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Member Spotlight
Betty “Mom” Carr, the beloved founder of Farm Trails member Mom’s Apple Pie in Sebastopol, passed away in May 2026. A local legend with a background in egg farming and restaurant operations, Betty opened her pie shop in 1983 with a commitment to family, community, quality, and local agriculture — especially the Gravenstein apple. In our 2023 Member Spotlight with Betty, she shared what she found most rewarding about her work: “Meeting customers and hearing how our pies or restaurants tie into their family and lives. It makes me so happy to hear about when/why they share my pies. I…
You can go home again…and farm it! Farmer Joey Smith learned to farm at Hidden Villa, an wilderness preserve and organic farm in Los Altos Hill, in the South Bay Area, and is grateful to now be farming on the land where he was raised. He started Let’s Go Farm in 2011 and is committed to growing delicious produce while cultivating community and staying curious. He also serves as adjunct faculty at the Santa Rosa Junior College teaching sustainable agriculture, ecology, and natural resource management. In this Member Spotlight, we visit with Joey and his partner Sarah to learn more…
With rich soil and a favorable climate, the area around Forestville and Sebastopol became one of the nation’s major fruit suppliers. In the late 1800s, peaches were so popular that Graton was for a time known as Peachland. The Laguna Gold property was originally a much larger holding, farmed by the Fratti family. They grew cherries, apples, and grapes on the hills south of Trenton. Over the years, portions of the property were sold and only a 10- acre parcel remained from the original homestead. A ruined fireplace, crumbling foundation walls, old apple trees, and few grapevines were all that…
“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead School Garden Network is living proof of this power. What started out as an informal gathering of garden educators in 2003 now reaches more than 50,000 students a year in more than 50 schools throughout Sonoma and Marin Counties. With a range of innovative programming, including edible schoolyard support, schoolyard habitat projects, and Summer Garden Camp (this year in collaboration with fellow Farm Trails member Solar Punk Farm), this Sebastopol-based nonprofit delivers on…
Located amid the rolling vineyards of the Carneros wine region in Sonoma County, Cassidy Ranch stands out. Not because they don’t have vineyards — in fact, they do grow wine grapes for their estate wines — but because of all the other crops and offerings. Their fields and greenhouses are brimming with flowers, vegetables, and strawberries, and visitors are welcome to explore the farm, harvest the seasonal bounty, and learn about the local food system on a deeper level. Cassidy Ranch also host various agricultural as well as cultural experiences, including farm tours, author talks, food preservation and other DIY…
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of a beloved member of the Farm Trails community, Dr. Bill MacElroy of Monte-Bellaria di California in Sebastopol. A member since 2015 and a regular on our seasonal farm tours, Bill embodied the Farm Trails mission of fostering a deeper connection between the public and local agriculture. Bill was a generous, gracious, and kind person of high integrity with an indefatigable commitment to excellence. We treasure the many wonderful memories we have of him and his beautiful farm, and are grateful that he was a part of our lives.…
As you localize your food, be sure to localize your fiber as well! Natural, locally sourced fiber, such as wool, has many of the same remarkable benefits of locally grown food: higher quality, more ecologically responsible, and healthier! In this Member Spotlight, we chat with Amy Chesnut, founder and owner of Sonoma Wool Company, during a visit with one of her major wool suppliers, fellow Farm Trails member Joe Pozzi of Pozzi Ranch in Valley Ford. Read on to learn about her inspiration, ethos, and hopes for this often-overlooked but important piece of Sonoma County agriculture. Sonoma Wool Company: sonomawoolcompany.com…
When an organization’s URL is ilovefarmersmarkets.org, you have a pretty good idea about what they’re about! Established in 2010, Agricultural Community Events Farmers’ Markets (ACEFM) is dedicated to championing local agriculture. With a family of 10 markets in Sonoma and Marin counties, each unique in its offerings, their mission is to elevate local artisans, farmers, and producers while supporting the diverse communities that embrace them. In this spotlight, we visited with Kelly Smith, ACEFM manager, at the Santa Rosa Community Farmers’ Market appropriately enough on Valentine’s Day, to learn more about her background, inspiration, and hopes for local ag, along…
