Kicking off Earth Day in the Plaza, the Sonoma Ecology Center is planning a volunteer-based workday at multiple sites Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. – noon. That will lead up to a community picnic on the Plaza starting at 1:00 p.m.
Among the morning clean-up sites are Maxwell Farms Regional Park, Van Hoosear Wildlife Preserve, and Sonoma Garden Park where free bags of biochar and compost will be distributed. Materials will also be distributed at the event on the plaza from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. A short presentation will be given on what biochar is and how it can be used.
The afternoon celebration will feature local slow food, play and workshops, music, speakers and yoga to help us learn ways to reduce our carbon footprint for the sake of our children and grandchildren. The complete schedule is online, and includes music from Steve and Stefan, Stacey Tuel, Plan B, Nuestra Voz Zumba and Lucas Prana, as well as speakers, yoga on the lawn and more.
On a donation basis, food will also be available from locals in the culinary community, including Isa Jacoby, artisan bread baker Mike “the bejkr” Zakowski, Sheana Davis from The Epicurean Connection and representatives from Slow Food Sonoma and Cittaslow. The public is encouraged bring their own reusable, plates, utensils and beverage containers.
Walking or riding bikes to the Plaza is highly encouraged and the Green Team will be on hand to provide public trainings on how to recycle and ensure that we have a zero waste event. More information here.
The other big Earth Day event nearby is at Jack London State Historical Park, where they have a Wine and Walk celebration, as participating Sonoma Valley wineries will donate a percentage of their weekend’s sales to Jack London Park. It’s both Saturday and Sunday, and they call it a two-day “raise a glass for conservation” event. Who wouldn’t drink to that?
Following visits to participating wineries, visitors are encouraged to enjoy their wines with a picnic at Jack London Park. Earth Day is intended to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s natural environment. There’s nothing like savoring the wines made from Sonoma Valley vineyards combined with experiencing Jack London Park as an ideal way to mark Earth Day.
Participating wineries include Bartholemew Park, Benziger Family Winery, Envolve Winery, Gundlach Bundshu Winery, Hanzell, Vineyards, Imagery Estate Winery, Kaz Winery, Mayo Family Winery, Moondance Cellars, Ravenswood Winery, VJB Cellars among others. Check online for a complete list of participating wineries.
Both days, the second in a series of Spring Wildflower Walks lead by Park Naturalists Deborah Large and John Lynch is geared to Earth Day with its focus on the interconnected web of nature at the Park. This easy 3.5 Mile hike through Jack London Park will showcase wildflowers as well as the birds, reptiles and other plants that made up the eco-system of the Park. Starts at 10:00 a.m. and lasts until about 1:30 p.m. There’s a $10 fee available online.
Do you know of an Earth Day event not listed here? Let your neighbors about it by telling us here.
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