Ask EcoGirl: the link between the environment and our health

Dear EcoGirl: The health care crisis is such a timely topic right now. Can an environmental perspective help provide solutions?
Signed, A Health Advocate

Dear Health Advocate: Ah, what a great question. Yes, I’ve been amazed that, amidst all the fierce health care debates, the environmental dimension is still largely being ignored, even given the clear connections between our high illness rates and exposure to environmental pollutants and everyday toxics.

Unfortunately, I feel that neglecting this issue has been a key reason that illness and medical costs have been escalating beyond what our culture can afford. However, addressing this harm can help us produce our much-needed breakthroughs in reducing both illness and health care expenses.

The Vital Link Between the Environment & Our Health
A key remedy then is for our mainstream health care system to embrace, in both policy and patient care, these essential truths connecting the environment and our shared health.

1) The environment is not “out there” but intimate with our bodies. It’s the water we drink, the food we eat, the air we breathe, the products we buy, and the surfaces we touch everywhere in our lives. All the toxics and pollutants that our culture produces travel around the globe, harming people and the planet along the way — including us.

2) Humanity’s pollutants are consistently found in everyone’s bodies, no matter how clean our lifestyle. Did we really imagine that we could pollute the earth and not poison ourselves?

3) Everyday toxics are contributing significantly to high rates of common diseases.
A study by Safer Chemicals Healthy Families (SCHF, www.safer chemicals.org) estimates that toxic chemicals cause 30% of childhood asthma cases, 10% of diabetes and Parkinson’s disease, and 5% of childhood cancer. Chronic diseases such as these affect half our population, generating 75% of health care costs and 70% of deaths.

4) Modest changes could drastically cut illness and costs. The Milken Institute estimates that small environmental and behavioral changes could cut 40 million chronic illness cases by 2023. SCHF calculates that trimming just 0.1% from medical costs would save $5 bilbillion a year. Pam Palitz of Environment California says, “Good chemical reform policy is good fiscal policy. We literally cannot afford the status quo when it comes to toxic chemical exposure.”

True Prevention
When today’s medical system talks about prevention, it usually just means early detection. However, health professionals and individuals can help millions of people actually avoid disease by taking committed action towards these three key eco-objectives.

1) Drastically reduce our individual and shared exposure to toxics and pollutants.
There are many effective (and often cheaper) ways to meet our needs at home, work, and play, without poisoning ourselves, our families, other creatures, and water supplies. (See my past columns for tips plus Health Care Without Harm, http://www.noharm.org/).

It’s also important to take community level action, such as improving toxics laws (see my Nov. 2009 column), encouraging cleaner manufacturing and energy production (including phasing out coal and nuclear power), and supporting health groups that address environmental factors (such as Breast Cancer Action, http://www.bcaction.org/).

2) Prioritize an eco-healthy diet, both in our lives and our hospitals (please!).
Much of what nurtures a healthy environment also nourishes individual health, including eating fresh whole foods, low on the food chain, and organic. Most mainstream food has been depleted and polluted by toxic farming practices. Studies show that choosing organic notably reduces dietary and environmental toxics, increases nutrients, and encourages less-toxic agriculture.

3) Integrate earth-friendly traditional healing as an equal partner. A wide variety of traditional natural modalities have been proven over generations to skillfully assess and adjust body imbalances early, with little or no side effects to ourselves or the planet. This gracefully maintains our wellness at a much lower cost, while avoiding pharmaceuticals’ harm to our environment and water supplies. For more about integrating Western and traditional approaches, plus other key system reforms, see Dr. Weil’s book Why Our Health Matters. I hope that these ideas inspire you to help heal our medical system by reweaving it with the earth again.

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Sonoma Mountain gets a Trail

North Slope Sonoma Mountain Ridge Trail Project Kicks-Off
District acquisitions totaling $12 million to connect to Jack London State Historic Park

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, acting as the District’s Board of Directors, approved five contracts totaling $391,360 to prepare for the construction of the North Slope Ridge trail on Sonoma Mountain, and to assist the District with other trail development projects at the Montini and Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserves.

“Sonoma Mountain now joins the ring of Bay Area summits that provide public access,” said Valerie Brown, First District Supervisor. “State, County and District-protected properties will be linked together by a multi-use trail that allows the community to enjoy 5,500 acres of contiguous open space.”

The agreements include services from Sonoma County Regional Parks Department for construction management of park improvements, the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council (BARTC) for trail planning and construction oversight, and the Conservation Corps North Bay for trail construction and stewardship tasks such as invasive plant control and fire abatement. Additional contracted services include engineering, surveying, and permitting work that must occur prior to construction. Construction is expected to begin early this summer and be substantially completed by late fall.

“This project will help provide local youth with meaningful work and new perspectives,” said Gary Miltimore, Sonoma County Program Director of the Conservation Corps North Bay. “They will be working alongside people that are passionate about providing safe, yet exhilarating, public access to Sonoma County’s richest natural resources.”

The proposed multi-use trail will traverse four District-protected properties, totaling approximately 454 acres and a public investment of more than $12 million, the 84-acre Sonoma Mountain Woodlands parcel owned by Regional Parks, and the approximately 1,400-acre Jack London State Historic Park. The $1.4 million construction project encompasses access road improvements, a parking area, and a 4.25-mile trail that will total approximately nine miles of trail from the proposed trailhead at Jacobs Ranch on Sonoma Mountain to the Hayfields trailhead at Jack London State Historic Park and add to the larger Bay Area Ridge Trail.

“The North Slope Sonoma Mountain Ridge Trail will be a treasured link in the visionary 550-mile Bay Area Ridge Trail,” said Janet McBride, BARTC Executive Director. “We are thrilled that trail construction is poised to begin—this is the happy result of many years of passionate, persistent efforts among many partners.”

The California Coastal Conservancy has supported the preservation of, and access to, Sonoma Mountain by providing a total of $2,385,000 in grant funding for planning, land acquisition, and public access improvements. The Coastal Conservancy was able to release $341,666 of a $575,000 grant frozen by the State to begin the construction.

“There is no better place to experience the spectacular beauty of Sonoma County than its namesake mountain,” said Maxene Spellman, project manager for the State Coastal Conservancy. “The new trail will lead hikers into the quiet intimacy of nature and offer majestic views that take in much of the North Bay’s awe-inspiring landscape.”

“This project once again demonstrates the significance of partnerships in our land conservation efforts,” said Bill Keene, General Manager of the District. “Our combined teamwork in funding, planning, and implementing this project will provide needed jobs, public access, and protection of diverse wildlife habitats and sensitive natural resources.”

About the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District permanently protects the diverse agricultural, natural resource and scenic open space lands of Sonoma County for future generations. Since 1990, the District has protected more than 83,000 acres. Agricultural and open space lands have been protected through a 1/4-cent sales tax approved by voters in 1990 and reauthorized in 2006. For more information, please visit www.sonomaopenspace.org

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Santa Rosa's Roseland Community Park gets Funded

District Awards Matching Funds for City of Santa Rosa Park
Board approves $2.42 million for Roseland Creek Community Park and Trail Project

Today (February 23, 2010), the Board approved a $2.42 million grant to the City of Santa Rosa for the acquisition of 7 acres located at 1370 and 1400 Burbank Avenue for an eventual park and trail project located in southwest Santa Rosa. The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District recommended the project for funding in 2008 as part of its Matching Grant Program.

“This park is a needed asset for the community and will directly benefit the children in the Roseland School District,” said Efren Carrillo, Fifth District Supervisor. “Through the Matching Grant Program we are able to bolster local programs to make more parks and recreational opportunities available, as well as create quality environmental, educational and economic resources for the neighborhoods of our cities.”

