What’s Growing?
The Sustainable Solano Blog is the hub for all the latest information about our many projects and programs, as well as a snapshot of grassroots community transformation in action. You can find recent news articles on Sustainable Solano here and read our blog archive here.
You can also stay up to date on what’s going on at Sustainable Solano through our newsletters. Read our archive of previous newsletters here and subscribe here.
Have a suggestion for a blog or want to get involved in telling our story? Contact us at info@sustainablesolano.org
Solano Cities Face Risks from a ‘Return to Normal’
Nick Reynoso joined us this summer as a California Climate Action Corps Fellow with a focus on our Resilient Neighborhoods program in Suisun City and building connections with community members and local environmental leaders. In this blog, he offers his reflections on climate change and the risks it holds for coastal cities — and ways to prepare.
A Call to Action to Save the Monarchs
If we want future generations to live in a world that still has Monarchs, we have to act now. Co-founders of the Monarch Milkweed Project have a call to action to save these important pollinators.
Climate Advocacy & Policy Lack Coordination in Solano County
Benjamin Miramontes joined us this summer as a California Climate Action Corps Fellow with a focus on researching climate action plans, disaster planning and environmental resources in the county. In this blog, they offer their observations and reflections on what they discovered in the process.
Garden Champion Sylvia Herrera in the Spotlight
This is a new feature highlighting the people who support Sustainable Solano’s work with their time, energy and commitment to shaping a better world while strengthening their communities.
The Sustainable Rose Garden
Katie Rivera, a recent Permaculture Design Certificate recipient and part of the team who designed the Rio Vista Veterans Residence demonstration food forest garden, shares this blog with us about how to grow beautiful roses sustainably.
Veterans’ Serenity Garden Takes Partnership & Persistence
Program Manager Nicole Newell reflects on the effort and dedication that went into creating the new demonstration food forest garden at Rio Vista’s Veterans Residence.
Reflections on Environmental Injustice Research & Shaping New Fellowship Program
Allison McCabe is a rising Benicia High School junior and passionate about environmental science. She won this year’s Solano County Science and Engineering Fair with her research on toxins found in soil samples in Benicia and Vallejo — research she undertook to examine environmental justice issues in Solano County. We are excited to be working with her to shape Sustainable Solano’s environmental justice fellowship in Benicia for the coming school year.
Conversation Circles Program Creates New Opportunities and Environmental Resources
While the Conversation Circles program in Central Solano (formerly the Listening Circles program) has come to the end of its grant term, our commitment to increase the understanding of environmental issues that affect Solano communities is ongoing.
Permaculture Design Course Graduates 12 in Benicia
Solano County’s first Permaculture Design Certificate course wrapped up on April 10, with 12 students presenting their capstone design projects and receiving their PDC certificates. It was powerful to see how this group used what they had learned to shape plans for four very different projects.
The Future of the Resilient Neighborhoods Program and Suisun City
We are excited to grow our Resilient Neighborhood program into Suisun City this year. Building on our previous work in Vallejo’s Resilient Hubs and looking at the Resilient Neighborhood model as a whole, the power of community continues to be the biggest asset in addressing environmental threats, but also encompassing true resilience.
Resilient Neighborhoods: Lessons Learned in Vallejo
The Vallejo Resilient Neighborhoods pilot program came to a successful conclusion at the end of December 2020 with the establishment of two Resilient Neighborhood hubs in Vallejo.
Get Back in the Garden: 2021 Garden Tour Reimagined!
Time in any garden is well spent, and we invite you to spend time in a local garden on April 24 for our Annual Demonstration Food Forest Garden tour in Benicia and Vallejo.
New Food Forest Garden Will Help Feed Vacaville Community
The latest Solano Gardens food forest installation will continue to grow Sustainable Solano’s projects in the city of Vacaville. We are excited to be teaming up with The Truth Outreach nonprofit organization in our efforts to keep working with community members and organizations interested in creating edible gardens based on principles of permaculture, to serve as a source of fresh produce and a source of inspiration in Solano County.
