The Definition of Agriculture in Napa County

Monday, August 24, 2015, was the last meeting of APAC, the Agricultural Protection Adversary Committee, a committee composed of 17 citizens from various environmental, government, wine industry, and citizen groups, appointed by the Napa County Board of Supervisors. The object was to make recommendations on proposed changes to the Winery Definition Ordinance (WDO) about  visitation and events centers and the inclusion… Read more »

The Uneasy Marriage of Agriculture and Tourism

The Uneasy Marriage of Agriculture and Tourism When did agriculture become so entangled with tourism? This question is foundational in the land-use issues that are spreading as fast as wild fire in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake Counties. In Napa County after 2010 and the Winery Definition Ordinance, direct marketing has officially become an agricultural activity which includes… Read more »

In Search of a Land Ethic: The Grand Coalition

On Tuesday afternoon, January 20, 2015, The Grand Coalition of Napa County met. Fifty of us sat around a square assemblage of tables representing ten citizen groups who have been addressing land use issues in Napa County over these last years. Some have formed non-profits which hired experts and attorneys to address some of the developing problems… Read more »

Water Rights

Water Rights Snowflakes, leaves, humans, plants, raindrops, stars, molecules, microscopic entities all come in communities. The singular cannot in reality exist. Paula Gunn Allen This quote arrived in my e-mail box this week from Gratefulness.org, and it could not be at a more appropriate time. We spent three and a half hours yesterday morning at… Read more »

Charlie Toledo Speaking at Harms Vineyards and Lavender Fields Open House on June 22: One Water

Charlie Toledo, Executive Director Guest Blog Interview by Lisa Murgatroyd Charlie Toledo Speaking at Harms Vineyards and Lavender Fields Open House on June 22: One Water Part One of a Three Part Series Charlie Toledo, Executive Director of the Suscol Intertribal Council in Napa, CA, will speak on First People’s Agriculture at 11 am, Saturday,… Read more »