The RCD offers a number of ways for the community, rural land stewards, and agricultural producers to get involved with our programming and learn the latest in natural resoruce conservation through our LandSmart workshops and webinars. We also annually attend community events like the Petaluma River Fall Trash Cleanup, Sonoma County Ag Days, Bayer Farm Harvest Festival, Steelhead Festival, and more. 

Trinity Road Fuel Reduction Workshop| Thurs., November 30, 2023

The Sonoma RCD invites landowners in the Sonoma Creek Watershed and beyond to join a virtual discussion on defensible space landscaping. Join us on November 30th from 6 – 7:30 pm on Zoom. We will share resources and information on home hardening techniques, managing and thinking about fuel load reduction around homes, and landscaping considerations in defensible space zones. This will include what vegetation types to use around houses and materials (i.e. mulch) for landscaping purposes. Presentations by:

Fireline Mitigation: Structural hardening, defensible space, and basic fire behavior.

Resilient Landscapes Coalition: landscaping in the defensible space zone, including design, maintenance and plant choice.

Questions, please contact Aaron Fairbrook, Interim Executive Director at afairbrook@sonomarcd.org

PAST EVENT – WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/DceU6jXqHg8 

LandSmart Grazing Informational Webinar | Wed., November 8, 2023

The Gold Ridge and Sonoma RCDs are hosting an informational webinar on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 11:30 am. We will explain how the program works, demonstrate how to fill out the application, what to expect, and share information about how to find a grazer. We will also have time for questions from the audience. This information session will be recorded, and the video will be posted on our YouTube page. We will also provide a link and written summary to the recording on our website for later viewing if you cannot attend.
Agricultural Heritage Series - Family Farm Day! | Sat., June 17, 2023
When: Saturday, June 17, 2023 | 10 am – 1 pm
Where: Open Field Farm, Petaluma
Directions will be provided via Eventbrite ahead of the event. RSVPs are required. A waiver will be signed by participants at our registration table on site the day of the event.

Join us for a day out on the farm! Learn about Sonoma County agriculture with activities for the whole family. Come explore this diversified CSA farm through a self-guided walking tour showcasing climate and wildlife beneficial farming practices, hands-on activities for kids including bandana dyeing + butterfly crafts, visit local vendors, and don’t forget to bring a picnic to enjoy in the afternoon. Spanish speaking staff on site. Check our Eventbrite page for the latest event updates.

There is no charge for this event, which is made possible by the voters of Sonoma County who fund the work of Ag + Open Space with a quarter-cent sales tax.

Ag Heritage Series Presenta: Un evento comunitario y divertido para todA la familia

Junio 17, 2023 De 10 AM – 1PM

Ag Heritage Series Presents: Open Field Farm Tickets, Sat, Jun 17, 2023 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite

¡Únase a nosotros para pasar un día en la granja! Aprenda sobre la agricultura del condado de Sonoma con actividades para toda la familia. Venga a explorar la diversa granja de CSA con una caminata autoguiada que muestra el clima y vida salvaje que beneficia las prácticas agrícolas, actividades para niños incluyendo atar y teñir bandanas, artes de mariposa, visite con distribuidores locales, y no se les olvide traer su almuerzo para disfrutar de un picnic al medio día. Habra personal que habla español. ¡Únase a la diversión! Manténgase informado al registrarse en nuestra página de Eventbrite a mano derecha.

No hay costo para este evento gracias a los votantes del Condado del Sonoma que fundan el trabajo del departamento de Ag + Open Space con el impuesto de un cuarto de centavo en toda compra.

Compost Application Informational Webinar | Wed., March 8, 2023
When: Wednesday, March 8, 2023 | 11am-Noon on Zoom

The Gold Ridge and Sonoma Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) recently announced that we are accepting applications for the Carbon Sequestration Pilot Program that aims to assist with the cost of compost application on agricultural lands in Sonoma County!

We are pleased to announce that we will be hosting a virtual informational webinar on Wednesday, March 8th, at 11 am-12 pm. We will discuss general goals of the project, as well as specific information on who is eligible, criteria for ranking and scoring applications, and conditions for applying compost for those who receive rebate awards. The application questions will be reviewed and discussed during the webinar, and there will be time for Q&A.

If you wish to attend, contact Angel Arcuri at angel@goldridgercd.org to RSVP. A Zoom link will be sent prior to the meeting for anyone who RSVPs to this email address. We are accepting applications until March 31, 2023.

Información y aplicación en Español aqui!

Petaluma Equine Facilities: Water Quality Regulations Webinar | Fri., Jan. 13, 2023
When: Friday, January 13, 2023 | Noon on Zoom

Sonoma RCD is hosting an informational webinar on recent water quality regulations that apply to commercial equine facilities in the Petaluma River Watershed.  At the session you’ll hear from representatives from the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board regarding overview and requirements for their Waste Discharge Requirements for Confined Animal Facilities (WDR CAF) and how the RCD can provide assistance with this permit compliance.  We will also have time for questions from attendees. This information session will be recorded and posted to SRCD’s website, and YouTube channel for future viewing for those who cannot attend.

If you have any questions please contact Kari Wester, Project Manager at kwester@sonomarcd.org

Funding for this project has been provided in full or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the State Water Resources Control Board under the Federal Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program (Clean Water Act Section 319).  The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the foregoing, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

LandSmart Workshops

These unique workshops are targeted to support land owners and managers with natural resource conservation practices and cutting edge land management techniques. Expert practitioners offer insights and resources to participants through detailed presentations and field tour sessions. Collaboration with other local and regional stakeholders to design and execute these informative workshops provides an invaluable opportunity for agriculturalists to gain tangible tools to support the efficiency and sustainability of their operation.