Page 34 - Sonoma County Gazette - August 2018

By Su McMurtry
Sonoma County has many treats and special places to discover, and
summer is the very best season for riding the back roads of our county. If you love goat cheese like I do, it’s fascinating to tour of a goat farm to learn how the goats are cared for, how they live, and how their milk is made into cheese.
I discovered Two Rock Valley Goat Cheese farm in lovely western Petaluma right across from the famous Two Rocks. This amazing farm is home to over 200 goats, all lovingly hand-raised by Bonnie DeBernardi with some help from her children and nine grandchildren.
When Bonnie purchased two Nubian goats, Ella and Lynne, to be pets for her grandchildren, little did she know that her love of these animals would become a second business, that of milking the goats and producing three varieties of goat cheese: young, aged and brie.
Bonnie’s husband Don grew up in Switzerland and learned his cheese making skills in the European tradition. He and Bonnie had been raising, milking Holstein dairy cows since 1968, so it was natural that as the goat population grew, he would resume his skill of making cheese as a hobby. That hobby turned into a business!
Visiting the farm was really a special treat. The goats are penned by
age so we got to see the five-month old kids, and the nine-month olds, the mothers, and even the fathers that are kept separate from the girls until their talents are needed. It is really amazing how affectionate they all are and how they vie for Bonnie’s attention, which she readily gives. She also encourages visitors to meet and pet her girls as she introduces them to you by name.
In addition to the kids at play, Bonnie introduced us to the milking herd, to the pregnant does, and to some of the male goats (really BIG guys). Bonnie says these moms bear up to three kids at a time!
Don makes cheese several times a week so you can purchase it while you are at the farm or get a list of retail and farmers markets (also listed on their website) where it is sold throughout Sonoma and Marin Counties. He also sells wholesale so just ask if you are interested.
No matter what direction you come from to get to the farm, it’s a beautiful drive. The hills and views of western Sonoma County are gorgeous and the epitome of pastoral bliss. It’s good to let your eyes rest on far distances and see that yes, there are still wide-open spaces in Sonoma County. You just have to get out to where they are. This trip was a very interesting and enriching experience.
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Please call to make a reservation to tour Two Rock Valley Goat
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Woodstock of The Accordion World
Accordion Concert Fundraiser on Friday, August 17th at 4:30 pm at the Redwood Cafe—Fundraiser for music students requests a $5 donation or more. For information call 707-795-7868; redwoodcafe.com. For more information, contact Sheri Mignano at cotatiaccordionstudentstage@yahoo.com. Plus, The Mad Maggies perform at Lagunitas Brewing Company (a festival sponsor) from 4:20 to 7:00 pm on the same evening.
Celebrate the Music of the Accordion Festival
Two days of nonstop music, world class musical guests, award winning bands, and more kinds of music than you may hear in a year all in Cotati’s La Plaza Park. Kids under the age of 15 free. Choose your price at $17 for one day or $29 for all two. Buy your tickets in advance and save $2 on each single day ticket at all Oliver’s Markets. No outside food. No pets allowed in the park. Free shuttle to festival from the Smart Train parking.
Saturday & Sunday, August 18 & 19
Six stages, both days host a polka dance party, a Cajun or zydeco dance party, an accordion jam tent, a student stage, and the Accordion Apocalypse. Small stage venues offer alternative music styles, plus small audience tents for soloists, assembles, and small bands.
All Five Star Yelp Reviews for the Accordion Festival
“Love, Love, Love this festival!! Tejano, Polka, Zydeco...any music that could incorporate the accordion will be played at this event. I love the atmosphere and Cotati.” Hilda Z. from El Cerrito, CA
“I’m a jazz guitarist who took my 1st lesson in July 1960. I grew up in NYC, was taught by several famous Italian old school jazz guitarists. I’ve played a LOT in public. I’ve been recorded many times as a sideman. So, my credentials are cool. The music at this festival is NOT lame. I’ve heard & seen accordionists here who are world class musicians. Mind boggling technic with outstanding musicality.” Tom S. from Kenwood, CA.
“The polka tent! OMG—the Zydeco venue...there’s barrels of fun, all packed into a few blocks of picturesque Cotati, CA.” Carla C. from Oakland, CA.
Looking to save and invest? I met Sean Clementz, CRPC. Clementz knocked on my door a few weeks ago. He hopes to open his Edward Jones office in downtown Cotati soon. He has advanced certification in helping Seniors manage their retirement savings. Sean.clementz@edwardjones.com or call (707) 338-4422.
Come see me at the S.C. Fair at the Redwood Writers’ table
I will be there on opening day, inside the Craft Building along with many club members who have books for sale. Would love to meet you.
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Join our mailing list and spin the wheel to win one of our book launch prizes. Meet our writer pals, many who also write mystery like Waights Taylor, Jr. We have copies of my Red Sky at Night: Dog Leader Mysteries to sign for you. Several of my twelve-year-old readers will be dropping by. Come by and get your photo taken by Marc Hoffman for our blog. Come by to cool off from the carnival or band performances.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: I really enjoyed Deborah’s Red Sky at Night novel. The lead character is a young girl (12) with a strong, independent nature. My kind of person!
34 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 8/18
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