This acquisition represents a portion of the larger 18 acres identified for park and trail development located between Burbank and McMinn Avenues, and is the first of a multi-phased project. The City is currently negotiating additional acquisitions totaling approximately 11 acres located at 1027 McMinn and 1360 Burbank Avenues and has applied for funding from the District as part of its 2009 grant program.

The site was identified as a potential park in the City’s general plan and comprises a reach of Roseland Creek, grasslands, and oak savanna. The proposed park is within a one-mile radius of four elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools of the Roseland School District, and is expected to support a variety of community activities, including environmental education and after-school programs.

“The acquisition of this property will bring us closer to realizing our general plan goal of increasing parkland and recreational amenities for our residents,” said Marc Richardson, Assistant City Manager and Director of Recreation, Parks and Community Services. “By partnering with the District, the City of Santa Rosa is able to leverage its resources to create an 18-acre park envisioned by the community.”

As its matching contribution, the City will provide nearly $2.8 million of city funding, grants, and professional in-kind services toward ongoing park maintenance, restoration and enhancement of the creek. The Matching Grant Program guidelines require a 1:1 contribution match from applicants, which can include direct contributions and in-kind services and materials, with no more than 50 percent of the match identified for operations and maintenance.

Both Measures C and F, approved by the voters in 1990 and 2006, respectively, provide for the Matching Grant Program. Since 1994, the District has administered and based funding for this program on available sales tax revenues. To date, nearly $28 million in matching grants have been selected for funding of land acquisition, development of recreational amenities, and restoration of open space within or near urban areas. Projects include the Town Green in Windsor, the Prince Memorial Greenway in Santa Rosa, and the 250-acre expansion of land along the Petaluma River for public access and habitat enhancement adjacent to Schollenberger Park. As the District anticipates an approximate 10 percent decline in its revenue for FY09-10, the program is budgeted at $2 million or nearly 13% of its total revenues for the year.

“Now, more than ever, this program is especially important as it leverages the resources of our city, local agency, and non-profit partners to develop parks and restore open space for our urban communities,” said District General Manager Bill Keene. “Our success relies on the ability to offer a program that responds to the changing needs of our applicants.”

About the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District permanently protects the diverse agricultural, natural resource and scenic open space lands of Sonoma County for future generations. Since 1990, the District has protected more than 83,000 acres. Agricultural and open space lands have been protected through a 1/4-cent sales tax approved by voters in 1990 and reauthorized in 2006. For more information, please visit www.sonomaopenspace.org

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Protecting Sonoma Coumty Land for the Future

Agreement Protects Natural Area along Highway 12
Conservation easement keeps 165-acre Danielli property “forever wild” and preserves historic agricultural use.

In an area surrounded by existing or planned residential development and vineyards, the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District will purchase an easement over the 165-acre Danielli property which will keep approximately 148 acres natural and provide for 17 acres of agricultural use.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, acting as the District’s Board of Directors, approved the $1.48 million agreement between the District and Lola Danielli. The purchase price represents a 10% or $164,500 reduction of the appraised value, and the agreement eliminates the potential for development of six parcels and provides for continued agricultural and existing residential uses on the property.

“We thank Lola Danielli and applaud her family’s efforts to voluntarily preserve their land,” said Valerie Brown, First District Supervisor. “Together we’re maintaining our county’s quality of life and ensuring wildlife habitat.”

The property has been in the Danielli family since the 1940s and will adjoin two existing open space easements that will create 420 acres of contiguous wildlife habitat. Forever protected are the oak woodland, conifer forest, meadows, chaparral, and seasonal creeks that characterize the property.

“It was always the wish of my parents to keep this land open and undeveloped,” said property owner Lola Danielli. “Working with the District has allowed us to keep this land natural and protect these vital resources for future generations.”

The expanse of the property runs from the northeast side of Sonoma Highway across from the Oakmont subdivision, halfway between downtown Santa Rosa and Kenwood, to nearly a mile into the hills on the northeast side of Sonoma Valley. Elevations range from 400 to 850 feet along the property’s two ridges. Additionally, it is located within a major groundwater basin that recharges the water supply to Santa Rosa Creek.

“More than half of the nearly 83,000 acres we’ve conserved protects the County’s natural areas and critical habitats.” said Bill Keene, General Manager of the District. “By setting aside these protected areas, we are able to preserve our native plants and animals, promote clean air and water, and provide educational opportunities for the community.”

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About the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District permanently protects the diverse agricultural, natural resource and scenic open space lands of Sonoma County for future generations. Since 1990, the District has protected more than 83,000 acres. Agricultural and open space lands have been protected through a 1/4-cent sales tax approved by voters in 1990 and reauthorized in 2006. For more information, please visit www.sonomaopenspace.org

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Russian River Coho Salmon get National Grant

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation today announced an award of $696,000 to the Coho Water Resources Partnership, which is working to improve stream flows and water supply reliability in five tributaries of the Russian River critical to the recovery of endangered coho salmon.

Russian River Receives Major National Grant to Benefit Endangered Coho Salmon

By Lisa Hulette, Gold Ridge RCD

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation today announced an award of $696,000 to the Coho Water Resources Partnership, which is working to improve stream flows and water supply reliability in five tributaries of the Russian River critical to the recovery of endangered coho salmon.

The number of coho salmon in the Russian River watershed has declined precipitously in recent decades. Although multiple factors have harmed the population, resource agencies have found that low flows and water diversions can be especially problematic in the Russian River tributaries.

“The severity of the coho population decline and the importance of the Russian River to coast-wide recovery efforts made the Foundation place special programmatic emphasis on the watershed,” said Jeff Trandahl, the Foundation’s executive director. “Our coho recovery investments are backed by a comprehensive, scientifically sound business plan that highlights the path to recovery.”

Initial efforts will focus on five first-priority streams: Dutch Bill, Grape, Green Valley, Mark West and Mill Creeks. Fueled by the grants, partners will work to find areas that have the greatest opportunities for better water management, solutions that knock down hurdles to recovery, and ways to finance necessary permits and on-the-ground work.

“More than 95 percent of the target watersheds are held in private ownership, and the guiding principal of this project is that water for both human uses and coho salmon can be secured through careful planning and water supply management,” said Kara Heckert, Executive Director of the Sotoyome Resource Conservation District.

The multi-disciplinary Partnership includes the Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration, Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center WATER Institute, Sotoyome Resource Conservation District, Trout Unlimited, University of California (UC) Research and Extension Center’s Hopland GIS Lab, UC Cooperative Extension, and Sonoma County Water Agency.

“Just as the climate of the Russian River watershed can place pressures on coho and water users during the dry season, the rainy winter can provide opportunities to ameliorate those pressures,” said Mary Ann King, Stewardship Coordinator with Trout Unlimited. “One of the critical challenges is to identify the timing and mechanisms through which water can be acquired and stored to enhance streamflow for coho salmon.”

The long-term goals are to restore a more natural flow regime during the dry season, increase the number of wild coho salmon, and augment water storage capacity for a variety of land uses in each watershed.

“We are all very excited about the potential to implement creative and innovative solutions that will address the needs of both fish and people,” said Lisa Hulette, Executive Director, Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District, “and we are committed to working with landowners on a voluntary basis with the primary goal of creating a collaborative foundation from which landowners and agencies will work together to create reliable water supplies for future generations.”

• The Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration (CEMAR) is a nonprofit, environmental research company. CEMAR – in conjunction with the University of California Hopland Research and Extension Center -- will provide scientific and technical guidance for creating and validating water management models.

• The Gold Ridge and Sotoyome Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) are local public agencies that engage stakeholders and landowners in land management practices that promote resource conservation. The RCDs will lead initial outreach and develop the primary outreach mechanisms for communicating objectives and benefits with landowners.• The Occidental Arts and Ecology Center’s (OAEC) Watershed Advocacy, Training, Education, & Research (WATER) Institute was created to catalyze local and regional water policy and sustainable water management practices. OAEC will coordinate outreach and education efforts with the RCDs and provide technical guidance.

