Southern Sonoma Country Life

Bringing Back the Milkman — Petaluma's Moreda Family Farms Deliveries — Farm-to-Doorstep Service

Moreda Family Farms is a small family farm which, like all small businesses in the area is facing uncertainty due to COVID-19. The Moredas are in the same boat as  many of their family's friends who are also small family farmers around Sonoma County.

When they heard that local store shelves were being stripped of dairy products, knowing there is in fact, plenty to go around, rather than sitting back and waiting for someone to do something about it, the Moredas took the bull by the horns, (pun intended) and jumped into action to not only fill the need for fresh farm products in our refrigerators, but also doing their part to eliminate as many hands in the farm-to-refrigerator process as possible while supporting neighoring farm products.

The Moredas newly updated website says: "Our employees have committed to taking care to handle products safely, keep hands washed, wear gloves when delivering and to practice social distancing. We are all in this together and we each have to do our part. One of our missions is to get food safely to those who most need it. The elderly should not have to leave their home and put themselves at risk to get their essentials, so our delivery service is free to anyone over the age of 65 (this is on the honor system, and we just ask that you please help us help others by respecting it).

We believe that it is our duty to step up and help where we can and it just so happens that we think that bringing back the milkman will have the added bonus of being fun for the community. You’ll see us milkmen and milkwomen, delivering in all white, just like the good ol’ days. Help us take this bull by the horns, and spread this service to anyone you think it could help. Thank you to our community for supporting each other in times like this."

With less people in the milk supply chain, you'll experience a fresher product with fewer hands on the packaging. Best of all, no waiting in line in the grocery store, or driving from store to store to source your dairy needs. 

Moredas farm fresh milk is comes straight from local Holstein dairy cows. The family is partnering with neighboring local brands to bring you a range of dairy products and farm foods, such as Spring Hill's Cheddar and Jack and other varietals of Jersey Cheese and rich, creamy buffalo milk specialty gelato from Double 8 Dairy.

"All of these are locally sourced from small, family-farm operations," say the Moredas. "Our friends, who are working hard to keep safe and reliable food on tables through the COVID-19 Crisis. We are all in this together."

Check out the Moreda Family Farms website by clicking here.  

Email is the best way to contact for service currently — MoredaFamilyFarm@gmail.com

 

Easter at Home — Downtown Petaluma's Gem of a Kitchen, Home & Gifts Store i Leoni Has Us Covered With Curbside Pickup and Local Delivery

Downtown Petaluma's beloved iLeoni has our Shelter in Place provisions ready for us, and is doing online orders and phone orders, with the option for either curbside pickup or delivery.

"We're in this together, and we are committed to making your home as comfortable and relaxing as possible," says the team at one of my favorite, locally owned, family businesses in town.  

New shipments are in just in time for our Easter Baskets!

Cheerful and festive mini Bundt cakes would make a darling addition to your in home Easter Dessert table. Bunnies, garden vegetables decor and little Easter eggs are in stock.

Not fussed about Easter? There's plenty more to brighten your kitchen this spring, not to mention enhancing your culinary expertise (or experiments!), such as:

Ranch Gordo Heirloom Beans (fantastic addition to any pantry and dish)
Bread Cloches for home baking
A wide variety of cooking tools
Coffee Makers
Extensive selection of electrics

Call or email for curbside pickup or delivery — 123 Kentucky Street  707-762-9611 ileonipetaluma@gmail.com

Don't be tempted to order online from the big, national chains. It's best for everyone if you buy local. Gift cards are also available. Click here for the iLeoni website, though I suggest giving the team a call or email for more direct service right now and to chat about what's in stock, your needs and options. 

Sonoma Family Meal to the Rescue (AGAIN) — Restaurant Disaster Fund Meets Community Food Needs

A message from Sonoma Family Meal Founder Heather Irwin:
"Last Monday, I spent most of the day on phone calls with emergency non-profit food providers. The news isn't good. There aren't enough volunteers, there isn't enough food, and most of all, money is NOT coming in. I emailed everyone in the Sonoma County restaurant community I know asking that we find a way to bring our combined strength together for our community and ourselves," writes Heather. "I threw out the idea of starting a Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund where we pay restaurants to cook, putting employees back to work while providing meals for families in need.

