Bi-Rite, a local-focused grocery store in SF has, for over a decade, created jobs, and supported local start-ups, farmers and crafts people. A delightful model for Sonoma perhaps?

San Francisco Chronicle article from December 27th
By Stacy Finz

Photo: Sarah Rice

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Communities across the country are learning first hand the multitude of benefits for thinking and acting locally. For the first time in over 6 decades folks are staying rooted in thier community and finding that, like Sonomans, there is an amazing abundance to be found right in our own backyard.

From NPR:
Home Sweet Home: The New American Localism
by LINTON WEEKS

Ample Harvest (www.ampleharvest.org) is an online service that helps to connect backyard or other gardeners with local food banks and food pantries. If you're a backyard gardener connect with the pantries, if you're a food pantry, register! It's ever more important this time of the year to share the bounty of local healthy food!

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Transition Sonoma Valley, and it's many partners, was thrilled to have a sell out crowd at tonight's showing of HOME. Many thanks to all of you that joined us and for those of you who came after we were to capacity. It will be screened again in the coming weeks, Check back here for date/time. We'll also be sending out a email blast, so sign up if you haven't already.

Many thanks ot the Sebastiani Theatre, Wellington VIneyards, the Sonoma Ecology Center, and so many others for making this evening a success. A very special thank you to theSonoma Sunfor the great coverage, it inspired hundreds of folks to attend the event. Remember to subscribe to the Sun for home delivery, that way you'll always know what's happenin'!

Santa Rosa Democrat, 9/13/2011

More than 4.000 people attended the first day of the Heirloom Expo; seems there's a growing interest in returning to the roots of our agricultural heritage. Attend and learn more; runs through Thursday!

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Ever wonder what a day in life is for the independant farmer who brings fresh produce to local farmer's markets?


....Adriana Silva, 29, co-owner of Tomatero Farm, is up at 4 a.m. and ready to meet her crew before 6 a.m. On this typical day, she's headed to the Upper Haight evening market, which opens at 4 p.m. each Wednesday - one of 15 markets, most in the Bay Area, that Tomatero attends. By the end of the day, she will have logged nearly 20 hours and 200 miles to sell her load of strawberries, snap peas, cauliflower and leafy greens.

Read the SF Chronicle article

SACRAMENTO - After tapping the creativity of energy-conscious schoolchildren from throughout the state, the California Energy Commission today announced 16 winners for its 2012 Energy Calendar contest. The winning artworks offer fresh, unique illustrations of how common, everyday decisions in using energy leads to a cleaner, brighter energy future. The Commission received nearly 2,000 student entries in the 23rd annual competition.

Thanks Tom for sharing this great story! Have a story to tell or share? Let us know!


Clich here to see the 2012 calendar winners!