, more excuses for me to make the long journey back to Britain for more frequent visits.

Petaluma School Garden Students Appeal to First Lady

Jacquie Perlmutter, of Petaluma-based Barbara's Bakery plants salad greens and lavender with students at Grant Elementary School. Teacher Julia Megna talks with Jacquie on the tremendous impact Barbara's Bakery continues to make via Petaluma Educational Foundation on a variety of Petaluma teaching gardens. Photos by Todd Cary. Students at Bernard Eldredge Elementary prepare their mission-style teaching garden for summer break. If the Nation’s First Lady responds to a big, bundle of handwritten letters penned by Petaluma elementary school students and were to pay a visit to any one of a variety of the city’s schools, she would be met with a wealth of horticultural knowledge and hands-on experience in how to make the most of a number of flourishing teaching gardens. For First Lady, Michelle Obama famously planted fruit and vegetable seedlings in the new White House Garden this spring, assisted by a group of Fifth Graders from a Washington D.C School, inspiring over 300 students at Valley Vista and McKinley Elementary Schools to write her in request of recognition for their efforts here in Sonoma County. Thanks to generous, on-going, annual PEF grants funded by community-minded, Petaluma-based Barbara’s Bakery, numerous schools throughout the city are already well under way with a ‘White House’ trail of sustainable, healthy lifestyle lessons being learned in a wide range of well-established teaching gardens. “We’re delighted to help support so many otherwise under-funded school gardens here in Petaluma,” says spokesperson for Barbara’s Bakery, Jacquie Perlmutter, pictured with students at Grant Elementary School Learning Garden. The goal at Grant is to enrich math, plant science and health education curriculums through ‘green’ use of the Learning Garden. 2008/2009 school-year garden grants represented year nine in a generous, 10-year $50,000 commitment by Barbara’s Bakery via PEF. Schools which have benefited are: Bernard Eldredge, Casa Grande HS, CG Native Plant Nursery, Grant, Mary Collins, McNear, Penngrove, Petaluma JH, Petaluma HS, St. Vincents HS, Two Rock, Valley Vista and Wilson. As with the White House Garden, 600 pounds of last year’s excess seasonal produce from St. Vincent de Paul High School’s innovative PEF funded Victory Garden was donated to Petaluma’s needy through Petaluma Bounty and the Petaluma Ecumenical Project. The Barbara’s Bakery Grant for 2009-2010 will fund the relocation and major expansion of the garden to provide more produce to meet ever-growing demand. The school’s kitchen coordinator will utilize produce to involve student gardeners in cooking classes. Latin class students have designed labels with scientific names of plants and the Art department is designing T-shirts for the Garden Club. Theology teachers plan to utilize the garden for thoughtful meditation for faculty and students. Bernard Eldredge Elementary School’s perfectly contained learning garden is based on the Spanish Mission gardens of early California. Native plants and grapevines thrive throughout the year on a sustainable drip system, as students learn which plants, fruits and vegetables thrive in this environment. This year’s PEF grant funded by Barbara’s Bakery will provide funding for a Redwood Tree Fairy Ring and an orchard of fruit trees. “Without the financial support of grants from Barbara’s Bakery through PEF, the creation and ongoing development of our wonderful mission garden would have been an impossibility,” says Jay Bushey, Upper Grade Teacher, Bernard Eldredge Elementary School, Petaluma Coordinator for Petaluma School District Gardens, currently funded by the non-profit SHAKE Foundation (Support Healthy, Active Kids in Education is a Petaluma Elementary Schools fund raising development task focused on providing total health for children in the Petaluma Elementary School district), is Vanessa Passarelli. It was Passarelli who spearheaded the letter writing campaign to the White House. “Students were not asking for funding, but merely to make the First Lady aware of the tremendous efforts taking place here in Petaluma to teach sustainable gardening in schools,” said Passarelli. “Reading the letters brought tears to my eyes.”

Breaking With Tradition - A Home Baked Birthday Cake for Mum!

Someone around here at Sonoma Country Life HQ is having a b'day. Discreetly. Even though I'm blogging the fact, it's not for the fanfare. Or the cake.