As you turn off the Bohemian Highway to the bucolic hamlet of Freestone, you’ll come upon the cute quirky sign announcing that you have arrived at Bohemian Flowers & Farmstand. Founded in 2022 by Bree Douma and Scott Nebesky, the farm has a quintessential West County vibe, with its large barn and grain silo, rustic farm stand, and acres of beautifully tended flower fields and food crops against a backdrop of forest and fog. A regular destination on our Farm Trails seasonal tours, the farm has become well known for its cut flowers, marigold garlands, and floral workshops, but you…
With its strong commitment to transparency, local sourcing, and social responsibility, Jupiter Foods has become an integral part of the community fabric and a staunch advocate of the local foods system. “We Know Your Farmer” is prominently displayed on their website, and it’s no hyperbole. Visit this charming, European-style grocery store in downtown Petaluma and you’ll find baskets with small signs describing the fresh produce sourced from local farms (oftentimes fellow Farm Trails members): “Sustainably grown kale, Wingbeats Farm, Petaluma, 8.6 miles,” “Sustainably grown parsley, Yagi Sisters Farm, Sebastopol, 14.5 miles,” and so on. Rounding out its offerings are carefully…
Catherine Clark started Tenfold Farmstand in 2019 on the Petaluma property she owns with her husband, Ben Jacobs. Catherine wanted to grow healthy food for her family that was free of any harmful chemicals, was grown in harmony with nature, and was more flavorful and healthful than what she could find at the grocery store. She set up a small farm stand on the property just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit and soon had loyal customers looking for a safe way to buy fresh food. Before too long the farm stand had outgrown its tiny space. It was suggested by…
Wingbeats Farm is a small family farm using regenerative, no-till farming practices nestled outside Petaluma. Notable for their biodiverse crops, the farm also prioritizes creating habitat for native fauna and flora. Along with vegetable starts available in the spring and late summer, their flowers are available both as starts for the gardeners and as cut flowers throughout the growing season. They also collaborate with other Farm Trails members such as Jupiter Foods and FEED Cooperative, which carry seasonal offerings from Wingbeats throughout the year. We recently visited with farmer/co-owner Elaine Carlson as she and her farm assistant harvested produce and…
On a small country road on the outskirts of Sebastopol, Franchesca and Ryan Duval are on a mission to redefine the chicken-breeding industry with compassion and care for the environment. Their family-run Alchemist Farm is a pioneer of humane breeding and hatching, where no male chicks are killed on our farm as they are at large-scale hatcheries and all of their breeding groups are free to roam on their separate pastures. They specialize in beautiful chickens that lay fun and unique egg colors to add depth to your daily egg collecting baskets. In maintaining their commitment to a more sustainable…
Monte-Bellaria di California, located in the Russian River appellation, specializes in estate-grown lavender, bees, and olive oil. West Sonoma County’s mild Mediterranean climate yields high-quality, oil-rich lavenders, which are grown, harvested, and distilled on the estate. Their cut lavender, lavender buds, olive oil, honey, and beeswax are used to make their own Monte-Bellaria essential oil and hydrosols, soaps, fragrances, and culinary products. Monte-Bellaria is a popular destination on the Farm Trails spring and fall farm tours, and a swoon-worthy spot during high bloom season, when the lavender fields pulse in purple. In this Member Spotlight, we chat with proprietor Dr.…
Boring Farm is a Certified Organic U-pick raspberry farm that’s fun for the whole family. While “Boring” may be in their name, your next visit is guaranteed to be anything but! A diamond in the rough, the land where Boring Farm flourishes today was all but abandoned when Rachel Boring discovered it in 2017. When injuries ended Rachel’s contemporary ballet career, she moved from Georgia in search of a change. And change she found… After working on other local farms, Rachel took the leap to purchase a neglected plot of land and create her own farm: a U-pick raspberry farm.…