• Trout Unlimited (TU) is a nonprofit organization that has been working on water rights reform and streamflow protection along California’s North Coast for 20 years. TU will work with landowners and agencies to break through the legal and institutional barriers to progress on stream flow restoration.

• The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in Sonoma County provides university research-based outreach on natural resources management, and, in collaboration with state and federal agencies, coordinates the Russian River Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program. UCCE will provide monitoring and technical expertise related to understanding coho population dynamics in the watershed.

• The Sonoma County Water Agency is a wholesale provider of water to 600,000 people in Sonoma and Marin counties. The Agency will provide critical technical support and expertise. Funds for implementing the Russian River Biological Opinion will be used as matching funds for this project.

For more information, please visit: www.cohopartnership.org.

Lisa Hulette
Executive Director
Gold Ridge RCD
PO Box 1064
Occidental, CA 95465
P: (707) 874-2907
F: (707) 874-9607
W: www.goldridgercd.org

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Fight for Air - Sonoma County Healthy Home Website

IS YOUR HOME MAKING YOU OR YOUR FAMILY SICK?

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU HAVE AN UNHEALTHY HOME?

New “Healthy Homes” Webpage Launched
on Sonoma County Environmental Health Division Website

The County of Sonoma Department of Health Services, Environmental Health Division has launched a new webpage resource with information about how to identify health and safety problems in homes, and how to keep our homes healthy.

“Poor housing conditions can definitely affect the public’s health, which is why we’re so pleased to launch this webpage”, said Walt Kruse, Director of Environmental Health.

The webpage was created in cooperation with the Sonoma County Asthma Coalition through a grant from California Breathing of the California Department of Public Health. The webpage includes the following resource information:

· Aspects that define healthy homes
· What constitutes a substandard housing violation
· Indoor air quality asthma triggers
· A quick reference table and map of code enforcement jurisdictions that include the public contact numbers for submitting substandard housing complaints/tips
· Frequently asked questions regarding mold
· Tenant/Landlord resources
· Many helpful and informational links to external resources for Healthy Homes related topics

The new webpage is located at the following link: http://www.sonoma-county.org/health/eh/healthy_home.htm

For any questions regarding the webpage, please contact the Environmental Health Division at (707) 565-6565

Shan Magnuson
Associate Director
Sonoma County Asthma Coalition
American Lung Association in California
115 Talbot Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707-527-5864
smagnuson@alac.org
www.sonomaasthma.org

I am committed to bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on this planet as the guiding principle of our times.

Saturday, March 27, 2010
www.fightforairclimb.org

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Bohemian Grove Forest Management Protest

As many now know, the plan to log valuable stands of timber at the Bohemian Grove property in Monte Rio, California was signed off for approval by CALFIRE on December 29, 2009. This development, characterized by Judge Bill Newsom as a "thinly disquised plan..." to log "one of the last two great stands of old-growth" has disappointed more than a few, both Russian River residents and many of the environmentally conscious community.

So what's next? With such approvals, there's a thirty day window to file appeal via legal means. Who better to tell the story than John Hooper, organic farmer and past member of the Bohemian Club. John knows the Bohemian Club property and its trees far better than many, and as an owner of forestry stands himself, he has a strong sense of how forests can best be managed.

A wealth of information, including professional testimonials, forestry reports, and forestry management statistics relevant to the Bohemian Grove NTMP is available for review at

http://www.savebohemiangrove.org

John has taken time to discuss the situation's latest developments in an interview with David Kenly and Harvey Mendelson, and that interview is now online as a podcast.

To listen to the interview, podcast player software is required. We recommend iTunes for either MAC or PC. It's free and downloadable from the Apple site at http://www.apple.com/itunes/

Once iTunes (or a similar podcast player) is installed, subscribe to the ArrowFlight Green Parallel podcast to hear the interview with John Hooper. All you have to do is click on

itpc://www.arrowflight.com/podcasts/green.xml

or, in the event your computer doesn't accept this address, enter the following directly into the podcast subscription area of iTunes, usually found in the "Subscribe to Podcast" menu item in the "Advanced" menu.

http://www.arrowflight.com/podcasts/green.xml

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Sebastopol Raw Sewage Spill into Laguna de Santa Rosa

UPDATE January 21 - repair is complete - see below

This is an EMERGENCY message
from the City of Sebastopol.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 - The City of Sebastopol has experienced a rupture of our main wastewater transmission pipe requiring us to shut down pumping to the treatment facility. City crews will be pumping and hauling wastewater generated in the City by truck to the treatment plant in Santa Rosa, until the wastewater main repairs are completed.

During the next 24-48 hours, residents are requested to limit indoor water use to a minimum, to minimize the amount of wastewater flow which must be trucked to the plant. In particular, use of dishwashers, clothes washers and showers should be curtailed during this period. If you have questions, call the Public Works Department at 823-5331 during normal business hours.
If you live in the City of Sebastopol, PLEASE immediately adopt strict conservation measures for all water use which might flow to the Laguna through the sewer system.

Thank you for your cooperation.

All residents that are downstream of the spill, from the city limits to the Russian River, 500 feet on both sides of the Laguna. (about 70 residents).

There has been an accidental release of wastewater into the Laguna De Santa Rosa surface waterway. If your water wellhead is under water, where contaminants can enter your well, do not use your water for the next 48 hours. Please avoid contact with the Laguna surface water as it may carry contaminants. If you have questions, call the Sebastopol Public Works Department at 823-5331, during normal business hours. Thank you for your cooperation.

UPDATE January 21 - repair is complete

January 21, 2010
At 11:37 a.m. on Wednesday, January 20, 2010, the City or Sebastopol received a report of a broken sewer main in the Meadowlark Field east of the Laguna de Santa Rosa, north of Highway 12. Public Works and Engineering staff responded to the scene and confirmed a break in the sewer transmission main which carries wastewater from the City of Sebastopol to the Subregional sewer treatment plant on Llano Road. At the time it was discovered, water was flowing from the broken main across the field to the drainage way leading to the Laguna de Santa Rosa.

The City immediately made the required reports to State regulatory authorities and proceeded to arrange for containment of the spill and repairs to the main. City residents were notified to conserve water as much as possible until repairs could be made, to limit the amount of wastewater flowing to the system.

At the time of the incident, the Laguna was flooding out of its banks into the field, due to heavy rains earlier in the morning. On the recommendation of the North Coast Regional Board, all residents downstream of Sebastopol with water wells within 500 feet of the Laguna de Santa Rosa were also notified of the wastewater spill.

The City had a contractor on scene by 12:50 p.m. to excavate the broken main and make repairs. Pump trucks were also deployed at the site of the main break to contain the leaking wastewater to the extent possible, and near the City’s sewer pumping station on Morris Street. The pump station was shut down and wastewater flowing in the system was pumped into tanker trucks and hauled to the treatment plant during the afternoon and evening, to divert wastewater flow from the area of the main break. The contractor completed repairs to the transmission main by 9:54 p.m. and the pumping system was put back in service.

The City continues to investigate the cause of this rupture, and will be assembling additional reports from our engineers and field personnel.

Susan Kelly, Public Information Officer
City of Sebastopol
(707) 823-2151
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The Laguna de Santa is an important tributary to the Russian River. What happens in the Laguna gets carried downstream to the Russian River then out to sea. Accidents happen and the City of Sebastopol is responding quickly to this problem. What's important is that people need to realize that this is not just a Sebastopol problem - it impacts the entire waterway from the spill put to the sea and beyond.