This was born from a conversation Heather had with @kyleconnaughton of @singlethreadfarms who started a pilot program with Heather to feed 200 families in need each day when restaurant dining rooms are closed. Heather hit send on the email, and waited for answers. Ideas. Support. Anything.

"My first food angel text came a few hours later from @lisamattsonwine @jordanwinery, saying that John Jordan read the email and wanted to do something significant," writes Heather. "I ran all the numbers on how many families we need to feed, how many meals per day, how many restaurants we need to keep going through the end of June... I honestly think this unprecedented food insecurity crisis in Sonoma County--fueled by the Coronavirus and all the other economic challenges Sonoma County has faced since the fires--is going to take 3-4 months to get back down to the levels it was before COVID-19. Let’s hope... John Jordan and @johnjordanfoundation donated the first $150,000 we need to get this program off the ground!"

Sonoma Family Meal has started a match drive to reach its goal of $300,000, which will allow this innovative non-profit to pay 20 restaurants and caterers to produce up to 100,000 meals for thousands of seniors and families facing food scarcity in our county over the next four months.

"We have already signed up @gerardspaella, @preferredsonomacaterer, and @figgirl to operate relief kitchens," writes Heather. "With these additional funds, it will help us continue our efforts in bringing on more relief kitchens and help feed families in our community with the greatest need."

Please considering donating, however small or large and and share with friends who'd be up to support Sonoma County restaurants and those in our county who rely on community generosity in programs like this in order to be able to feed their families. Click here to donate today. 

 

Recording This Moment in Time — Sonoma County Library Invites Your Historical Documentation of Creative Expression & Art

The Sonoma County Library invites community members to document history through writing, art and other creative expression during the COVID-19, and to donate these items to the library. The materials, representing firsthand experiences by local residents, will become part of a special library collection of primary sources.

Once the crisis is resolved and it is safe to bring items to the library, residents will be invited to bring in journals, photos, drawings, letters, scrapbooks and other two-dimensional physical documents that tell the story of life in Sonoma County during this time.

Library staff will catalog a selection of the items into a special collection that can be accessible to future generations of Sonoma County Library visitors.

“Researchers and students will be able to use your work to understand what it was like living in Sonoma County during this challenging time,” said Connie Williams, History Room Librarian at the Petaluma Regional Library. “Your story can be a part of our community’s story.”

As a way to begin, Williams suggests documenting – in writing or in images – your initial reactions to news about the virus and work/school closures, and recording daily experiences, such as what life is like in your neighborhood, how you communicate with others and what has changed.

Sonoma County Library Director Ann Hammond said, “This is a great way to help our community preserve memories of an important event.”

The library requests that items be no larger than 11” x 17” and can be stored flat. For more information, contact publicservices@sonomalibrary.org.

I put out a call on FaceBook to local friends and Kathleen McAuley Anast shared this absolutely beautiful recording of her original song Take A little Time Off. I can't imagine a more fitting song for now. 

I'd like to post more art, photos, poetry, paintings, creative expression if you'd care to share, Sonoma County Friends. Simply reply to this email with your images in jpg form. 

How about these locally designed t-shirts for starters? My friend Christopher is the designer behind this unique collection of poignant tees from Glittering Ditch. I think these would be perfect for lounging around virtual meeting in and should go into the county archives after! 

Click here for the Glittering Ditch website.

 

This fantastic poem by Petaluma's Krista S O'Connor perfectly illustrates my mood. 

My Walk Today

Wind chimes.
Comforting and simultaneously lonely.
The world is changing.
My dog and I walk alone.
Together, yet alone.

Noticing.
Homes, streets, cars, others walking.
Yet mostly empty silence.
Wind. Chimes.