It’s no surprise that Christopher Herrera named his farm “Deep Roots.” Indeed, Christopher can trace his family’s Sonoma County roots back seven generations. Farming runs in his blood, with an ancestral history in livestock and dairy operations, corn, orchards, and vineyards. Today, he focuses on providing the highest quality organic fruits and vegetables and humanely pasture-raised livestock to the folks he considers his extended family: the many customers who shop his charming farm stand and join his seasonal CSA. And by nourishing others, he is creating community. In the Member Spotlight, we chat with Christopher about the land, the crops,…
At Larson Family Winery, “Family” is the operative word. Since the late 1800s, five generations of Larsons have lived and worked on their land in Sonoma Valley’s Carneros region, first as a dairy, then in racehorse breeding and rodeos, before finding their calling in wine. Today, they organically farm 100 acres of estate vineyards, and bottle 5,000 cases of wine for direct sale. Their customers are also treated more like extended family than merely consumers, as the Larson have created an environment where everyone, including children and dogs, are warmly welcomed. In addition to myriad wine tasting and food pairing…
Inspired by her love of Tuscan olive oil, Nan McEvoy founded McEvoy Ranch in 1990. After purchasing a sprawling former dairy farm in Petaluma, Nan imported 1,000 seedlings from Italy, determined to produce the same top-quality olive oil in California. Her daring vision came to fruition, enabling her to share the olive oil she first fell in love with everyone who has discovered McEvoy Ranch since. Today, under the leadership of Nan’s son and grandchildren as well as President Samantha Dorsey, McEvoy Ranch has diversified into body care, wine, and culinary products. Yet their focus remains on quality, sustainability, and…
Nestled in the rolling hills on the outskirts of Sebastopol, Garlock Tree Farm has been helping families make happy holiday memories for decades. Owned and operated by Keith and Becky Garlock and their family, the farm offers choose-and-cut trees, visits with Santa, a petting zoo, tractor-pulled hayrides, a festive farm store with fresh wreaths, ornaments, and gifts, and snack bar and picnic area. Though the farm is open for just a few weeks beginning Black Friday, Christmas trees, like all agricultural crops, require long hours of hard work year-round, from planting seedlings, to pruning and shaping, mowing and irrigating, and…
The main focus for Nightingale is handmade, organic breads. They make everything from scratch, with great care and dedication. Baking bread is a labor of love: sometimes meaning long hours, early mornings, and heavy lifting, but for owner Jessie Frost and her team, it’s all worth it for that moment when they pull beautifully browned loaves from the wood-fired oven, and hear the delighted reactions of customers and friends. The bakery has slowly built its success over the years, becoming a must-stop in Forestville, frequented by Sonoma County locals and visitors. In this Member Spotlight, we chat with Jessie about…
Over the past decade, Sonoma County has experienced a bloom boom. Our region’s climate, soil, and extended growing season make it ideal for cut-flower farming, enhancing our agricultural diversity and nourishing our soul. Since founding Full Bloom Flower Farm in 2012, Hedda Brorstrom has become one of the county’s most influential flower farmers. Remarkable for her honesty and transparency about the challenges and joys of farming, Hedda has helped the public view—and value—local, regeneratively grown flowers as they do produce, meat, wine, and other crops. As she says, “You can feel and see the difference in the care and love…
As you take a hairpin curve along Occidental Road near the Laguna de Santa Rosa, you’ll spot Bohemian Creamery’s hallmark road signs. Turn into the driveway and you’ll arrive at this promised land for super small-batch artisanal cheese. Featuring a storefront, cheesemaking room, aging rooms, and spacious patio perched above the Laguna’s lush pastures, Bohemian Creamery offers tours and tastings that deepen and expand the customers’ knowledge and appreciation for local cheese. In this Member Spotlight, we chat with Owner/Head Cheesemaker Webster Marquez on making a career change, finding fellowship, and the need for diversity. NOTE: Bohemian Creamery closed permanently…
Perched on the rolling hills of Sebastopol, Gold Ridge Organic Farms has become both a culinary and agricultural destination. Founder-Farmer Brooke Hazen settled here in 2000, knowing that sandy loam soils and coastal breezes would offer ideal conditions for farming. He planted 70 acres of olives, 16 acres of heirloom apples, a variety of citrus fruits, and English lavender. Today, the property evokes a Tuscan villa, with the knowledgeable farmers and staff offering tastings, events, and award-winning artisanal estate products in its charming courtyard and farm shop. We visited with Brooke one day in late April, as the orchards were…