The GOOD NEWS is that it is being taken care of as diligently as possible by Public Works. Residents who rely upon the Sebastopol Wastewater System need to realize how much they play a part in the success of this defense and clean-up. Life does not go on as usual during the time it takes to haul wastewater away and fix the problem. Flushing the least amount of water down the drain makes the job easier - and quicker - for Public Works.

In these heavy rains the Laguna will flush itself out as well - and take a lot of cow manure from the dairies that line the Laguna along with the human waste. Agricultural lands that line our waterways also dump many products into the water as rains wash across surface soil and soak through layers of soil, leaching nutrients of all kinds in the process. All of this material ends up in the Laguina, the Russian River and the Pacific Ocean.

More than likely the 70 homes that line the Laguna down stream from the spill have septic systems along with their water wells and these systems get flush with rainwater at this time of year as well. Are all of these systems up to code and as efficient as a sewage treatment plant? Are all of the septic systems that are used in homes along the Russian River up to code nand keeping their effluent from entering our waterways?


The wastewater/sewage spill in Sebastopol has a short-term solution/fix that will bring their wastewater back into compliance within a few days. The Laguna, Russian River and Pacific Ocean are vulnerable 365 days a year.

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Jenner Headlands is Protected FOREVER!

We are very pleased to announce that escrow has CLOSED.
FOREVER is a VERY LONG TIME - Thank you!
Thanks to our willing sellers, Sonoma Coast Associates, Gualala Redwoods, Inc., and Russian River Redwoods and the collaborative efforts of all our amazing partners, Sonoma Land Trust is now the proud steward of this incredible coastal property!

Sonoma Land Trust acquires Iconic Coastal Property

After a five-year quest, and in spite of significant hurdles related to California’s economic crisis, the Sonoma Land Trust closed escrow December 17, 2009 and acquired the stunning 5,630-acre Jenner Headlands — a nationally significant project and the single largest conservation land acquisition in Sonoma County. This $36 million purchase was completed due to the extraordinary efforts and collaboration of 10 public and private funding partners.

“This is an example of what can be achieved, even in these challenging times, when we work together,” said Amy Chesnut, Sonoma Land Trust acquisitions director and manager of this project from the outset. “We’ve been fortunate to have conservation-minded landowners and enthusiastic partners all willing to do what was necessary to make this deal succeed. It’s been an outstanding collaboration on behalf of the public and future generations.”

Located north of the town of Jenner where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean, and extending two-and-a-half miles along Highway 1 and inland toward Cazadero, this one-of-a-kind coastal treasure has it all — rich habitat for fish and wildlife, dramatic views, extensive opportunities for future recreation and a spectacular segment of the California Coastal Trail.

“Along with its sheer scenic beauty that all of us will now be able to enjoy, the vast ecological values of this intact landscape will also help us and other species adapt to the effects of climate change,” said Efren Carrillo, Sonoma County Fifth District Supervisor. “Instead of a handful of estate homes, we’ll have thousands of acres of diverse habitat and, in the future, many miles of hiking trails, all protected forever.”

Watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM3Jmtf1XH8

Acquisition funding

Financial support for this acquisition was provided through grants and loans from the following agencies and organizations:

• Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District ($9.15 million);
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program ($5.85 million);
• USDA Forest Service, Forest Legacy Program ($1 million);
• Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation ($4 million); and
• The Wildlands Conservancy, Save the Redwoods League, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, which provided bridge loans totaling $16 million to make the acquisition possible in advance of anticipated grant funds from the State Coastal Conservancy and Wildlife Conservation Board.

“The Jenner Headlands is an immense and incomparable treasure, and its protection has been sought for decades by the land conservation community,” said Sam Schuchat, executive officer of the Coastal Conservancy. “We are inspired by the Sonoma Land Trust’s ability to enlist so many funders and bring this extraordinary project to fruition, especially during this very difficult time in California.“

In addition to their funding contributions for the acquisition, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District have agreed to contribute $2 million and $1 million, respectively, to support the Land Trust’s management, stewardship and public access activities for the property.

The property was purchased from Sonoma Coast Associates, Gualala Redwoods, Inc. and Russian River Redwoods, all interrelated companies. As part of the transaction, the sellers have donated $1 million to support the Sonoma Land Trust’s efforts. “This is one of the most spectacularly beautiful tracts of land on the entire Pacific Coast. We are so pleased to be a part of this transaction,” said Ollie Edmunds, CEO of Gualala Redwoods, Inc.

“We are glad that the new owners are passionately committed to caring for and protecting this beautiful tract of land after closing today,” added David Ferreira, Russian River Redwoods resident partner.

Property management and public access

The Sonoma Land Trust will own and manage the Jenner Headlands for several years until an organization or agency is identified as the permanent owner. The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District will hold a conservation easement on the property that removes the threat of development and requires that the land be managed to protect and enhance the natural resources, which are plentiful:

• 13 habitat types;
• 8 watersheds;
• 8-1/2 miles of streams;
• 3,100 acres of redwood and Douglas fir forest;
• 1,500 acres of rare coastal prairie; and
• numerous threatened and endangered species, including the northern spotted owl, steelhead trout, Coho salmon, peregrine falcon, red tree vole and osprey.

The Sonoma Land Trust is committed to balancing the protection of these sensitive resources with public use. The first order of business will be to conduct natural and cultural resource assessments to inform the development of a comprehensive resource management plan. During this time, guided hikes will be offered regularly by the Land Trust and its recreational partners on the coastal portion of the property beginning in January, 2010. Throughout this initial phase, which is expected to last from one to two years, ways to provide broader, multi-use access will be explored.

“This is a good day for conservation in California — the protection of this rare and remarkable property is the right outcome for the public and our wildlife,” said John Donnelly, executive director of the Wildlife Conservation Board.

“It was a long time in coming, but it is a thrill to be able to add the Jenner Headlands to the sweep of permanently protected lands along the Sonoma coast,” said Ralph Benson, executive director of the Sonoma Land Trust. “There is a 19th Century etching of the Jenner Headlands showing the Russian River flowing into the Pacific, and it’s a wonder to know that the old Rule Ranch will look as open, beautiful and wild in the 21st Century as it did through time immemorial.”

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We are especially indebted to the following organizations for providing support and funding for the acquisition:

California Department of Fish and Game
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
California State Coastal Conservancy
California Wildlife Conservation Board
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
NOAA, Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program
The San Francisco Foundation
Save the Redwoods League
Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
Tellabs Foundation
The Wildlands Conservancy
USDA Forest Service
and
The Members and Donors of Sonoma Land Trust

Please contact Tenley Wurglitz at (707) 526-6930 ext.112 or tenley@sonomalandtrust.org if you have any questions.

With gratitude,
Amy & Ralph

Ralph Benson
Executive Director

Amy Chesnut
Acquisitions Director

Sonoma Land Trust
966 Sonoma Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95404-4814
(707) 526-6930
http://www.sonomalandtrust.org/

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Leaf Blower Ban Proposed for Sebastopol

Restrict Leaf Blowers

By Shepherd Bliss

I appreciate the Sebastopol City Council for discussing a leaf blower ban, which it was scheduled to do at its Jan. 5 public meeting. Since Carmel banned them in 1975, nearly 35 years ago, many California and U.S. cities have limited leaf blowers, including Santa Monica, Mill Valley, Tiburon, and Los Angeles. Millions living in small to large communities are protected from chronic leaf blowing, but not the some 8000 human souls in our sweet, sometimes peaceful, small town of Sebastopol. We lag behind.


Councilmember Guy Wilson, now Vice Mayor, put the idea of a ban--in response to residents complaining to him--on the Nov. 17 Council agenda. A music teacher approached him, because she could not teach while blowers were being used. Another resident works at night and needs to sleep during the day. Someone else wanted to meditate without the interruption. “For centuries societies operated well without leaf blowers. I don’t get why we need them,” Wilson noted.