In the last ten or so days,
(really only ten?)
a shift as I walk,
and cross streets or change direction,
mostly, not from apprehension, but
to respect the space of others - either
the young family, the older couple, who perhaps
pushing the stroller, or walking their dog,
cannot change direction as quickly,
so I cross away from them. Others do the same for me.
But here and there, where we were smiling and
offering a friendly greeting
only a week or two ago,
now more silence.
Folks retreating into their own
thoughts, own
heads, own
safety.

Passing the creamery, still steaming, working,
emanating its somewhat comforting
sour milk aroma. Workers there,
still collecting the milk
from our hard working cows and dairy folk.
Processing it into cheese - so solidly delicious,
nutritious.
How can can that smell impress itself
upon my psyche in that way, make me feel so
Grateful
for its familiar presence?
Thirty-five years of passing it by, perhaps, and
In these times, anything familiar and unchanged is
Somewhat
Comforting.

The high school.
I used to teach there,
Two weeks ago,
before learning distantly
Began,
Ending that. For now. Until.
There, an odd scene.
Sixteen walkers on the high school track.
I paused and counted them.
Why does that seem like too many?
A few solo, but some
Couples, walking, hand in hand. Odd,
to have the fleeting thought
they should not be
hand in hand.
When was the last time they washed those hands,
my mind sadly goes there.

Passing the courts, tennis and basketball.
Yesterday,
the baseball field, empty
but for dozens of baseballs scattered
on the infield.
Today
a man, backpack on with a bat protruding from either side,
and two buckets. I am guessing that
he collected those lonely baseballs.
He’s on the sidewalk, near his truck.
Max Bala’s new PHS mural
shining brilliantly
behind him
(a gift from the Class of 2019…)
The man
on the opposite side of the chain link
from two blonde boys. Brothers.
The boys
lose the basketball over the fence and it bounces
toward the street.
The man,
pulled down both sleeves, and retrieving the ball,
without actually touching it,
tosses it back to
the boys.

The world is new and strange.

Krista S O'Connor, March 2020 

My Own Sunday Poetry by K.M. McCauley Anast

A Simple Remedy for Our 'Shelter In' Times

I Am Here To Tell You Dear Ones
You Are Capable!

You are Amazing, You may have been
numbed out from the hustle & bustle
of our modern times, but ~
YOU MY DEAR-HEARTS ARE BRILLIANT!

Find that child inside of you and find that
dream of yours you were told to toss
away with the outgrown toys!

Re-remembering the numerous hours you
played alone with puppets, dolls, stuffed
animals, play-mobiles and matchboxes.

The plays you rehearsed & enacted alone
that you wrote yourself or with your
neighborhood friends!

What about the mysteries inside You?!?
Aren’t you a little curious?

You are Sheltered in Place, you may have
the time to discover and explore the one
person you have known intimately ~
ALL YOUR LIFE! YOU!

There are doldrum projects that have been
weighing on your shoulders, nagging along
tediously in your mind for so long now,
you can start them! Hell, you might even
accomplish them!

There may be materials laying around where you
can create! Just like the making of your childhood
papier-mâché & paper airplanes.

This is a time to DreamAwake! Not just for
when your head hits the pillow and you crash out
into sleep from exhaustion.
No! This is a time you can actualize your dreams,
some of them at least, if you use your imagination,
like when you were young and rebellious and didn’t
listen to the authoritarians telling you 'It was just an
imaginary friend'.
You went on and PLAYED!

You are RESOURCEFUL!

You can have that love affair with yourself!
Put it in your calendar replacing where school
drop offs, practices, work-shifts and meetings were!

You may have the internet at your will!
Learn that language, pick up that musical instrument
as it is a time for actualizing some of your dreams!
Feel the FulFillment & Excitement of IT!

Finally, start writing that; novel, memoir, haiku or poem!
You can write love letters to those who are not physically
here with us anymore. You can write ones to those who
are here!

You are ALIVE! You don’t have to be busy
out-in-the-world to prove anything or find
your sweet-spot!

You are a WONDER!

You have a Whole Universe Inside You!
Now is the time to GO FIND IT!

