The West County Community Seed Bank has launched their web site!

To create a grassroots community seed bank that supports Sonoma County gardeners with free, locally grown, open-pollinated, pesticide and GMO-free seeds. All gardeners with or with out seeds to share are welcome. We hope that many gardeners will commit to grow out and donate back [...]

Update! Here are resources for the projects shown today at Copperfield’s:

Worm Bins and Aerated Compost Tea
Making Seed Balls
Getting Started With Chickens

Have fun!
I’ll be at Copperfield’s Bookstore in Santa Rosa tomorrow (Saturday) to talk about backyard chickens and help people make seedballs! We might even brew some aerated compost tea…

We’ll be bringing our 3-week old [...]

The “Slow Food” movement celebrates the antithesis of “fast food”. Slow food is created by artisans, hobbyists, and modern homesteaders using care and respect for the environment. Our local slow food organization is Slow Food Russian River.
Slow Food is a non-profit, eco-gastronomic organization that supports a bio diverse sustainable food supply, local producers, [...]

Here’s another installment for Pedal Power Week on Permie.net, and if you’ve ever been frustrated by bike repairs or the cost of bicycles, you’ll love Community Bikes:
We are a collaborative bike shop run by volunteers. We have mechanics and enthusiasts who will help you fix your bike at our shop. We obtain used [...]

Welcome to Pedal Power Week on Permie.net!

First up is a great local non-profit, the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition. These are the advocates for safe pedal-powered transportation in Sonoma county:
The Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition promotes bicycling for transportation and recreation and works to educate the community about bicycle safety and the benefits of cycling, including [...]

The Ecology Center in Berkeley is a great community resource for east bay folks…and maybe worth a visit for the rest of us.
The Ecology Center facilitates urban lifestyles consistent with the goals of ecological sustainability, social equity, and economic development. We seek to make these goals accessible by providing people with the information they need, [...]

Common Ground Organic Garden Supply and Education Center is on my must-visit list for the peninsula. I’ll bet their demonstration garden is fantastic!
Check out these great classes and events, plant starts, and seeds by packet or teaspoon. And their web site includes helpful information like vegetable planting companions and a planting calendar.
Common Ground [...]

Want to connect with other permies in Sonoma County? Try the Sonoma County Permaculture Guild. There are two online communities you should join: On Yahoo Groups and on Wiser Earth. Join both and watch for information on meetings.
I’m told that this group has formed and collapsed under its own weight several times. [...]