Upcoming Farm and Ranch Outings
Connecting you to Farms and Ranches protected forever by the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District. Free to the public! Sponsored by the voters of Sonoma County who funded the District's work with a quarter-cent sales tax.
Pacheco Goat Dairy Ranch Tour & Artisan Cheese Makers - Memorial Day, May 30th
Join us for a tour of the Pacheco Family's goat dairy, and walk up the hill to enjoy the views of the Petaluma environs. Meet the dams (female milking goats) at milking time and learn about the family's multiple generations of ranching and dairying. A decade ago, the Pacheco's converted the dairy operations from cows to goats, and now feature award-winning, hand crafted artisan cheese by Achadinha Cheese Co. We will meet Jim, the dairyman, and his wife Donna, cheese maker, and learn about the grass fed mixed herd of Nubian, Serbian, and Alpine goats producing high quality milk. SCAPOSD protected this Chileno Valley 230-acre ranch in 2008. 10am - 1pm Easy to moderate walk. Cheese sampling- mmm...mmm! Register here
Herding Demo on Sonoma Mountain Ranch - Saturday, June 25th
Come join the landowner and his ranch manager, Scott Gerber, aka "the singing cowboy" for a fun time and learn about managed grazing techniques and land stewardship on the Scott Ranch/Stony Butte Vineyards. Cowboy Scott will round up the cattle with his working border collies. We'll walk the property, enjoy vistas, and "talk story". Lunch in the oak woodland. Protected in 2002 for scenic quality and view shed along Adobe Road, this ranch is part of the greenbelt assemblage. BYO lunch & water. Easy walk. 10am- 2pm. Register here
Summer Walk in the Vineyards - Thursday, July 14th (evening)
Join us for a summer stroll in the vineyards, featuring pinot noir, syrah, and chardonnay grapes grown within the distinguished Sonoma Coast appellation. We will learn about sustainable agricultural practices on this working ranch, farmed for grapes and pasture. A cool climate and rich soils (based on years of grazing by dairy cows) help the vineyard produce premium quality wines. You'll meet the landowners and vineyard manager and learn about the family's 90 year commitment to stewardship and sustainable farming. This 153 acre ranch was protected by the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District in 2004 for its agricultural heritage and scenic views of the Lakeville area greenbelt. Easy walk. 5:00pm-7:30pm. Register here
Past Farm and Ranch Outings
Summer Walk in the Vineyard - Flocchini Family Estate, June 2010
Special thanks to our hosts: Andrew, Nicholas & Andrea Flocchini and Eric Neal, vineyard manager. Ice cream and cheese tasting donated by Mike Griffin, Clover Stornetta....
Triple-C Dairy Tour, May 11, 2010
A big 'thank you' to property owners Robert and Norene Camozzi for their generosity and hospitality. We also need to thank our project partners, The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (SCAPOSD), and Mike Griffin of Clover-Stornetta. To start the day....
Cloudy Bend Ranch Outing - Lambs and Levees. January 9, 2010
A big 'thank you' to Craig Jacobsen, rancher and owner of Cloudy Bend Ranch on the Petaluma River. We had a great group of folks out to meet Craig, learn about the ranch, hear a presentation on bayland geomorphology and the local levee system, and then take a stroll along the levee....