K.M. McCauley Anast
March 22, 2020 During the World Corona Virus Times.
Morning Reflections Writings
A Simple Remedy for Our 'Shelter In' Times

Making the best of some time off from running Redwood Cafe in Cotati, my buddy Michael McCullaugh and grand-dog Holly the Pomsky in the near deserted intersection of Western Avenue and Petaluma Boulevard in downtown Petaluma. Love this pic taken by Michael's wife, Lesley, who also is tasked with figuring out how to keep a normally bustling cafe and its staff confident & hopeful that they'll reopen after this extended shut down. Lesley is partner owner of Aqus Cafe with John Crowley.

How many times have we asked our favorite eateries to support our fundraisers? Now it's time to support both of these popular local cafes and all of the others that we frequent the most with our gift card purchases. https://venmo.com/aquscafegiftcard 

Order Fresh Farm Food Directly from The Marin County and Sonoma County Borders - Handy Links and Lists From Marin Agricultural Land Trust

MARCH 24, 2020

With the recent order for residents of all Bay Area counties to shelter in place, Marin Agricultural Land Trust MALT wants to remind you that, even from the confines of your home, you can make a difference through the simple act of choosing where you buy your food. When you buy local, you support the people who are growing vegetables, milking cows, harvesting eggs and continuing to supply food throughout the Bay Area, even now. 

MALT is so grateful to local ranchers and farmers — and all of the agricultural businesses working through these challenging times — as they work to continue to provide us with healthy, local food.  

But with restaurants closing, agriculturalists in Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and neighboring counties and across the world, are facing challenges to the long-term health and viability of their businesses.

Here are a few recommendations from MALT about how you can continue to support our local ranchers and farmers and local food systems:

DIRECT TO CONSUMER OPTIONS

Barinaga Ranch offers lamb raised on its certified-organic coastal pastures. Contact Barinaga Ranch directly to order. https://barinagaranch.com/

Chi’ken City by Kitty sells eggs that can be picked up at the ranch by texting (707) 790-3582.

Nicasio Valley Cheese’s organic farmstead cheese can be ordered on its website for direct shipping to your home. https://nicasiocheese.com/collections/our-cheese

Rossotti Ranch offers overnight shipping of pasture-raised veal and goat, and has discounted many of its packages on its web store, Grotto Rossotti. You can also purchase and pick up meat at the Marin Civic Center Farmers’ Market or schedule a pick up at the ranch. Details can be found on the Rossotti Ranch website.  https://rossottiranch.com/grotto-rossotti/

Stemple Creek Ranch offers shipping of 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef, lamb and other meats direct to your door in all 50 states. https://stemplecreek.com/shop

Toluma Farms will ship its cream cheese and butter (and bagels) to you from its business in the city, Daily Driver. Order on the Daily Driver website. https://dailydriver.com/

Little Wing Farm is offering pre-orders on boxes of produce than can be picked up at the farm on Fridays. https://littlewingfarm.wixsite.com/order

WHERE TO FIND MALTED PRODUCTS

You can find a range of MALTed products at farmers’ markets, farm stands and grocery stores in Marin, Sonoma, Napa and throughout the Bay Area. Please check websites listed below as many hours of operation may change.

San Rafael Farmers’ Market — Marin Civic Center

Thursdays

8 a.m. — 1 p.m.

https://agriculturalinstitute.org/directory/listing-details/thursday-san-rafael-market

San Rafael Farmers’ Market — Marin Civic Center

Sundays

8 a.m. — 1 p.m.

https://agriculturalinstitute.org/directory/listing-details/sunday-san-rafael-market

San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market

Saturdays 8 a.m. — 2 p.m. | Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. — 2 p.m.

https://cuesa.org/

Larkspur — Farmers’ Market at Marin Country Mart

Saturdays 9 a.m. — 2 p.m.

https://www.marincountrymart.com/farmers-market

Bivalve Dairy Cheese can be found at Petaluma Market, Oliver’s Markets, The Palace Market, Toby’s Feed Barn, Brickmaiden Café, Gary’s Wine & Marketplace in Saint Helena, Woodlands Market in Kentfield and both Good Earth Market locations in Fairfax and Mill Valley! 