Some spoke in favor a ban, whereas a smaller number opposed it. Leaf blowers upset many people; others dismiss their damage and marginalize the issue. During December more residents spoke to the Council to support a ban. Among those testifying were a downtown homeowner who lived in Palo Alto when that city banned leaf blowers and a real estate agent with customers who come to Sebastopol seeking peace and quiet, which leaf blowers destroy. If you want your opinion on this matter heard, you can attend the Jan. 5 and/or Jan. 19 Council meetings in the Youth Annex next to the Sebastopol Community Center on Morris Street, starting at 6 p.m.


Costs Outweigh Benefits
Fallen leaves are part of nature’s cycle. A blanket of leaves on the ground can be lovely. By disturbing leaves we harm the ecosystem, including air quality, and provoke more chaotic climate change. While on trees they beautify and transform light into oxygen. When they fall they become mulch, then compost, and eventually topsoil.

The multiple costs of leaf blowers to the environment and people far outweigh their few benefits. They spew toxins into the air and create health problems. This article focuses on noise pollution. “The high-pitched noise of leaf blowers drives me and others crazy,” testified downtown homeowner Nancy Hubert before the Council.

I have researched the health hazards of loud noise for over 25 years now. In l985 Penguin Books published my chapter “Sound Pollution” in the best-selling “New Holistic Health Handbook.” My chapter “Sound Shy” appeared in the award-winning book “Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace.” (www.vowvop.org).

Some can tolerate the loud noise of leaf blowers. It annoys others. I am one of those, including other military veterans, whose nervous system is sensitive to loud sounds, leading to either a flight or fight response. My typical response has been to flee the sound, even when it invades my home, pushing me away from sleep, eating, studying, working, listening to music, conversing with friends, and other home-based activities. I am now ready to actively advocate a more peaceful and serene Sebastopol free of leaf blower threats.

Taking the Lead in Sonoma County
Sebastopol could join the many other communities who protect their residents from the health hazards of leaf blowers, thus being the first city in Sonoma County to do so. We could take leadership on this matter, helping educate people about noise contamination. I do not like the idea of more regulations, but this is a situation where we need protection.

“I had an award-winning landscaping business in Santa Barbara,” Jeff Snook explained in an interview. He now farms in the Sebastopol countryside. “I used a leaf blower professionally. It can be an effective tool, but they are grossly over-used. I came to hate them because of the damage they do to the user, plants, wildlife, and neighbors. I eventually stopped using blowers. This got me some business. It is an unnecessary machine and harmful to the garden. Brooms and rakes can be faster and cheaper in residential areas. Broom don’t blow.”

Snook explained that some landscapers in Santa Barbara “complained that they would be put out of business by a ban. That did not happen.” Others supported the ban. They helped set up a Green Gardeners Program that provided incentives to landscapers to quit the leaf blower habit. They could take a workshop, get certified as a green landscaper, and the City supported them in ways such as by putting them on their website.

“Fear of change is the main obstacle here,” Snook contended. “Landscapers are not the problem. The problem is the machine. Fortunately, with brooms and rakes, we have good alternatives. We need to re-train landscapers, gardeners, and homeowners. Landscapers using leaf blowers were once seen as a problem in Santa Barbara, but when they supported the ban it made them look good and they became heroes to some.”

“The air out of a leaf blower travels at more than one hundred miles an hour,” Snook explained. “Small particles are shot at plants and insects. This absorbs water. It kicks up dust that clogs the breathing of plants. The dust settles on leaves, clouding the sun. They are abusive to plants. They take topsoil off and plug pores on the surface, damaging water recharge. Leaf blowers are not good for gardens.”

More than leaves get blown. Among the many unintended tiny victims are bees. The mysterious colony collapse phenomenon took the lives of 29% of U.S. beehives last winter. Bees add an estimated $15 billion a year to U.S. agriculture by pollinating fruit, nuts, and vegetables. Leaf blowers have far more hidden costs than financial benefits.

Second hand cigarette smoke harms. You do not need to smoke to be hurt; you merely need to be near someone smoking. Leaf blower noise also damages. Smoking and leaf blowing are public health hazards. No one has the right to blow smoke in my face. Nor do they have the right to blow loud noise into my ears.

Harmful Noise Pollution
I concentrate on leaf blowers here for several reasons and do not propose limiting lawn mowers, chain saws or other garden tools. They are not as damaging as the high-pitched whine of blowers that disturb the ecosystem. Leaf blowers also have effective, quiet alternatives--brooms and rakes.

The health hazards of loud noises are documented at www.nonoise.org. Among them are the following: hearing loss, greater risk of heart attacks, damage to the endocrine system and stomach, depressed immunity, increased adrenaline, change in heart rate, elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels, social discord, impaired communication, heightened social conflicts, and increased psychological, social and emotional problems.

“Leaf blowers are a weapon of mass destruction,” contended one Sebastopudlian.

Educating Decision-makers
An information and education campaign that increases public awareness regarding leaf blowers would be helpful. This would further the environmental goals that Sebastopol contends that it follows and promote the safety of its citizens and its local economy, especially with respect to the growing eco-tourism industry.

Sebastopol could use a carefully-worded ordinance that focuses only on leaf blower use within residential areas, rather than commercial areas. We need to take the time to discuss this matter, rather than rush to a weak ordinance.

Leaves are a vital part of the ecosystem. My farm gladly receives bagged leaves that are unwanted and provide a place for them to rest in peace, thus feeding the soil that nourishes our boysenberries and apples.

Sebastopol prides itself as a green city and promotes eco-tourism. This sentiment should be expressed in a restriction on leaf blowers, which can certainly not be considered environmentally friendly.

(Shepherd Bliss, sb3@pon.net, has run the organic Kokopelli Farm for most of the last 20 years and currently teaches part-time at Sonoma State University.)

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Ask EcoGirl - Patricia Dines on Greening Your Resolutions

Dear EcoGirl: How can I include the earth in my New Year's resolutions?

Signed, Making a Plan

Dear Making a Plan: Thank you for your question. Yes, the new year offers us a handy time to step back and identify the changes we want to make in our lives. And it's smart to include caring for the earth among our intentions, because (1) the planet's well-being is key to our survival and the foundation of all we do; and (2) aligning with the earth can help us save money, be healthier, connect with others, and have more fun!

Here some example ways that you can eco-charge your New Year's resolutions. More about these and other useful actions is at www.askecogirl.info.

Resolution: Improve Your Health & Diet
Strategy: What's good for your body is often also good for the planet. Eating fresh whole local organic foods and less meat can help you lose weight, have more energy, avoid disease, and save money. Plus you'll reduce the eco-impacts of pesticides, packaging, industrial agriculture, and food transportation.
Action ideas:
• Explore recipes that get you excited about cooking from scratch with fresh produce and whole grains. You'll soon prefer it to processed products!
• Buy organic foods, to enjoy truly tasty and nutritious goodies grown without toxics. Organic is affordable when you buy direct and lower on the food chain. It's especially important to feed children organic, to reduce their exposure to toxics that can harm their development.
• Plan outings to local farms and farmers' markets. This trims food miles while helping local farms survive. Choose organic farms to reduce local toxics.
• Shop regularly at your local farmers' markets, or sign up for a farm CSA subscription, then savor your steady stream of farm-fresh delights.
• Plant an organic garden, to enjoy tasty healthy food that further trims your food miles.
• Designate one day a week or month as a vegetarian or vegan day, to reduce your livestock eco-impacts. (If you buy meat, choose organic from small farms.)
• Take walks in nature, alone or with others, for exercise that nurtures body, heart, and soul. Bring children along to encourage nature as their lifelong ally.

