Kathryn Krohn, storefront manager, and Webster Marquez, owner, both of Bohemian Creamery in Sebastopol, at the creamery’s cheese counter. [Photo by MJ Wickham]
Melissa Daniels, owner of Cow Track Ranch in Nicasio. [Photo courtesy Cow Track Ranch]
hire seasonal temporary workers and find interns. They help with taking tickets and parking,” says MacElroy. One way that Ethic Cider, also in Sebastopol, invites guests is by holding outdoor educational workshops that last between three and four hours. “A workshop typically involves a talk by a guest speaker who is an expert in their field, followed by hands-on work in our orchard and ends with a cider tasting. In 2023, we began by offering workshops for $65 per person. So far, we’ve had speakers on cidermaking, orcharding, row crop cultivation and carbon farming. The last topic covers agricultural methods that help increase retention of carbon matter in the ground,” says Ned Lawton, co-owner of Ethic Cider. Maintaining a healthy economic ecosystem With agritourism, a working ranch can create its own economic ecosystem. For example, it can host events to help generate funds needed for a barn roof repair. Lisa Poncia, the co-owner of Stemple Creek Ranch (SCR) in Tomales, helps run a fourth-generation family ranch. SCR produces grass-fed and finished beef and lamb and pastured pork. The ranch sells meat products directly to customers across the U.S. as well as to local supermarkets and restaurants. The merchants include all four Oliver’s Market locations in Sonoma County and Americana in Sebastopol. SCR guests can reserve educational tours on the property and accommodations in four ranch stays. One is a 150-year- old home that belonged to the great-aunt of Poncia’s husband. “People like seeing how agriculture is practiced so close to the heart of the Bay Area. We’re in beautiful open space that’s quiet and close to nature,” says Poncia. Agritourism has helped the Poncias grow their business and expand their customer base. The ranch’s educational tours, corporate events and weddings serve as a marketing tool for SCR’s meat products. They also help the Poncias meet rising
These help create a community of fans. “From farmers markets to working farms to agricultural- based products, Sonoma County has a wealth of ways visitors and locals can enjoy the bounty of the region,” says Claudia Vecchio, president and CEO of Sonoma County Tourism. Every year, Sonoma County Farm Trails publishes and distributes a print map and guide that lists all members. It also offers a digital, interactive directory and map of members’ businesses on the organization’s website. Members of Sonoma County Farm Trails employ a number of other measures to encourage visitation. They participate in agriculture-related events like Sonoma County Farm Trails’ annual fundraiser, the Gravenstein Apple Fair. Members also sell Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes as subscription services, offer products at local farmers markets and hold special events like demos. Monte-Bellaria di California, a lavender farm in Sebastopol, is a member of Sonoma County Farm Trails. This ag business welcomes guests between late April and Sept. 1. Guests can enjoy a 10-minute educational tour within a 75-minute visit that includes a sensory experience. “Through the spring, we usually see visitors come in groups of three or four. They’re mainly older couples between their 40s and 60s, who occasionally bring a child with them. They want to walk around and take pictures,” says Bill MacElroy, co-owner of Monte-Bellaria di California. Monte-Bellaria does not charge for admission until high- bloom season. That occurs between the last two weekends in June and the end of July. During this period, the farm charges $25 per adult. “At this time, over three-quarters of our visitors come from Asia, particularly China and Taiwan. We limit the number of guests to 40 visitors per time slot. There are so many guests that we partner with local high schools and junior colleges to
34 NorthBaybiz
May 2024
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