Chi’ken City by Kitty eggs can be found at Scotty’s Market in Terra Linda, Farmer Joe in Oakland and Andy’s Markets in San Rafael.

Tomales Bay Pasture eggs can be found at the Palace Market in Point Reyes Station and other grocery stores in the Bay Area.

Pozzi Ranch Lamb is currently available at all Whole Foods Markets in Northern California.

Table Top Farm provides a weekly vegetable box through its Community Supported Agriculture program. http://www.tabletopfarm.net/csa/

Little Wing Farm, three miles east of Point Reyes Station on Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Road, provides farm fresh vegetables and flowers.

Clover sources milk from family farms in Marin and Sonoma counties, many of which are MALT-protected! Find its products at your favorite groceries. https://cloversonoma.com/

Straus Family Creamery offers milk, butter, cream and ice cream and is available at your favorite groceries. https://www.strausfamilycreamery.com/

VISIT MALT's BUY LOCAL PAGE

You can also visit our Buy Local page and make a personal commitment to purchase from local producers in the coming weeks.

And here's a link to Farmer's Markets and Farm Shops for all of us in the Petaluma/Sonoma County Area. 

Join Southern Sonoma County Friends and Neighbors for A Virtual Friday Night Storytelling Salon, March 27th 7pm to 8pm and April 3rd, 10th and 17th

ONLINE: A Virtual Friday Night Storytelling Salon

March 27 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Join Aqus Community for A Virtual Friday Night Storytelling Salon.

Friday 7:00 “at Aqus” for 60 minutes.

Led by Theatre Artist and Community Builder Jessica Litwak and others “performing” 5 minute stories.

 

Jessica will lead each salon with a suggested prompt and a “performance” to kick off storytelling.

Re-imagining the word performance, the salon sharing does not have to be edited into perfection:

It can be a Five minute anything:

The concept is to practice Courageous Generosity by offering little gifts of story to each other to provoke thought, uplift spirits or share an open heart of feeling.

 

You may tune in just to listen and watch.

Thematic Prompts for the next 4 Fridays:

Friday March 27: Spring (or a New Beginning)

Friday April 3: Overcoming Fear and Anger  (Rising Up or Calming Down)

Friday April 10: A Portrait of an Inspiring Muse (Historical or Cultural Icon, Everyday Hero: nurses and checkout clerks and bus drivers etc., Fictional Character, Cartoon Character, Superhero, Gods and Goddess, etc. etc.)

Friday April 17: A Memory From Childhood.

 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

1. Sign up for updates at aqus.com/signup
2. Install Zoom on your iPad/Phone/Computer (call me if you need help 707.347.6692; send me a text first  with your name)
– go to zoom.us to download the zoom app. Watch this video about zoom
3. Click on the link https://zoom.us/j/7073476692 just before 7pm

Send Some Local Love by Online Shopping With Many of Your Favorite Merchants

More and more of our favorite local merchants are launching online shopping sites. Send gifts, a little cheer and a hug in a box or treat yourself to something while you're stuck at home. 

Here are a few Southern Sonoma County stores that are safely packaging their products during this extended shut-down period:

Click here for Field Works' Local Love 

Click here for Hello Penngrove's Darling Merchandise in its new Online Store

Easter is on its way and while some individuals in this country are optimistic that everything will be back to blue clouds and rosy by April 12th, I think you'd be a lot smarter to plan ahead with your Easter Bunny Order. Who better if you're in Southern Sonoma County than everyone's favorite Heebe Jeebe, to have a little word with the big rabbit on your behalf? Drew and team are assembling deliveries for the first time and have the following guidelines to get you started. 

Click here for the store's Facebook page to see more photos of the sorts of sweet stuff in stock and ready to be delivered to your door, or better still, the doors of those on the Easter Bunny's list. 