Resolution: Cut Home Energy Costs & Pollution
Strategy: Trimming home energy use saves money while reducing energy-related pollution and greenhouse gases.
Action ideas:
• Install a programmable thermostat to automatically lower heating costs while you're at work or school.
• Get a home energy audit, to identify your best opportunities for cutting energy waste and increasing efficiency. You can avoid up-front improvement costs with funding options such as SCEIP (www.sonomacounty energy.org).
• Consider solar power, after improving your home's efficiency, to reduce your use of polluting fossil fuels.

Resolution: Trim Driving Miles & Costs
Strategy: By cutting your driving miles, you can reduce your car expenses and pollution without buying a new car, plus often enhance relationships and integrate more exercise into your routine.
Action ideas:
• Seek carpool buddies for your trips to work, school, and more.
• Add public transit to your schedule. Get information on your local system and start by exploring a simple route.
• Designate one day a week or month as your "alternative commute day" and get to work or school by walking, biking, or taking public transit.

Resolution: Act at the Community Level
Strategy: By joining our efforts with others, we can help create the community-level changes needed to ensure that both we and the earth flourish.
Action ideas:
• Regularly contribute to groups you value. In addition to donating money, consider offering your time and skills, even for just a few hours monthly. You'll feel good connecting with like-minded souls and being part of the solution.
• Educate yourself and take action on eco-issues. E-mail lists from nonprofits can make that easier.
• Encourage your workplace and church groups to take eco-actions.

I hope these ideas help you enjoy the fun of turning our current challenges into opportunities for a better future!

Ask EcoGirl is written by Patricia Dines, Author of The Organic Guides, and Editor and Lead Writer for The Next STEP newsletter. Email your questions about going green to for possible inclusion in future columns.

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Gail's Garden: Gail Fanning on Winter & Spring Gardening

Happy New Year! Looking back over the past year and my resolutions made last January, I’m happy to report that I’ve done pretty well in fulfilling my plans. I have supported my favorite garden charities, the Royal Oak and Garden Conservancy. I have improved my irrigation to be more efficient and have eliminated a portion of my lawn to reduce water use. I have been composting my kitchen scraps regularly. I have learned a lot of things about plants and gardening from many sources: my current source of inspiration is the new book by “Grassman” John Greenlee: The American Meadow Garden. This beautifully illustrated book (photos by Saxon Holt) is full of great ideas and options for those of us working toward eliminating traditional lawns.

I have also had the pleasure this year of designing several yards with “mini-lawns”. These postage stamp size lawns (250 to 400 sq. ft.) are perfect for those of us from the Midwest and the East who really want to have a lawn (I think this is a genetic trait from which we cannot escape!). We feel that a garden needs that jewel of green at its center to be complete. With a “mini-lawn” we can have our soft green spot for barefoot walking and rolling with children without bankrupting the water budget. And on my latest project, sub-surface drip irrigation was used to reduce water use even further. Since the lawn is so small, mowing with a push mower is easy: no release of pollution from gas burning engines, just a little good old fashioned sweat!


Mark your calendar for these fun and informative classes coming up in 2010 on Saturdays at 10:30am at Bassignani’s Nursery- they are all free! 1841 Gravenstein Highway South, Sebastopol Info: 823-3984

January 16 - Roses: Prune and Plant NOW!
Bring your pruning shears and gloves, and learn how to properly prune your roses for great bloom this spring. Designer Gail Fanning will also help you choose the best new roses from our great selection of bare root varieties. With the new disease resistant, easy-care rose varieties you can have beautiful roses with minimum effort!

January 30 - Dormant (Bareroot) Fruit Trees
Bare roots are here! NOW is the time to plant your fruit trees. Tony Bassignani will share his many years of experience and answer all your questions about choosing and caring for your fruit trees.

February 6 - Plant your Sweet Peas Now!
Our own English gardener Claudia Owens will introduce you to the wonderful world of sweet peas: so easy and so lovely! Learn how to grow your own with minimal effort: you will have vases full of fragrance and color.

February 20 - Camellia Festival
Join us for an exciting introduction to the care, feeding and enjoyment of these great landscape standards. Our expert horticulturalist Ken Eliason will teach you the difference between Japonica and Sasanqua, and how to make them an exciting part of your garden! KSRO Garden Talk with Steve Garner will be broadcasting live from the nursery today!

March 6 - Grafting Fruit Trees Successfully
Grow 4 different apples on one tree! Multi-graft trees are fun, and a great way to maximize your fruit production in a small space. Tony Bassignani demonstrates the technique for grafting your own fruit trees.

March 20 - Flowers for Your Cutting Garden
Learn how to start, plant, and care for the wide variety of annuals, perennials, and bulbs which can be used for cut flowers. Garden Designer Gail Fanning shows you how to bring the garden’s bounty into your home!

If you need help and advise with your garden, just give me a call at 829-2455. Consultations in your garden start at only $50. Do you have a gardening question you would like to ask? Or a photo to share?
Send your questions and photos (jpg) to bluehilldesign9@aol.com.

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Winter Water Conservation - Save Water Now, Save All Year

This past summer residents, businesses and land owners throughout the Russian River watershed once again responded to the requests to conserve water and did a great job reducing water use to help preserve water supply in Lake Mendocino. More and more residents are making improvements to their irrigation systems and removing high water use plants in their home gardens and public landscapes, replacing them with low water use plants to help reduce summertime water use. Water is a limited resource and it is extremely important that we use every drop as efficiently as possible all year round. Typically, in the winter most water use is from indoor household and business activities. By installing efficient fixtures, eliminating wasteful practices and using water wisely during the winter, you invest in year-round water savings because indoor fixtures are used all year. Not only are you saving our precious water resource, but you are also reducing the amount of wastewater that must be treated.

As utility costs continue to rise, there are simple things that you can do to reduce your water use and ultimately save money on your water and sewer bill. One way is to turn off your irrigation system during the winter months. Our region typically receives much more rainfall in the winter than plants need to stay healthy, so there is no need to irrigate during these months. Even during dry periods in the winter, plant growth is very slow and supplemental irrigation is rarely needed. By turning your irrigation system off now, you will eliminate waste and save money. You may also save money all year long because many utilities determine wastewater charges based on water use during the winter months when water use is typically for indoor needs only. Check with your local utility to determine when and how they calculate your wastewater charges.

A second way to save water and money is to check for and repair leaks. The biggest single cause of high utility bills is leaks. A single leaking toilet can waste over 200 gallons per day, and this is water that is also flowing to the sanitary sewer! To eliminate water waste from leaks, test your toilets and check your faucets and showerheads for leaks. Also, turn off all of your water using devices and check your meter to see if the low flow indicator is spinning. If it is moving, you may have a leak. Fix leaks right away because the longer you wait the more money and water you waste. The “Water Saving Home” web site at www.h2ouse.org has great tips for how to detect leaks, fix leaks, choose efficient plumbing fixtures and adopt water wise habits.

Another way you can save water and money is to improve the efficiency of your indoor water use fixtures. Consider replacing toilets with high-efficiency toilets (also called HET) that flush at 1.28 gallons per flush or less. Upgrade showerheads and aerators to high-efficiency versions and consider replacing your washing machine with a qualifying high-efficiency model. Many of our water and electric utilities provide rebates and incentives for replacing indoor water use fixtures with high-efficiency models.

Finally, you can save water and money by thinking about how you use water and determining if there are ways to either use less or eliminate the use all together. For example, turn the water off while brushing your teeth, don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket, use your garbage disposal less, and only wash full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine. Changing these habits will change your bill, and save our precious resource.

By turning off your irrigation system in the winter months, checking for leaks, replacing your indoor water fixtures, and improving your water use efficiency, you can save water, reduce wastewater and save money all year long!

