Fun Fall Projects & Activities

Fall is a Wonderful Time to Enjoy Sonoma County

 

The seasons are changing, you can feel it in the air. The last days of summer are behind us in Sonoma County; the last grapes are being harvested, and our nights have a chill to them. Fall is a beautiful season in Sonoma County and an incredible time to savor the beauty of our county and get some fall projects done. We will share with you today some of our favorite fall activities and projects that we enjoy in the fall.

 

Make Composting Easy

 

One of the best investments I made last year was trading in my outdoor compost bin for a Vitamix FoodCycler. The Vitamix FoodCycler fits easily on your countertop and transforms your kitchen scraps into wonderful compost in a couple of hours. No more fruit flies around your compost pot on your countertop.

The Vitamix FoodCycler can be fed fruit, vegetables, dairy, chicken bones, and more. I only put fruit, vegetables, tea bags, coffee filters, and paper products in mine. Over the years, I’ve learned that striking a balance between wet goods and paper makes for an excellent mix for turning out great compost.

The only items you don’t want to put in your FoodCycler are banana peels and making sure I’m not heavy with one type of food scrap. Diversity works best in the Vitamix FoodCycler to generate the best compost. This compost can be used as a planting mix or mulch for indoor and outdoor plants.

 

Take a Vineyard Walk This Fall

 

Fall is one of the most beautiful times to take a vineyard walk in Sonoma County. The grape leaves are turning vibrant shades of red, yellow, and orange. The days are crisp and make for an enjoyable time walking the vineyards and having a picnic lunch. There are several vineyards that allow free walking tours:

Try Making Yogurt or Sourdough Starter

 

I know many of us have an Instant Pot or an equivalent at home. I learned this summer that my Instant Pot can be used for making yogurt; both Greek and regular yogurt. The preparation time is only a few minutes and the Instant Pot does the rest.

I bought glass yogurt containers for storage that I can add fruit or jam to and have delicious yogurt on hand without all the additives and sugar. I learned this summer how much sugar is in most yogurts, even organic brands. Now I have delicious yogurt on hand for breakfast and also making my two-ingredient protein bagels that are so delicious.

I learned this last winter that my Instant Pot can be used for keeping my sourdough starter at a constant temperature. Keeping sourdough starter at a constant temperature during our colder months can be tricky and an Instant Pot or its equivalent can make sourdough starter stable during our colder weather. I learned that using rye flour as your base for your sourdough starter makes for a faster-growing and robust starter.

 

Stay a Little Safer This Fall

 

This last winter, when there were several power outages, a friend recommended a car accessory I had never heard of this device before.  This handy device is a portable car jump starter that works on gas, diesel, and also hybrid vehicles. It comes with a jump starter, an air compressor for helping fix a flat tire, and a portable power source for your cell phone or tablet. It has dual USB ports for charging mobile devices, a 300-lumen flashlight, and an adapter to power 12V vehicle-mounted devices. This unit stays charged for months and comes in so handy on the road or at home during a power outage. Considering some of the backroads in Sonoma County don’t have cell coverage, I considered this a good safety investment.

This Fall Visit an Apple Orchard

 

We have so many wonderful apple orchards in the Sebastopol and Occidental area to choose from that feature Gravenstein, Golden Delicious, and Rome apples. Hales on Gravenstein Highway North has a wonderful selection of apples, pumpkins, and gourds this time of year. Below is a partial list of apple farms that allow you to pick apples:

• Apple A Day-Ratzlaff Ranch
• Hales Apple Farm
• Walker Apples
• Orchard Farms
• Rainbow Ed Farm
• West County Community
• Duckworth Family Farm
• Boring Farm
• Kokopelli Farms
• Gold Ridge Organic Farms

A fun way to finish off your day is by visiting one of the local apple cider-tasting rooms. We have so many in the area and many have picnic areas to enjoy your apple cider and our wonderful fall weather:

• Ambix Spirits
• Golden State Taproom
• Ethic Ciders
• Horse & Plow Tasting Room
• Tilted Shed Ciderworks
• Eye Cider

Most of these cider-tasting rooms are within the Sebastopol area north except for Tilted Shed which is closer to Windsor. Have fun cider tasting!

 

Have Fun Making Driftwood Sculptures at Salmon Creek Beach

 

North Salmon Creek Beach in Sonoma County is known for its amazing driftwood sculptures and as an avid surfing spot. It’s a wonderful place to people-watch, view the locals surfing, and have fun making your own driftwood sculpture.

There are two beaches at Salmon Creek. The two beaches are alongside each other, and a lagoon forms as sand closes the mouth of Salmon Creek. The south beach is from south of the creek and the north beach stretches north, with each having separate parking areas. You can wander along nearly two miles of unbroken, scenic, sandy beach, and soak up lots of negative ions.  This is a great place for surf fishing, beach-combing, and picnicking. When the waves are good, it’s a popular hangout with the local surfing community. Birds and seals sometimes gather at the Salmon Creek sand spit. Dogs are not allowed at his beach.

Enjoy our beautiful fall weather in Sonoma County. If you would like house cleaning off your to-do list this fall, just give us a call at 707-827-3316 or fill out our FREE ESTIMATE form, and one of our cleaning professionals will give you a call promptly to answer your questions and give you a free house cleaning quote.