Sonoma Ecology Center is committed to working with the community to achieve and sustain ecological health in Sonoma Valley. Anyone looking for useful information on ways to help is invited to click on the links below.
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Upcoming Events
Sustainable Sonoma is furthering its work identifying common ground between economic, environmental and social justice interests in Sonoma Valley by holding another public listening session for Valley residents. The new session is Wednesday, Sept. 19 at Vintage House in downtown Sonoma.
The listening sessions, designed to foster understanding and trust between Sonoma Valley’s many diverse communities and interest groups, have been held since March, and in that time almost 1,000 individual statements have been received on the future of Sonoma Valley’s economy, affordability, transportation, health, environment and youth. This will be one of the last listening sessions, giving residents an opportunity to weigh in on the biggest issues facing our community.
Online comments also may be left at www.sustainablesonoma.net/this-is-my-vision. Once listening sessions come to a close and the data has been analyzed, Sustainable Sonoma’s findings will be shared back out to the community.
For more on this event, see this article in the Sonoma Index-Tribune.
Here’s a sample of what is available at Harvest Market’s, every Saturday from 9AM-12PM. All produce is grown at Sonoma Garden Park by our wonderful staff and volunteers.
eggs
olive oil
beets
yellow squash
zucchini
curly and dino kale
bok choy
swiss chard
stir-fry mix
arugula
lettuce
cilantro
herb bundles
(oregano, rosemary, lemon verbena, spearmint, chocolate mint, lemon balm, borage, chives)
lavender sachets
Communi-Tea herbal tea blends
Welcome!
Plant a Tree Day is a series of tree plantings held all around the world — including in Sonoma. Put on some gloves and spend a fun and productive morning in the Nathanson Creek Preserve Garden. Plant trees and learn how to care for native trees and plants from our trained restoration technicians. The work will be a mix of planting, site maintenance, weeding, and generally cleaning up the area so that the native ecosystem can flourish.
We’ll meet at the Nathanson Creek Preserve Demonstration Garden, located on the corner of East MacArthur Street and Second Street East in Sonoma. What to bring:
- Closed toe shoes
- Reusable water bottle
- Sun protection
- Insect repellent
- Long pants
On the fourth Saturday of every month, the Nathanson Stewards meet at the corner of East MacArthur and Second Street East, put on their gloves, and have a fun and productive morning tending the native garden located there.
This event is guided by trained restoration technicians from Sonoma Ecology Center, with a focus on native gardening and landscaping. The subject matter will vary with the seasons, and our technicians will demonstrate proper techniques for caring for the different native plants located within the Nathanson garden. Volunteers are asked to bring sunscreen or a hat, bottled water, a sack lunch and work gloves, and to wear closed-toed shoes. All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult.
We’ll meet at the Nathanson Creek Preserve Garden located on the corner of East MacArthur Street and Second Street East in Sonoma. Activities may include:
- Weeding
- Trash pick-up
- Getting to know your neighbors
- Learning about native plants
- Sharing a sack lunch
- Connecting with nature at your local park
For questions or to express interest, please email nathansonstewards@gmail.com or patrick@sonomaecologycenter.org.
The Practice of Forest Therapy, has been shown to improve health and well-being.
Have you heard about Shinrin Yoku or Forest bathing? Here is an opportunity to take a walk and experience the practice for yourself. Learn techniques to maximize the health benefits and stress reducing qualities of this walking practice. Shinrin yoku originated in Japan and is gaining popularity in the United States for its documented Health benefits.
This practice takes a walk in the woods to another level. A centering and calming restorative practice, it promotes balance and restored vitality through a quality of presence and heightened sensory awareness. Recent articles have been written up in Oprah, Time Magazine, and National Geographic, as well as numerous other publications. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park hosts a Forest Therapy Series as part of its Parks RX program the 4th Saturday of each month (http://parkrx-sonomacounty.org/events/). These walks are led by certified ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy) practitioners. See http://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/ for more info about this practice.
Tickets $20 or free with a ParkRx from a Sonoma County Medical Provider (click Doctor’s Info here for more info).
Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3327719
Visit our partner websites – Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Sonoma Garden Park and Sustainable Sonoma
Sign the SDC Petition
Sonoma Developmental Center is preparing for final closure after 127 years of operation. Please sign the petition urging Gov. Jerry Brown to protect this large swath of crucial open space located in the heart of Sonoma Valley.
Project Story Map
Click on the image below for an interactive map showing our projects in Sonoma Valley.
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The Ecology Blog: What’s Happening in Sonoma Valley
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