This article was authored by Jennifer Burke of the City of Santa Rosa on behalf of RRWA. RRWA (www.rrwatershed.org) is an association of local public agencies in the Russian River Watershed that have come together to coordinate regional programs for clean water, fisheries restoration, and watershed enhancement.

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Sonoma County - The Green Jobs Epicenter?

A Report on Green Jobs and Training
with Resources for Green Jobs (below)

by Woody Hastings

“350 Day”, a day of international actions focused on raising public awareness of the urgency of taking action on climate change, refers to what climate scientists tell us is the maximum concentration of carbon dioxide Earth’s atmosphere can safely sustain - 350 parts per million (ppm). Unfortunately, we passed that mark in the early 1990s. We are currently at about 390 ppm and rising at about 2 ppm per year. 350.org estimates that about 5200 events took place in October in about 181 countries to focus our attention on this environmental dilemma and what we can do to change our course of action. Creating jobs in Green Technology is part of the solution.

Evelina Molina of the North Bay Institute of Green Technology, produced Action Fair, an all-day event in Santa Rosa that featured a diverse line-up of people and organizations involved in a wide variety of green career projects and programs. The bottom line is that many opportunities exist for employment and training in the rapidly developing field of “green” jobs and careers. “We want to make sure that green jobs are truly green in the sense that they provide opportunities for under-served, under-represented, low-income communities of color with barriers to employment. The jobs should provide wage-earners a family living wage, health benefits, and career pathways to prosperity. If the emerging green jobs economy does not create a fair and just opportunity for all, then it is not ‘green’ and will not create the sustainable socio-economic infrastructure that is needed to pull us out of this economic slump,” said Molina.

“It is going to require an army of people to do all the energy efficiency building retrofits, weather-stripping, and renewable energy installations that will be needed to reach the greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets that must be met to avert global disaster,” said Chris Cone of Solar Sonoma. She reminded the audience that Sonoma County has the most aggressive climate action plan in the nation, committing the county to carbon dioxide emissions reductions of 25% below 1990 levels by 2020. “The things that constitute the crisis - climate change and the recession, are the drivers that present the opportunity - a transition to a green economy fueled in part by the federal stimulus funds for green jobs,” she went on to explain.

That point was underscored by a speaker who followed, John Richau, Regional Director of the Community Alliance of Career Training and Utility Solutions who anticipates a veritable “boom” in jobs in home retrofitting over the next few years due to the fact that the California Public Utilities Commission is funneling $3.1 billion in federal stimulus money over the next three years to communities throughout California for that purpose.

Other private sector opportunities are emerging without federal assistance. GreenRay Technologies, an LED lighting start-up based in Santa Rosa, is opening a new manufacturing plant in Sonoma County and is currently hiring. “For years and years you’ve seen jobs like these moved overseas to Asia and other places. GreenRay is reversing that trend and will be employing people and manufacturing right here at home,” said Gene Quisisem, Western Regional Director for the firm. LED lights are even more energy efficient than compact fluorescents and do not contain any hazardous materials.

Many renewable energy projects and other green projects are being proposed in the Bay Area, including the North Bay. Some of them are large and offer the possibility of significant number of green jobs. One of the struggles is to ensure that the communities in which the projects are located are not left out of the employment opportunity. Multi-stakeholder agreements that address this concern are known as “community workforce agreements.”

A textbook example was provided by Joshua Arce of the Brightline Defense Project (brightlinedefense.org). Joshua recounted the recent story of a 5 megawatt solar project planned to be installed on top of the huge cap covering the Sunset Reservoir in San Francisco. No jobs from the chronically underemployed and unemployed districts of San Francisco were planned. Brightline organized a coalition of communities and succeeded in stopping the project with the demand that at least 30% of the workforce be hired from local underserved communities. The demand was met and the project was approved. Arce highlighted five key stakeholders that must be included in a successful project: 1) Industry; 2) Labor; 3) Elected Officials; 4) The local Workforce Investment Board; and last but not least 5) Community and Environmental Organizations.

The most compelling personal story of the day came from Edgardo Tafoya, a young man transformed by the career opportunities that unfolded for him via the North Bay Institute of Green Technology. Edgardo had spent many years incarcerated since some regrettable “mistakes made” during his teen years. “It was impossible to get a job just by filling out an application. I needed someone who was going to take a chance on me and believe that I have something to offer,” he said. Edgardo is now gainfully employed in the rapidly emerging “green collar” field of home energy efficiency retrofitting.

Many more opportunities are emerging in this field all the time. See the short list (below) for just a few of them.

Woody Hastings is a freelance environmental writer based in Sonoma County. Contact him at whastings@earthlink.net

Green Careers & Jobs - Sonoma County Resources*
Listed Alphabetically

Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County / YouthBuild Santa Rosa

YouthBuild Santa Rosa provides mentoring, educational & vocational training and skill development in leadership, communication, problem-solving and goal-setting to low-income youth in Sonoma County.

www.capsonoma.org/youthbuild

707-578-2034



Community Alliance of Career Training and Utility Solutions

Fresno-based organization that offers training and nationally recognized certification on a wide variety of green technologies. Sonoma County courses offered.

www.greencactus.org

559-960-7899



Eco Workforce

San Jose-based green collar workforce staffing agency focusing on energy efficiency and solar installations

www.eco-workforce.com

408-277-3114



Global Exchange

San Francisco-based organization offers a wide variety of programs including a green careers training program.

www.globalexchange.org

415- 255-7296



Green Ray

Sonoma County-based commercial and residential LED lighting start-up. Hiring for its new manufacturing plant in Santa Rosa.

www.greenraytechnology.com



Green Sonoma County

Sonoma County-based start-up that offers residential and commercial energy audits by certified technicians. Positions available for independent referral representatives and salespersons

www.greensonomacounty.org

707-623-6757



North Bay Institute of Green Technology

Provides training, job placement, and retention of low-income, unemployed, or underemployed persons for careers in green collar jobs.

www.nbigt.org



Santa Rosa Junior College

“Local instruction leading to global solutions.” Many practical course offerings under the rubric of sustainability.

www.santarosa.edu

707-527-4011



Solar Sonoma

Promoting Solar Energy Development Countywide

www.solarsonomacounty.org

707-829-9191



Sonoma State University Center for Sustainable Communities

Provides training on sustainability topics such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, green building, land use planning and public health - for local governments and other organizations.

www.sonoma.edu/etc/home/sustainable_communities

707-664-2577


*Note: this is not a comprehensive list. It reflects the organizations that were featured at the 350 Action Fair for Green Jobs & Training on October 24th 2009

IF YOU KNOW OF MORE GREEN JOB RESOURCES - please e-mail them to: vesta@sonic.net

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Access Taylor Mountain Permit & Planning begin

To provide interim access to Taylor Mountain during the park-planning process, the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, in partnership with the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department and LandPaths, is offering a permit program for the public interested in enjoying the 1000+ acre Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve.

The permit program, similar to the model developed by LandPaths for the Willow Creek addition to Sonoma Coast State Park, and the program used for Tolay Lake Regional Park, will include access for hikers, equestrians, and bicyclists.

Seasonal trail restrictions are in effect; mountain bike and equestrian uses not permitted until further notice.

To obtain a permit, you must first attend a 1-hour orientation session. RSVP required.

Please visit www.landpaths.org or call 707.524.9318 to reserve space or for more information.