Many people are familiar with the Straus Family Creamery brand as a nationally renowned leader in organic dairy practices, climate-neutral farming, and sustainable manufacturing, not to mention producers of delicious, high-quality milk, yogurt, ice cream, and more. But at its core, the creamery, founded in 1994, is rooted in a family legacy of conservation and community, dating back to the early 1940s. In this Member Spotlight, we chat with Founder and Executive Chair Albert Straus as he reflects on the past 30 years of agriculture and innovation, as well as the future of not only of Straus Family Creamery but…
Founded in 2013, Tomales Farmstead Creamery produces artisanal, farmstead goat and sheep cheeses, making eight seasonal cheeses as one of the few dairies worldwide milking two different types of animals. Their animals are raised on their 160-acre dairy and educational farm called Toluma Farms, located just a few miles from the Pacific Coast, on the ancestral homeland of the Coast Miwoks. Home to 80 sheep and 200 goats that are rotated regularly to graze and roam, the farm is open to the public with tours and tastings by appointment, with the goal of building community, reconnecting with nature, and showcasing…
One of the most remarkable things about Sonoma County is its incredible agricultural diversity. A nursery specializing in bamboo plants? Yes, we’ve got that—and of course it’s world-class! That nursery is Bamboo Sourcery, a horticultural paradise rooted in the back-to-the-land movement that has evolved with the times to provide the materials and expertise for top-notch garden design and installation, while also inspiring and educating many. In this Member Spotlight, we chat with second-generation owner Jennifer York about Bamboo Sourcery’s past and present, and her hopes for the future. Bamboo Sourcery, 666 Wagnon Road, Sebastopol | bamboosourcery.com Farm Trails member since…
Roadside farm stands were once a more common sight in Sonoma County, inviting passerby to stop in and shop for farm-fresh products amid the fields in which they were grown. It fosters a stronger connection between farmer and consumer, and a deeper appreciation for the love and labor that goes into agriculture. When Zannah Farms opened their flower farm in 2021 on Occidental Road near the Laguna de Santa Rosa, all eyes were drawn not only to the abundant and colorful flower fields but also to the charming farm stand combining rustic and elegant touches. Open sunup to sundown, all…
On the edge of an 8-acre apple orchard, aptly located on the Gravenstein Highway in Sebastopol, sits Mom’s Apple Pie. Since starting business in 1983, Betty “Mom” Carr has seen some changes occur at her little pie shop. Mom began selling apple pies at the urging of her late husband, Harry, to supplement income from their Sonoma County apple orchard and roadside stand. In the beginning, Mom would bake and sell one apple pie per day. Now she offers a variety of 16 fruit and cream pies, and sells many more a day. However, one thing hasn’t changed — Mom’s…
Known largely for the photogenic lavender labyrinth overlooking the Santa Rosa Plain, Bees N Blooms is on a mission that goes far beyond this one focal point. An 11-acre certified organic farm, Bees N Blooms was founded in 2016 by Susan Kegley and her husband, Geoff, with an objective to transform a former dairy farm into a refuge for beneficial pollinators—and ultimately a sanctuary for humans as well. Susan’s background as a PhD chemist and founder of the Pesticide Research Institute has inspired and informed the creation of the farm. She, Geoff, and staff are demonstrating healthier, organic agricultural practices…
EARTHseed Farm is a 14-acre solar-powered organic farm and orchard located on the ancestral lands of the Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Peoples in Sebastopol. The farm’s name was inspired by Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower series. With the permission and blessings of Graton Rancheria Tribe, the farm is operated and rooted in AfroIndigenous permaculture principles, and built on the long legacy of earth wisdom traditions of people of African descent. Permaculture is a relationship-based ecological design system embedded in indigenous wisdom that elevates ecosystem health while meeting human needs. In this Member Spotlight, we chat with Founder and…
