As the West Coast location of the renowned Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. based in Missouri, the Petaluma Seed Bank is your go-to location for heirloom seeds.  The Seed Bank offers 200 varieties of tomatoes alone, with a total of 1,450 flower, fruit and vegetable varieties from over 70 countries.

Manager Paul Wallace and owner Jere Gettle are committed to preserving our nation’s rich culinary history while providing an alternative to the corporate-controlled genetically modified seeds that seem more prevalent every day.  Unlike GMO seeds, heirloom seeds can reproduce year after year, just as nature intended.

The Seed Bank also carries seed starters, placards and books offering a wealth of wisdom on gardening and food self-sufficiency. Now you can also find Taylor Maid Farms coffee cans for sale at the Seed Bank, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with such socially conscious partners. Visit the Seed Bank- Monday through Friday 9.30-5.30 at 199 Petaluma Blvd. North
, Petaluma, CA 94952.

For the last few weeks we’ve been sharing ideas to inspire a greener personal lifestyle. Carrying out these ideals in our work place is mission critical for Taylor Maid Farms. Here are 4 ways we practice sustainability in our everyday operations:

1. Sourcing: Since our founding in 1993, we’ve roasted 100% organic coffee from some of the world’s most environmentally progressive farms. As opposed to conventionally grown monoculture coffee harvested by machines, the coffee we purchase is hand-picked and grown under the shade of fruit trees where native flora and fauna thrive.

2. Roasting: TMF played an integral role in developing the most energy efficient roaster on the market- the Loring Smart Roast. Manufactured in Santa Rosa, this smokeless roaster uses patented technology that can slash energy emissions by 80%.

3. Packaging: You’ve seen our steel cans on the shelves at your local grocer, but have you ever read the fine print?  As it states on our can, each year recycling steel saves enough energy to power one fifth of U.S. households for one year. Recycling steel also prevents the need to mine additional iron and coal, the main ingredients used to make steel.  As icing on the cake, we offer a $1 discount when customers refill their coffee can at our retail store.

4. Compostable Cups:  We can’t wait to open our Coffee Bar in The Barlow so we can play hostess and serve you perfect cappuccinos in ceramic “for here” mugs.  But if you’re on the go, we’re happy to serve you in a compostable paper cup from World Centric, made in the US from plant-based materials.

How does your business practice sustainability?

Don’t let old appliances and gadgets fill up our landfills. Seek out opportunities to recycle your technology and avoid chemicals leaching into the soil. The next free E-Waste Recycling event takes place at the Goodwill retail store in Healdsburg from 8am-4pm on April 27 & 28. They are accepting all appliances and computers with plugs (air conditioners and refrigerators excluded).  More information can be found here.

This powerful talk from Arthus Bertrand includes powerful images of global climate change and personal stories that inspire hope. Watch. Learn. Act.

1. Peruse Sunset Magazine’s stellar spread on how to build a raised garden bed.

2. Populate your garden with plants from Jail Industries at the North County Detention facility in Santa Rosa. A partnership between the  Sonoma County Sheriff’s office, the Sonoma County Office of Education, and the National Tree Trust, Jail industries uses gardening as a tool to rehabilitate inmates by teaching job and life skills for the future. The next public plant sale happens on May 11.

3. Did you know that coffee grounds are fabulous compost material for your garden? They add nitrogen, magnesium, potassium and to the soil. Pick some up for free in our retail store.

We all know that we should bike more and drive less. But did you know about these bike initiatives happening in our own back yard?

1. Founded in 2012, Petaluma Community Bikes is a non-profit that repairs and recycles old bikes to increase ridership in Petaluma & surrounding communities.  They teach bicycle safety and play matchmaker by connecting people who need a bike with folks looking to get rid of one.

2. San Francisco is the next U.S. city slated to introduce a long-awaited Bike Share program.  350 bikes will be stationed at 25 locations downtown. Modeled after the Zipcar program, Bike Share allows folks to rent a bike for a small fee, ride it to their next location, and park it at the nearest Bike Share station. The program is slated to launch this year.

Have you been known to drive to the store to purchase one or two ingredients missing from a recipe? Why not bring back the lost art of borrowing from a neighbor? Not only does this lower your carbon footprint, it’s a chance to build community and get to know those you share a block with.

The simple act of borrowing can open up new friendships and strengthen neighborhood bonds.   At first, approaching neighbor you barely know might seem intimidating. That’s why the folks at GOOD magazine have created Neighborday on April 27, a day dedicated to….well…the act of neighboring. They’ve even created tool kits designed to facilitate optimal neighbor interaction (think: ice breakers and block party invites).

Good neighboring is a lost art.  Let’s bring it back.  Next time you’re tempted to run to the store, borrow from a neighbor instead.  I dare you.

According to the Energy Information Administration, household dryers account for 6% of annual household energy consumption, and using a clothes line can save you an average of $25 on your monthly energy bill. Visit www.projectlaundry.org to learn more tips on reducing your laundry footprint.  (Hint: wash in cold water).

Another easy way to reduce your footprint is by purchasing local, seasonal fruits and veggies instead of imported produce. Community Supported Agriculture programs help you do just that while building the local economy and supporting your community’s farmers. Here’s how it works:

1. Join a CSA in your neighborhood and pay a reasonable monthly fee.  Choose a produce box that suits your needs, or share a larger box with a neighbor.
2. Arrange to have your farm share delivered or to pick it up at a designated station.
3. Enjoy fresh produce bursting with flavor at its seasonal peak!

If you’re in the Sebastopol area, we recommend Laguna Farm which is just down the road on Highway 116. Here’s a sneak peak at their typical offerings for each season:

Winter:  1/2 Pound Salad Mix, Broccoli, Parsnips, Butternut Squash, Yellow Onions, Satsuma Tangerines, Kale.

Spring:  1/2 Pound Salad Mix, Carrots, Sugar Snap Peas, Spring Onions, Shiitake mushrooms, Spinach, Parsley.

Summer:  1/2 Pound Salad Mix, Radish, Heirloom Tomatoes, Zucchini or Cucumber, Corn, Basil.

Fall:  1/2  Pound Salad Mix, Beets, Sugar Pie Pumpkin, Peppers, Apples, Green Beans, Chard.

We all know that trees act as the earth’s lungs, breathing in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. But did you know that one tree can remove 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year?  That’s the equivalent of 11,000 miles of car emissions.

If you’re eager to plant a tree yourself but don’t know where to start, click here for a step by step guide. Or you can donate $1 to the Nature Conservancy and they will plant one tree in the dwindling Atlantic forest of Brazil.