Raised Bed Project Provides Food Access
The South Vallejo Raised Beds Project, a collaboration between Food is Free Solano, The Vallejo Project and Sustainable Solano, has a goal of increasing food access for those living in food deserts and who are interested in growing their own annual fruits and veggies.
Join CompostGal’s Lori Caldwell for Gardening 101
Lori Caldwell of CompostGal has given talks for Sustainable Solano on container gardening, perennial edibles and much more! Her next talk will be a Gardening 101 class on March 19.
Winter Fruit Tree Care
Kristina Fink from Lemuria Nursery answers your winter fruit tree care questions.
Seeds of Hope
The weekend of Dec. 19 was just past the four month mark from the LNU Lightning Complex Fire that ripped through Vacaville’s rural area. Instead of looking at the destruction and blackened hills with a feeling of loss and overwhelming grief, the weekend offered the first glimmers of hope.
Seeking Suisun City, Fairfield & Vacaville Residents Interested in Yard Transformation
Do you live in Suisun City, Fairfield or Vacaville? Are you interested in working with your neighbors and community to install a demonstration food forest garden or other sustainable landscaping elements in the coming months at your home or a community site, like a place of worship or school?
‘Tis the Season for Local Food & Wine!
Need a last-minute special gift for someone? Give the gift of local food, wine and farm products!
Grant Expands Resilient Neighborhoods Program to Suisun City & Helps Address Flood Risk
Sustainable Solano is excited to announce that we have received a grant through PG&E Corporation Foundation that will support helping Suisun City residents learn about and address the challenges of increased flooding and bring together city leaders and community members as they work on larger plans to address flood risks.
CSA Farm Spotlight: Wilkinson Acres
Learn more about Wilkinson Acres and the people behind it in this Q&A with co-owner/farmer Courtney Wilkinson.
Perennial Edible Gardening
CompostGal’s Lori Caldwell answers more of your gardening questions — this time about growing perennial edible plants from artichokes to fig trees!
Vital Cycles Brings Permaculture Instruction to Solano County
Permaculture educators Anne Freiwald and Lydia Neilsen talk permaculture and working with soil, water, plants and community.
Wildfire Relief Goes to Farms to Meet Immediate Needs and Build Future Resilience
In the weeks since the LNU Lightning Complex wildfires tore through many of Solano County’s family farms, we have been humbled by the number of you who poured in donations to help those who had lost homes, animals and crops to the devastation.
Solano Community Foundation Funding Supports Sustainable Solano & Local Food
We are grateful to the Solano Community Foundation and its donors for their ongoing support of our work, including two recent funding awards that will help us continue our work supporting our local food system and access to healthy food within our communities.
Thank You to SCWA for Supporting Solano’s Sustainable Landscapes & Communities
Since 2016 we have received funding from the Solano County Water Agency (SCWA) to install demonstration food forest gardens throughout the county through the Solano Sustainable Backyards Program. This has led to many other programs that continue to provide resources for Solano County while creating meaningful relationships.
Resilient Neighborhoods Plant Seeds for Future in Uncertain Times
The Resilient Neighborhoods program is creating its second Resilient Hub in Vallejo.
Seasonal Planting for Raised Beds & the Benefits of No-Till Gardening
Rachel Brinkerhoff, co-owner of Dog Island Farm/Grow a Pear Nursery, answers your questions on seasonal planting, raised beds and no-till gardening.
Permaculture Design Certificate Course Coming to Benicia
We’re excited to bring our first Permaculture Design Certificate course to Benicia starting in January 2021.
Avant Garden Scavenger Hunt Offers Fun Outside Activity Amid the Pandemic
The premier Kids in the Garden event was a scavenger hunt at Benicia’s Avant Garden, COVID-19 version. It proved to be a super successful, fun, educational and tasty event.
Looking for more? Find our blog archive here!
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