Except for the sweet evidence pictured above that the Rivetti famiglia actually broke with a long-standing tradition and baked a birthday cake without any (well, hardly any, other than the hint of a rose-on-top) help from the birthday girl herself.

And when I say, familglia, I should really be more specific and attribute most of the accolades to my lovely youngest son, who at aged 10 and three quarters has made my day with his home baked gift. Whipped cream (with a hint of sugar and vanilla to his taste), fresh berries and all. Life doesn't get much sweeter than this!

Check out Kay's Petaluma Farmers' Marketplace and Chat Table

Though it feels a little nippy out there for summer, it won't be long before the big-brimmed sunhat brigade get some bang for their buck on their continental wardrobe - the sun has to shine sooner or later!

Wednesday's first-of-the-season's Petaluma Farmers’ weekday Market was buzzing with activity and superb regional produce. And according to our home town's queen of culinary credibility, Kay Baumhefner: "We came home with flowering pea shoots, tender lettuces, fava beans, Japanese turnips, de cicco broccoli, rucola, blossoming zucchini, garlic scapes, fresh basil, strawberries, cherries and white nectarines."

Kay's fantastic new concept of a Marketplace Chat Table is proving a home-run with her registered Come Home to Cooking Club market-goers, keen to make the most of their abundant baskets.

"These meetings will be structured like an informal class with the following schedule of activities, but please feel welcome to come join us any time that works best with your schedule," says Kay, who provides registered members with their own nifty, insulated, zippered Come Home to Cooking Bags. "We look forward to spending many balmy summer evenings with you in the heart of our very own village."

Click Here For More Info on Registering with Come Home to Cooking

Petaluma Wednesday Evening Marketplace Chat Table Schedule:
4:30 – 5:30: TOUR THE MARKET WITH KAY for a Produce Tutorial with Selecting & Buying Advice.
5:30 – 6:30: MEET UP BACK AT THE CLUB TENT to Assess Everyone’s Purchases, Review Effective Storage Guidelines, and Discuss Recipe & Menu Ideas to Help You Make the Best Use of Everything You Take Home [bring a notebook & your questions].
6:30 – 8:00: GET YOUR PICNIC SUPPER from one of the wonderful Market Food Vendors [and/or bring something from home] and GATHER BACK AROUND OUR MARKETPLACE CHAT TABLE to Celebrate the Timeless Joy of Eating Together in Good Company while still talking more about food and cooking.

 

Winemakers' Summer

Early summer in the winemaking world here in Sonoma County marks a mellow few weeks before the heat ramps up the heavy duty work in the ripening vineyard.

It's the perfect time (like its late December/early January counterpart) to entertain and be entertained by fellow winemakers and friends involved in the fast=paced wine biz.

I've been freelance writing for Wine Country This Week since the New Year and have romped around both Napa and Sonoma Counties in pursuit of all sorts of appealing assignments for tasting room features, food and wine pairings and winemaker profiles.

But there's nothing like tasting last season's vintage from the barrel or the previous year's release in the bottle at vineyards of friends here in the Petaluma Gap.

Hot on the heels of a barrel sampling of some superb new Shiraz lots at Azari Vineyards, our neighboring D Street grape and olive growers, Teela and Michael Ridgeway sizzled steaks and herb-crusted whole chickens for an impromptu pot-luck and pouring of their fabulous Pinot Noir. Teela's home made pesto pizza appetizer popped with a dash of the Ridgeway estate olive oil, farmer's market tomatoes and a sprinkling of romano cheese.

Pictured above is Gap member winery Cline Cellars over in Sonoma, home to a variety of Petaluma Gap grown wines and long-time workplace of its Director of Marketing, the wonderful Charene, fellow book group member and girlfriend extraordinaire. Picnicked during Charene's lunch hour and took a little time out of the hectic week to catch up with close pals for a spot of vino purchasing to stock up the summer wine selection.

There's nothing quite as nice as a crisp, white Cline Viogner with fresh berries, artisan cheese, a loaf of Della's Rosemary, Meyer Lemon bread and a slither of pate for a casual SoCo picnic.

