Farm Trails News

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…

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…