Farm Trails member since 1980 Oak Hill Farm, 15101 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen | oakhillfarm.net With its iconic red barn, picturesque fields of flowers and vegetables, and stunning setting against the Mayacamas Mountains, Oak Hill Farm looks like the quintessential Sonoma Valley farm. But its roots go deeper than its agricultural splendor, as the 700-acre ranch on the eastern side of the Valley of the Moon is a landmark in the open space preservation movement. The farm dates back to 1965, when Otto and Anne Teller first started raising sheep, then turned to flowers and eventually adding produce, prioritizing organic…
NOTE: Victorian Farmstead Meat closed in June 2025. We are leaving this post up in honor of the Parks family’s decades of Farm Trails membership. Farm Trails member since 2014 | Victorian Christmas Tree Farm – Farm Trails charter members in 1973 | Community Market Butcher Shop at The Barlow, 6762 Sebastopol Ave. #100, Sebastopol | vicfarmmeats.com For Adam Parks, owner of Victorian Farmstead Meat Company, Farm Trails is in his blood—quite literally! His grandparents were charter members of Farm Trails in 1973, and Adam appeared on the cover of the 1977 Farm Trails Map & Guide. Still, Adam did…
Farm Trails member since 1990 | 2179 Yoakim Bridge, Healdsburg | drycreekpeach.com It’s one of the iconic rituals of summer in Sonoma County. No, not floating the Russian River. But refreshing the Dry Creek Peach Facebook page for the announcement of the first harvest of the season, and then lining up early to get the prized peaches before they sell out. Because they will sell out. Since purchasing the Healdsburg farm in 2000, owners Gayle and Brian Sullivan have taken an unassuming peach orchard set in a sea of vineyards and transformed it into a nationally lauded institution, beloved by…
For the past few years, “regenerative” has become a buzzword in agriculture, as farmers and ranchers look to move beyond so-called sustainable and even organic practices. The goal of regenerative agriculture is to foster a more holistic growing ecosystem by building and preserving soil health, among other ecological practices such as no-till and rotational grazing, for maximal benefit to the farmer, the community, and the environment. The focus is on reciprocity and abundance, not extraction and consumption. And for Jon and Misty Gay of Freestone Ranch, regenerative agriculture is truly a way of life. In this Member Spotlight, we visit…
Every person’s journey to farming is unique, but perhaps none more so than that of Stephenie Chow, owner of Poppies & Petals Farm in Santa Rosa. The daughter of Chinese immigrants, she was born in Germany, moved to Canada when she was 10, attended school in Washington State and college in California, worked as a civil servant in Paris and in corporate banking in Hong Kong, before moving to San Francisco to work for a major startup, until the tech bubble burst and she pivoted to her own home accessory business and art gallery. After meeting her husband, David, she…
The history of Sonoma County agriculture is filled with a similar theme: Tired of city life, folks go back to the land, relearn lost skills, and raise animals. Through a combination of good timing, risk taking, and innovation, they create a successful business for the next generation to shepherd. Such is the story of Redwood Hill Farm — Capracopia. One of the earliest members of Farm Trails — they originally joined in 1974 — this pioneering goat farm has evolved with the times but always kept its footing firmly planted in Sebastopol, and in the hands of the Bice family.…
Wind your way through West Sonoma County, and you’ll notice the area’s apple heritage on strong display. Orchards dot hillsides and line rural roads. Street signs bear the names Gravenstein, Apple Blossom, Candy Apple, and so forth. Two of the largest events in Sebastopol are the Apple Blossom Festival and Farm Trails’ very own Gravenstein Apple Fair. Indeed, the seal of the City of Sebastopol features a Gravenstein. However, the apple industry has also endured formidable economic challenges over the decades, as orchards and apple processors have given way to vineyards and other development. But all is not lost. On…
Ask anyone in the agricultural space in Sonoma County if they know Wendy Krupnick, and the answer will likely be a resounding “Yes!” A longtime resident of the county, Wendy is an environmental activist, seed saver, educator, volunteer, and community builder. She also owns and operates Chiatri de Laguna Farm in Santa Rosa, on the grounds of the former D. Grossi Egg Ranch (a charter member of Farm Trails), and is the volunteer coordinator for Farm Trails’ annual fundraiser, the Gravenstein Apple Fair. An indefatigable advocate for local sustainable agriculture, Wendy has inspired countless people, including all of us at…