Where to Go for Fresh Local Produce
With our normal shopping routines upended, many Sonoma Valley residents are wondering where are the best places to go right now for fresh, locally sourced produce. Below are a few suggestions. For more on finding locally grown produce and other food during the...
What to Do Now that Sonoma Valley Parks Are Closed
As of Tuesday, March 24, all Sonoma County parks are closed by order of public health officials. That means the parks we maintain—Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Sonoma Garden Park, Montini Open Space Preserve and Sonoma Overlook Trail—are off limits for the time being....
A Message from Our Executive Director
For the third time in as many years, our community is facing a crisis that will test its capacity to steer through massive, frightening change. Unlike prior years during the fires, when people all over the world could support us, almost everyone is facing their own...
Update on Coping with COVID-19 at Sugarloaf
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are taking steps to ensure everyone can enjoy Sugarloaf Ridge State Park safely. The physical and mental benefits of being outside are important to us all. Sonoma Ecology Center and Team Sugarloaf, in partnership with...
Working Together to Prepare for Coronavirus in Sonoma Valley
The following statement was issued Friday, March 6 by Sonoma County and Sonoma Valley officials: Coronavirus is currently top of mind for many in Sonoma Valley, including our residents, businesses and community organizations. As you are likely aware, the State of...
Manage Landscape Now to Be Fire-Smart and Wildlife-Friendly
Now is the time to prepare for this year’s fire season by pruning and trimming around your home with an eye to both fire-readiness and wildlife habitat. Yes, now, in the middle of winter, before March 1. By early March birds will be nesting and breeding in the...
Volunteering in the New Year
As 2020 begins, we invite you to look to the wonderful community around you for ways to connect and give back. Sonoma Ecology Center does meaningful work throughout Sonoma Valley, providing volunteer opportunities galore. Come join us for any of the following and reap...
Ode to a Sugarloaf Oak
Some trees are so mighty and long-lived they almost seem immortal. But even they eventually meet their end. So it was with the Grandmother Oak of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. Located within the McCormick Addition, this gigantic valley oak fell in high winds during the...
A New Leaf: Real Security in a Fire-Prone Place
It’s been more than a month since winter rains began, turning our brown hills green and bringing yet another harrowing fire season to a close. Now, while we’re enjoying the rain and green grass, we can think more calmly about fire—or rather, about how to better live...
Educational Camps for Kids Set for Coming Year
Great news for local parents: our educators already have lined up several camps for this spring and summer! Enrollments are available now for these popular outdoor adventures: a one-week Spring Break Camp at Sugarloaf, four Wizard School Camps at Sonoma Garden Park,...
It’s Pruning Time at Sonoma Garden Park
January is the best time for pruning, and Sonoma Garden Park has many trees, bushes and ornamentals still needing attention. Would you like to join our wonderful staff and volunteers in finishing up this rewarding work? If so, below are three options for joining the...
Kenwood Kids Help with Montini Tree Planting
Jason Mills, Sonoma Ecology Center’s restoration program manager, was walking through Montini Open Space Preserve when he noticed something strange: many of the preserve’s oldest trees – oaks and buckeyes – had no young trees growing under them. Exactly why this is...
Winter Break Adventures Available
What are your kids doing over winter break? We're offering an outdoor adventure with two Winter Break Day Camps – on Dec. 23 and Jan. 2 – at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. Inspired by our summertime Creek Camp, these action-packed days include nature hikes and learning...
Council Approves SGP Master Plan Update
We are grateful to the Sonoma City Council for unanimously approving our Sonoma Garden Park Master Plan Update at its Dec. 2 meeting, capping a long process in updating the blueprint to this beloved park’s future. Thank you also to the Sonoma Planning Commission, city...
County Declares Climate Change Emergency
We are glad the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has formally declared a climate emergency, joining (according to the Board’s statement) “over 1,000 local governments representing 219 million people in 19 countries.” As stated by Board chair David Rabbitt, “Climate...
Taking Stock of Our Fire-Prone Environment
Gov. Gavin Newsom recently told the New York Times that California is facing “the most destructive fires in our state’s history.” It’s clear that we’ve entered a new era, with fires burning hotter, more destructively, and over a longer season. Locally, that has meant...
Reaching Out in Trying Times
Once again wildfire is turning all our lives upside down. We wanted to reach out and make contact with you – our friends, partners and neighbors – in this difficult time and, wherever possible, to offer our help and support. Having gone through this in 2017 doesn’t...
Emergency Information You Can Use
Given the forecasted high winds, planned power outages, and a fire already underway to our north, there is much to keep track of this weekend. Below is a list of links to real-time information intended to help you stay up to date when it comes to fires, weather, power...
Join the North Bay Bear Collaborative
The mighty grizzly bear that adorns our state flag has been missing from California for nearly a century. But lately there is good news from bear country: in some places, including Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and other Sonoma Valley open spaces, black bears are slowly...
Russ Feingold Is Preparing for Earth Day (and So Are We)
Sonoma received some distinguished guests from Wisconsin late last month, including Russ Feingold, a three-term U.S. senator from that state and key champion of an event that is near and dear to our hearts: Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary next April. Begun in 1970 by...