#heebejeebedelivers #petaluma #ilovepetaluma

Delivery Info (In Drew's words):
1. Prices include tax and I trimmed prices on somethings
2. Minimum delivery amt is $25.00 with a $5.00 delivery fee or free with $75.00 and over
3. Absolutely No returns... sorry just in this situation
4. Baskets or kids toys will be under wraps so no peeking
5. direct message us the order and include your phone number so we can call and arrange time for delivery and to get credit card info
6. We will post add ons (little items to add ... activities and small toys , puzzles games and candy some older teen and adult fun things also we have party supplies (party of families at home together that is)
7. Never did this before and will try our best ...pls be patient and hope this is easy enough ...open to suggestions
8.we will be loading goodies over next several days

 

If like me you are whipping through your herbs and spices during this major cookathon we're all on, Sonoma Spice Queen, Wind, has the answer to our culinary needs as far as making everything taste just that little bit (and often a lot) more flavorful. 

Sonoma Spice Queen products are high quality and bound to make any recipient's day. Peruse Sonoma Spice Queen products by clicking here. 

 

Looking for a special gift for yourself or a friend or family member? Petaluma's iconic Robindira Unsworth Boutique is a honeypot for locals, with lots of options for items to purchase online while the store isn't able to open. Click here to browse. 

I'm sure there are plenty more merchants open for online shopping. Leave me a message and I'll post them soon. 

And don't forget the books . . . I keep hammering home messages about buying books from local authors. No time like the present to support your local authors. I'm happy to deliver my novel Big Green Country in the Petaluma Area or pop it in the post. You can order a copy directly from me and I'll sign it to whomever you'd like. See the Paypal box on the home page of this blog for info. 

Other local authors' books make great gifts too, see my store on Bookshop.org.  

Say Cheese — Support Your Local Cheesemakers With Online and In-Store Purchases

Thanks to the folks at California Cheese Trail for the following updates and images on where to get our mitts on the cheese we've come to know and love, best cheese out there. 

Curbside Pickups & Deliveries

Cowgirl Creamery Pt. Reyes Shop – Offering curbside pickup at their Point Reyes shop / Online shop is open

Daily Driver SF – Offering curbside pickup and delivery

Lady & Larder – Curbside pickup, delivery and online shop is open

Milkfarm – Curbside pickup

Nicasio Valley Cheese – Call 415.662.6205 and they will come out to meet you outside the shop / Online shop is open

Smallgoods – Curbside pickup & delivery

Palace Market – Open

 

Air High Fives at the Cowgirl Cantina

 

Online Shop

Central Coast Creamery – Online shop is open

Pennyroyal Farm – Online shop is open

Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese – Online shop is open

Stepladder Creamery – Online shop is open

Valley Ford Cheese – Online shop is open

Full List of Cheesemakers who Ship

 

Gift Certificates

Cheese School of San Francisco

Food and Farm Tours

Spring Cleaning? Five Reasons Why You Should Start a Donation Box For Alphabet Soup or Your Favorite Benefit Thrift Store

We don't talk about thrift stores as much as we should, even though my Sonoma County community of Petaluma has a lot of great thrift and second hand goods stores as well as antique stores and it's long since been the norm for savvy shoppers to both frequent these storefronts as well as donate on a regular basis. More of us are coming around the the concept of reducing our carbon footprint in buying less in general when it comes to clothing, accessories and household goods and when we do buy new we want them to be as easy on the earth as possible. One of the best ways of repurposing unwanted items in our homes is to pass them along to someone who does need them. 

Here are five reasons why you should donate to a benefit thrift store such as Petaluma's Alphabet Soup or Saks Thrift Ave. 