Now that I've had my fill of locally grown wines, I'll soon be perusing the wine merchants' shelves in Cambridgeshire and Sussex to see if I can spot any familiar labels over there in the UK. As they say, "When in Rome" may well translate to "When not too very far from France". Although, there are some intriguing English white wines on the market today, might have to give them a whirl with the cucumber sandwiches. Then again, a nice pint of ale sounds good with a ploughman's lunch......

Full Moon and Music in the Vineyards

Have your fun this summer, but save September for some seriously decadent fundraising events in two of Petaluma's most exclusive venues.

Cinnabar Theater invites you to discover the stunning vistas and superb wines of Petaluma's secluded  Azari Vineyard with enchanting chamber music under a full, harvest moon, Saturday September 6th.

This event is limited to 100 lucky wine and music lovers, who will be the first to participate in a public event at one of the Petaluma Gap region's most talked-about family wineries. Take it from me (and my recent shots) - it's a sweeping sensation of pastoral tranquility out there on Spring Hill Road, with glorious sunsets over the peach-hued hills.

The annual educational-fundraising extravaganza of the PEF BASH follows on Saturday, September 12th at a lux, new, ultra-modern South McDowell Landing location, overlooking Shollenberger Park. Tickets go on sale in July. Check in at the PEF website now to make early ticket/table reservations. I'll be posting much, much more on the finer details of the not-to-be-missed BASH later on in July.

Petaluma Junior High School Students in Washington DC

Phone trees are in place for good reason when large groups of school kids leave their families for far-flung educational travel destinations.

Parents of Petaluma Junior High students on the 8th grade history trip to Washington D.C this week were relieved to hear that their teens were safely touring George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate today at the time of the devastating and deadly shooting at the D.C. Holocaust Museum.

And all the more reason to allow your teen to text. For it's the speediest way to communicate with one another when something as disturbing and unexpected as today's attack regretably can still take place.

Made contact with my newly promoted, soon-to-be high school freshman as the tour bus transporting the large group of Petaluma students, accompanying parents and PJHS staff passed by the closed-off scene of this horrific crime which has resulted in the death of at least one of the security guards wounded by an 88-year-old, gun-toting suspect who somehow made it sufficiently through heavy security into the foyer of the museum.

I have no doubt in the abilities of Petaluma Junior High's experienced staff to take the time to talk our youngsters through today's horrific events and guide them through the remains of their trip with the knowledge that they are in safe hands.

Tranquility of Shollenberger Park to be Protected After All

 

Bill runs Shollenberger Park at dusk in training for his marathon, mountainous bike rides with Petaluma pals, track star Alexi trains in the off-season on the gravel path circling the park, Karen takes a few laps each day as her regular keep-fit routine.

Grandparents stroll with toddlers, bird-watchers walk with binoculars at the ready, nature lovers pause for the millionth observation of the beauty of the natural world up close. Summer vacationing school kids ride mountain bikes, empty nesters walk arm-in-arm and moms find the park the perfect safe haven for a healthy outing with their young.

Now that three of our Sonoma County Supervisers have declared that they will not be supporting the highly controversial construction of Dutra's asphalt plant across the river from the park, it looks like a safe bet that Shollenberger will remain spared of the sights, sounds and long-term effects of health and noise issues impacting the other-wise peaceful haven of wetland life.

A five-hour hearing yesterday (Tuesday, June 9th) brought to a head months of mass campaigning in our community on both sides of the fence. The board of supervisors postponed its final vote on the plant until July 21st, but given the fact that two additional members have withdrawn their support for the project, the next move for Dutra will most probably be to find an alternative location.

With such unprecedented passion and public outpour in Petaluma in opposition to the plant, Shollenberger Park should be enjoying a popularity boom. Been there lately? If not, now's the time to take a walk, ride or run and fully appreciate this protected area.

Thanks to Petaluma Wetlands Alliance for the continued use of these fantastic photos shot at Shollenberger Park. I'll be writing about the Wetland Alliance's excellent Third Grade School Program funded by PEF sometime in August.

