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Spread holiday cheer along the Farm Trails this year: participating farms will be open every weekend during the holidays. Get a glimpse of farm life and shop their stands and stores for holiday foods and gifts. Click through the gallery for inspiration.
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Tastes from the trail: Whether you traveled the trail yourself and want an edible summary of your journey, or you can't make the trip but must have some of the products, here's a gift basket for purchase on the Farm Trails website. A great gift for colleagues, teachers, gracious hosts or someone really special and deserving of such finely cultivated food and goods. $75, Farm Trails, PO Box 452, Sebastopol, 707, 837-8896, farmtrails.com (courtesy photo)
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Mountain of beautiful air: Air isn't the only thing of beauty at Monte-Bellaria di California, one of many scenic stops on the Farm Trail. The 14-acre farm delivers a fine yield of lavender, olive oil and honey. In addition to harvesting, distilling, and beekeeping duties, Bill MacElroy keeps an impressive blog of the science behind the farm's products as well as helpful how-to's. Process is of the essence here. Pictured here is lavender hydrosol (flower water) that can be sprayed on linens for a fresh scent and relaxing sleep. Farm is open by appointment only and on all weekends during Holiday Farm Trails. Register here for Farm Trials. $18, Monte-Bellaria di California, 3518 Bloomfield Road
Sebastopol, 707-829-2645, monte-belaria.com (courtesy photo)
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Abstract and ornamental: Monte Bellaria is partnering with Sonoma County sculptor René Dayan-Whitehead, whose Art Trails exhibition in October was impacted by the North Bay Fires. The farm is featuring stunning glass ornaments she fashioned in her striking abstract style. Farm is open by appointment only and on all weekends during Holiday Farm Trails. Register here for Farm Trials. $18, Monte-Bellaria di California, 3518 Bloomfield Road
Sebastopol, 707-829-2645, monte-bellaria.com (courtesy photo)
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Floral framing: Oak Hill Farms in Glen Ellen has a 50-year history of producing flowers, fruits and vegetables using sustainable practices. This stop along the trail features a Red Barn Store where wreaths are sold. Each creation is made using seasonal plants, with different varieties of wreaths sold year-round. The Red Barn Store is open Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from May to December and on all weekends during Holiday Farm Trails. Register here for Farm Trails. Oak Hill Farms, 15101 Sonoma Hwy, Glen Ellen, 707 996-6643, oakhillfarm.net (courtesy photo)
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Beautiful picks: Tierra Vegetables has a farm stand located in the White Barn on their property which sells products grown on their farm. They sustainably grow a wide variety of produce and make a number of prepared foods to extend the life of their yield: hot sauces, chili powders and salts, jams and pickled foods. Their natural popcorn is available in many varieties, including Dakota Black, Ruby Red and Shaman Blue. The Farm Stand is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tierra Vegetables, 651 Airport Blvd., Santa Rosa, 707-544-6141, tierravegetables.com (courtesy photo)
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Oh what fun it is to ride: Cutting your own is the way to go for a fun and fresh tree shopping experience. But getting a ride in a two-horse open carriage seems a worthy upgrade to the experience. At Garlock Tree Farm you can do both and shop for gifts and ornaments in their shop. Open Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays (in December) 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Garlock Christmas Trees, 275 Bloomfield Road, Sebastopol, 707-823-4307, garlocktreefarm.com(courtesy photo)
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Wonderful and wooly: Glen Hill Farm Home and Garden harvests a variety of seasonal crops for its CSA program. It's also home to Baby Doll sheep, Cashmere goats and Miniature Zebu. The sheep are hard at work weeding the fields through eating, and their coats supply wool that is made into pillows for sale on the property. Wool-filled pillows are a great temperature-regulating, hypoallergenic alternative to down. If that's not enough animal cuteness for you, there's a petting zoo with "lambassadors," MadBum and Posey, goats, and a friendly pig named Charlotte. Yes, a pig named Charlotte. Some farm! The Farm Stand at Glen Hill Farm and Garden is open Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. $25, throw pillows, Glen Hill Farm and Garden, 755 Tomales Rd, Petaluma, 415-302-0883, glenhillgardens.com(courtesy photo)