1. Streamline Your Home & Closet: Time to sort out last season's clothing and seasonal home decor now that the weather is warming up and we all have time on our hands. Spring cleaning is cathartic. Tackle areas that have piled up over the winter and purge.
2. Don't even think of throwing good clothing and footwear away. Your too-tight jeans or last-years fashion item you never wore will be someone else's bargain find and for the few dollars you might make in a resale store, you'll make someone's day and be boosting the coffers of a needy non-profit in your community at the same time.
3. Who says you won't find the most amazing belt or bag or vintage item in lieu of the multiple bags of items you donate? I have a friend who has a thing for jewelry that she hunts down in thrift stores, gold and silver and the occasional gemstone, too. 
4. All of the items you donate will be put to good use, assuming they're in reasonable condition. If the store can't sell them they'll sort through for shelters and homeless people. 
5. By donating to a non-profit's thrift store, sales of your clothing and accessories and household items make a real difference in people's lives. After we make it through the Coronavirus crisis there will likely be more people in our community than ever in need of affordable clothing for themselves and their kids. Furnishing a home with thrift store finds has been how many of us started out and yet the concept of having even the most basic a budget for setting up home is beyond the reach of more and more young people today. Think of the sofa you've been storing in your garage and what a find it will be for someone not nearly as set up as you or me with the basic needs.

Alphabet Soup Stores are my favorite local thrift stores to donate to as a parent of three sons who were schooled in Petaluma. Profits benefit 13,000 students currently enrolled in our wonderful area schools. I routinely go through my closet in fall and spring to sort out items that I no longer need with this in mind. I also try to apply the one-in, one-out rule as much as possible, especially with shoes, which I love and do my best not to over-buy.

Because the stores are shut currently there are no donations being accepted for sorting at this time. But that doesn't mean they're not going to be warmly received as soon as the doors reopen. So get to it and box up your clean, gently worn/used items. Streamline your closet today! 

In 1994, Petaluma Educational Foundation opened their first storefront, Alphabet Soup Thrift Benefit Shop.  Soup's growth and success over the years demonstrated that a second location would increase the benefit in the community and better serve the schools through the mission of Petaluma Educational Foundation.  The Foundation Grant and Scholarships programs enhance and enrich the academic experience of more than 13,000 students in Petaluma’s 38 public, charter, and not-for-profit private schools.  

The second shop, known as the Home Store, was opened in 2013 and currently sells  housewares, linens, furniture, art, and books.    

The original location is now known as Soup's Clothing Boutique and sells clothing (women's, men's and kids), shoes, handbags, jewelry, accessories, children's books, and toys.

These two downtown retail spots offer shoppers a unique experience of discovering vintage treasures along with popular fashion at affordable prices.  

Shop, Donate, Volunteer  to help support the mission of PEF, allowing for the foundation to expand its impact at our local schools, currently serving 13,000 + students annually.  

To make a financial donation directly to Petaluma Educational Foundation, click here.

Just Added — Check Out Books By Sonoma County Authors in My Bookshop.Org Store

When you order new books on Bookshop.org you are supporting your favorite indie bookstores with each purchase. It's encouraging each time I log on to the site to see the $ donation amount to brick and mortar bookstores going up and up as we're all stocking up our to-read stash to help keep ourselves sane.

I woke up in the middle of the night last night to the sound of a large owl hooting in the oak trees behind my bedroom window. Owls being associated with wisdom and prosperity, seemed to me perfectly in tune with my thoughts of an urgency for collating and highlighting books by local authors, especially during this trying time.

One thing brick and mortar indie storefronts are not massively keen on is filling the front of store space, or any much space with a bunch of books by local authors, in most part, I've come to understand, because of the real estate value of shelf space. It's not easy for bookstores to make much of a profit and the local author takes a back seat to books pushed by the big publishing houses.

And so it's pretty fantastic to stock my virtual store on Bookshop.org with titles from as many Sonoma County authors as I can find. There are other authors I tried to include here, but each book must have distribution that works with this exciting new bookseller's program in order to be featured, sold and delivered to your doorstep.

What's so great about Bookshop.org is that it's as easy and convenient to shop on as Amazon and yet its mission is to support and preserve the physical bookstores we love to browse in person. 

Click here to browse my store within a store, especially the Sonoma County titles, many of which have been written by writers I know and admire personally. 

While we are all doing our best to buy local, it's super important to promote and support the arts in our community and it's good to remember that literary art takes many months and years to produce. A book by a local author is a small business in itself. 

I'd love it if you share this post with your social media friends. Let's get Bookshop.org on more people's radar. 

Oh, and don't forget to review your favorite reads on Bookshop.org, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com. Reviews are extraordinarily helpful.