ORIENTATION DATES:

JANUARY:
Saturday, Jan 9 at 11am
Monday, Jan 18 at 11 am
Saturday, Jan 23 at 10 am

En español: Domingo, 31 de enero – 1 pm

La Montaña de Taylor ya está abierta con permiso especial!
Para tener acceso a este terreno favor de llamar a 707-544-7284 x11
En español: Domingo, 31 de enero – 1 pm

FEBRUARY:
Wednesday, February 3 (10 AM)
Saturday, February 13 (2 PM)
Sunday, February 21 (11 AM)

MARCH:
En Español: Domingo, 7 de marzo (1 PM)
Sunday, March 21 (1 PM)
Wednesday, March 31 (5:30PM)

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Copenhagen Report-back: What Now?

Local activist and award-winning community organizer Evelina Molina will present her first-hand account as a credentialed delegate to the global climate negotiations in Copenhagen.
The event will take place Saturday, January 9th, 2010 from 2pm to 4pm at the Finley Community Center, 2060 West College Ave., Santa Rosa. Ms. Molina will be joined by Kevin Danaher, co-founder of Global Exchange and the GreenFestivals, and Norman Solomon, national co-chair of the Healthcare Not Warfare campaign.

“Copenhagen Report-Back: What Now?” Recently returned from the United Nations Climate negotiations in Copenhagen, local activist and award-winning community organizer Evelina Molina will present her first-hand account from the action in the streets, to the action inside the Bella Center where she was a credentialed delegate with Global Exchange. In addition to an analysis of what happened in Copenhagen, the event will focus on local action planned and underway in Sonoma County in response to climate change. She’ll present visuals and share her impressions of what happened and how we move forward from here. Ms. Molina will be joined by Kevin Danaher, co-founder of Global Exchange and the GreenFestivals, who, with his characteristic humor and wit, will offer his perspective and discuss essential local actions to address growing climate instability, the emerging green economy and the green collar jobs and careers that are a key component of this new paradigm. The discussion will be moderated by Norman Solomon, national co-chair of the Healthcare Not Warfare campaign, who will also share his analysis of the media’s coverage of Copenhagen and strategies for a "green new deal."


ADMISSION: $5-15 donation suggested, no one turned away for lack of funds

EVENT SPONSORS: Co-Sponsored by Global Exchange www.globalexchange.org and the North Bay Institute for Green Technology www.nbgreeninstitute.shutterfly.com

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Sonoma County Composting Toilet Project Approved

Sonoma County Water Agency Approves
Composting Toilet Pilot Project

On December 15th, the Sonoma County Water Agency Board of Directors approved a pilot project that will test “composting toilets” in Occidental. Composting toilets require no external water source and do not discharge to sewers, making them potentially well-suited for communities with limited water supply and sewer capacity. Currently, composting toilets are not permitted in Sonoma County.

“Many of my west county constituents are interested in composting toilets,” said Director Efren Carrillo, who represents Sonoma County’s fifth supervisorial district. “This pilot project will provide the data and analysis we need to tell us whether and how to move forward.”


Initially the pilot project will involve four households within the Occidental County Sanitation District. It will include the installation, monitoring, evaluation and, after the evaluation period, removal of the composting toilets, which are designed to compost the waste products within the units. Composting toilets are used in other parts of the world, but have limited distribution in the United States. The data from the pilot project will help determine whether the toilets are suitable for use in Occidental and in communities that have limited sewer capacity.

In addition to the composting toilet pilot project, the Sonoma County Water Agency (which operates the Occidental County Sanitation District) is offering a direct installation high-efficiency toilet program to sanitation district customers. Through this program, residents and businesses receive free installation of high-efficiency toilets, showerheads and faucet aerators.

For additional information about the composting toilet program, contact Doug Messenger, 707.547.1952 or e-mail: douglas.messenger@scwa.ca.gov.

For information about the direct installation program, call Brian Lee at 707.547.1918 or e-mail: brian.lee@scwa.ca.gov.

Below is some additional information on Composting Toilets - for the full document, please visit: http://oikos.com/library/compostingtoilet/

What is a Composting Toilet System and How Does it Compost?

Composting toilet systems (sometimes called biological toilets, dry toilets and waterless toilets) contain and control the composting of excrement, toilet paper, carbon additive, and, optionally, food wastes. Unlike a septic system a composting toilet system relies on unsaturated conditions (material cannot be fully immersed in water), where aerobic bacteria and fungi break down wastes, just as they do in a yard waste composter. Sized and operated properly, a composting toilet breaks down waste to 10 to 30 percent of its original volume. The resulting end-product is a stable soil-like material called "humus," which legally must be either buried or removed by a licensed seepage hauler in accordance with state and local regulations in the United States. In other countries, humus is used as a soil conditioner on edible crops.

The primary objective of the composting toilet system is to contain, immobilize or destroy organisms that cause human disease (pathogens), thereby reducing the risk of human infection to acceptable levels without contaminating the immediate or distant environment and harming its inhabitants.

This should be accomplished in a manner that
• is consistent with good sanitation (minimizing both human contact with unprocessed excrement and exposure to disease vectors, such as flies).
• produces an inoffensive and reasonably dry end-product that can be handled with minimum risk.
• minimizes odor.

A secondary objective is to transform the nutrients in human excrement into fully oxidized, stable plant-available forms that can be used as a soil conditioner for plants and trees.

The main components of a composting toilet are:
• a composting reactor connected to one or more dry or micro-flush toilets;
• a screened exhaust system (often fan-forced) to remove odors, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and the by-products of aerobic decomposition;
• a means of ventilation to provide oxygen (aeration) for the aerobic organisms in the composter;
• a means of draining and managing excess liquid and leachate;
• process controls, such as mixers, to optimize and manage the process; and
• an access door for removal of the end-product.

The composting reactor should be constructed to separate the solids from the liquids and produce a stable, humus material with less than 200 most probable number (MPN) per gram of fecal coliform.

General Types of Composting Toilet Systems
Composting toilet systems can be classified in several ways:


• Self-Contained versus Centralized
Composting toilet systems are either self-contained, whereby the toilet seat and a small composting reactor are one unit (typically small cottage models), or centralized or remote, where the toilet connects to a composting reactor that is somewhere else.

• Manufactured versus Site-Built
One can either purchase a manufactured composting toilet system or have a site-built composting toilet system constructed (however, the latter can be difficult to get permitted by local health agents).

• Batch (Multiple-Chamber) versus Continuous (Single-Chamber)
Most composting toilet systems use one of two approaches to manage the composting process: either single-chamber continuous composting or multi-chamber batch composting processes.

It is difficult to generalize about which process affords the greatest opportunity for complete processing and minimizes the potential for pathogen survival. In a batch system, a finite supply of nutrients is cycled and recycled through microbe populations until the nutrients, both the free ones and those bound in microbial protoplasm and cell walls, are ultimately converted to stable, fully oxidized forms, and the fungi have performed their work on the remaining lignin and cellulose compounds, releasing antibiotics in the process.

Definitive research is needed in this area.

Active versus Passive

As with solar systems, composting systems are usually either passive or active. Passive systems are usually simple moldering reactors in which ETPA (excrement, toilet paper and additive) is collected and allowed to decompose in cool environments without active process control (heat, mixing, aeration).

Active systems may feature automatic mixers, pile-leveling devices, tumbling drums, thermostat-controlled heaters, fans, and so forth. The trend in the composting of municipal solid waste (garbage and trash), sewage sludge and yard and agricultural residues is toward active systems. By making the process active, the size of the composter can be reduced, because composting efficiency is speeded up (and the volume of the material reduced faster).

Passive systems are designed to optimize the process by design, not mechanical action, allowing only time, gravity, ambient temperature and the shape of the container to control the process. Passive composters are often referred to as moldering toilets, as the process at work is natural uncontrolled decay at cool in-ground temperatures at or below 68° F. In this cool environment, molds (fungi and actinomycetes) are the primary biological decomposers, because it is a bit too cool for the faster-acting mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria.

For the full document this information was pulled from, please visit: http://oikos.com/library/compostingtoilet/

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