Page 34 - Sonoma County gazette September 2018

It has been the season of pink sunshine here in Geyserville
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”—Margaret Mead
Margaret Mead would probably have agreed that there is no place better
to start changing the world than our own community. Local action and commitment cannot only bring positive change close to home, it can also build support for national and even global change.
and the rest of northern Sonoma County and beyond—which sounds so cheery. Unfortunately, it’s what I notice when look at the mix of sunlight and shadows on the ground when there is either visible or invisible smoke lingering in the air, which has been the case for weeks now.
The rising moon near the horizon is also routinely taking on shades of pink and even red from the particles in the air. While we missed out on the recent lunar eclipse enjoyed by much of Europe and Asia, we’ve made up for it with eclipse-red moons from the fires.
The story of Cloverdale’s Community Garden is a great example demonstrating how individuals, community organizations, businesses and local government can work together to realize their common goal of providing an organic, water wise, and pesticide free gardening opportunity.
While we have been fortunate to avoid all but a few really smoky days, it’s still a guessing game when looking toward the Mayacamas hills as to whether the veil of grey haze is from natural vapors or wildfires.
In 2012, our Senior Center and volunteer Marni Granger were at the forefront of creating a true “Community Garden oasis” by repurposing an acre of land for lease at 126 S. Cloverdale Boulevard to bring relaxing beauty to our busy downtown plus a fresh food resource.
Stressed Out over Fires? Take Action!
While its easy to be stressed and depressed over the idea that the entire year is fire season now, one way to shake off those feelings is by taking steps with other concerned community members to learn how to prevent or minimize their impact on our local area. That’s why it’s a great idea to attend the FireSmart Lake Sonoma Community Workshops.
One is coming up right as this issue hits the stands—
Tuesday, August 28th at the age Sonoma Visitors Center at 3288 Skaggs Springs Road here in greater Geyserville. The workshop runs from 9am to noon, followed immediately by lunch and a site walk. The ground is uneven so wear appropriate footwear. It’s also a great excuse to spend some extra time during the last days of summer at our beautiful lake.
No wonder that a significant cross section of our community supported the change. Residents donated bushes and flowers. High school students cleared the land. The cooperative land owners and other businesses made financial and in-kind donations to provide everything from compost to liability insurance to a solar system supplying the Garden’s well with electricity for its water pumps.
Later in the month, there is also a FireSmart Neighbors Summit on
About 18 months ago, Holly Nelson retired from her profession as EMT
for the San Francisco Fire Department. One of our “thoughtful, committed citizens”, she began looking for something to reconnect her with the peacefulness of nature. Noticing the Garden, she obtained a plot and began growing flowers. Holly found herself not only connecting with nature, she also found the relaxing, peaceful, and creative aspects of our community. Alas, this was short lived—the Garden had to close.
Tuesday, September 18th from 9am to 1pm at the Oriental Hall - also known as the old Grange - where most of the Chamber of Commerce dinners are held, at 1000 Highway 128 just east of “downtown” Geyserville. RSVPs are requested so please call 707 823 6113 ext 134 and leave your name, contact information, and how many attending.
These are put on via a partnership with our fire protection district, AG Innovations, and the Sonoma County Water Agency.You can also email Suzannah@aginnovations.org or visit their website at aginnovations.org/ project/FiresmartLakeSonoma
Unwilling to let herself and our community lose all that she and others had found, Holly took the initiative and began working with the Wise family, who owned the acreage, and Ron Pavelka, President of the Chamber of Commerce, which had been actively involved in preserving the Garden in the recent past.
Writers Workshop in Geyserville
The end result of their combined efforts is that the necessary insurance has been obtained, the City of Cloverdale has connected the Garden to its water system, and a lease/contract has been signed, establishing the Chamber as administrator of the Garden.
I’m pleased to announce that here at Isis Oasis Sanctuary we will be
hosting a once-a-month Writers Workshop every second Tuesday beginning
in September, on September 11th. It’s a great way for writers of all levels to get together and enhance their craft in a supportive and inspiring environment. 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, coffee, tea, and light refreshments provided. Requested donation is $20 per session, no one turned away for lack of funds. This “Spirit Speaks” writing group is for the intrepid traveler and scribe, drawing us into realms of reflection, mindful writing practice and Making It So. Share your writing—poetry, prose, all genres, all levels welcome and appreciated. Sessions will include reading your own work (or not!), group discussion of what inspires, blocks, supports us as writers, and other writing-friendly techniques and offerings. Feedback and/or critiques are optional. Led by professional author and “poet priestess” Marylyn Scott and inspirational poet Sama Morningstar. More information from Marylyn Scott at (707) 937-3628 or by calling the Oasis at (707) 857-4747. Some sessions will include special guests, local writers, and other inspiring teachers.
In June of 2018, the Garden reopened to the 2017 gardeners. A full reopening is projected for Spring 2019. It’s not too early to contact Holly (hkn3@comcast. net or 707-385-9394) to learn more and/or reserve your place in the Garden where a 10’x10’ plot is $40 per year and a 10’x20’ is $80 per year!
A little known fact about our foundress here at Isis Oasis, Loreon Vigné, was that her first business in North Beach in San Francisco in the 1950s was an artist and writer’s supply store called the Paint Pot which became popular with the poets of the Beat Generation, frequented by Jack Kerouac, ruth weiss and others. She and her husband Dion Vigné contributed to the Semina Journal,
a prominent magazine of the time. We are very glad to continue her long tradition of providing a space for the arts to flourish.
Cloverdale’s 25th Annual Car and Motorcycle Show
34 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 9/18
Saturday night music begins at 7:30pm with the Department of Rock bringing “all dance rock“ to our Downtown Plaza stage.
The acre literally came alive as its fifteen very affordable plots were snapped up and the generous gardeners shared their bounty with their community.
Then, in June 2017, the Garden was closed due to a range of challenges. The solar system was stolen, problems with the reduced capacity of the small well due to the drought arose among other issues that came to light, including problems with obtaining liability insurance.
With the Cloverdale Community Garden reopening, thanks to a “small group of thoughtful, committed citizens”, Holly can once again return to her flowers, the veggies grown here will once again feed families with the excess being donated to the Senior Center Produce Market*, visitors can once again stop
in for picnics, and, once again, we Cloverdalians can drop by, sit, relax, and connect with nature.
*Visit the Senior Center Produce Market on Fridays 10-11 a.m.
(All ages welcome!)
More family fun and relaxation starts with the Classic Car Cruise up Cloverdale Boulevard on Friday night, September 7th (7p.m.) with music/ dancing in the Plaza at 7:30p.m.
Start Saturday with a Pancake Breakfast (8a.m.-noon), including eggs/ sausage and more (Adults 10+ $7; Children 5-10 yrs. $3.50; Under 5 Free) at the Multi-purpose Senior Center (311 North Main)
Stroll the display of 200+ historic vehicles on Cloverdale Boulevard 10a.m. to 3p.m. These works of art show us advances in engineering and technology as well as what we have lost in joyful esthetics.
For full information on the show, go to: cloverdalecarshow.com