Green Your Pantry With Fresh, Local Produce Delivered to Your Doorstep

For those who never quite make the weekly pilgrimage to one or the other of the seasonal Petaluma Farmer's Markets (kicking off Wednesday nights in the Theater District this week) and maybe only occasionally get time to scrutinize the locally grown info in the produce aisles at the grocery store, here's one great way to make a major commitment to the locavore's lifestyle - without leaving the house.

Just think of all the gas you'll save, not to mention shopping time and all of the unnecessary packaging wrapped up in most store-bought produce. Reducing the carbon footprint of fresh pantry staples makes as big an impact on the community as the world at large.

Take a look at the seasonal market produce of SoCo sustainable farmer, Elizabeth Reifers', pictured above.

"These vegetables are all harvested the morning of the delivery, therefore they are harvested for the most part within 4 hours of being packed in the box for delivery," says Petaluma resident, and eco-entrepreneur Elizabeth.

"In many cases, this is much fresher than even farmers market produce. And when the box is broken down into price value- it's nearly wholesale value.  I think that the one-on-one communication that the members get with me is a big asset. I get their emails on my cell phone and they can add fruit or egg add-ons up to 2 days before the delivery if they want it for that specific week," she adds.

Also, Elizabeth tells Sonoma Country Life that: "I do not know of other CSA's doing home delivery, which is an extra $2 a week.  I include a newsletter with the box each week that always has 2 recipes on it, that members can prepare from items normally found in a kitchen with their produce for the week."

Serving Sebastopol and Petaluma, Elizabeth's home delivered produce farmed in her own space at Three Ox Farm, southwest of Sebastopol. Three Ox is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) organization which is a farmer-consumer partnership where the consumer (you and I) pays a weekly subscription to the farmer and receives a weekly share of seasonal produce.

"Boxes typically have 7 to 11 different crops, depending on the harvests," says Elizabeth. Member subscriptions help support the farm and the farmer.

Those who don't have use for quite such a bounty on their doorstep can sign up for a half share and/or for an additional fee, weekly egg and fruit add-ons which are carefully sourced from reputable growers in the area.

Colorful Summer box options run for 12 weeks from July 2nd through September 17th, running $25 weekly for a full share, and $16 for a half share. Add on $2 per week for home delivery.

"As spring turns into summer, greens, herbs and root veggies will be bolstered by green beans, carrots, cucumbers, garlic, onions, summer squash, heirloom tomatoes, peppers and potatoes," says Elizabeth.

Autumn harvest boxes run from September 24th through November 19th. Spinach, pac choi, romanseco cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and parsnips. Peppers, eggplants and the heirloom tomatoes start to wind down the season, as you stock up your storage onions and winter squash for the end of the year.

For those of us who have a tendency to falter in the face of so many healthy green choices when perusing the farmer's markets, a doorstep delivery is a sure-fire way to work the true seasonal splendors into weekly meals.

For more info on ELizabeth's deliveries email her at 3oxfarmCSA@gmail.com or give her a call on 707 484 4720.

Petaluma's Class of 2009 - Off to Great Places

To quote the inimitable Dr. Seuss' in "Oh, the Places You'll Go"

"Be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!"


Yesterday's was the first actual high school graduation ceremony I have attended in 19 years of living in the United States. We were much more stoic in our celebratory customs for completion of high school in the UK. There's really no better way to experience the pomp and ceremony and customary high jinks of a high school graduation day than as a parent. Proud to have been at the helm of the crew (it takes a village - or in our case, if often felt like an entire community) who navigated the first of my three boys successfully through 13 years of grade school, here in Northern California, I'm folding up the cap and gown for the next one in line as he begins his high school years this fall. After eighth grade promotion on Friday at Petaluma Junior High, Senior Graduation the following morning down the hill at Petaluma High, numerous parties and putting the soon-to-be high school freshman on the bus for Washington D.C. it's been one whirlwind of a weekend. And so, to the Class of 2009, wherever you may be, I'll leave you with the words of Dr. Seuss: "Congratulations!Today is your day.You’re off to Great Places!You’re off and away!You have brains in your head.You have feet in your shoes,You can steer yourself any direction you choose.You’re on your own. And you know what you know.And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go."