UC Cooperative Extension of the North Bay serving Marin, Napa, & Sonoma Counties

From Soil to Science

Summer in the North Bay brings a different rhythm to our work. Fields are active, gardens are growing, youth programs are in full swing, and communities are responding to challenges that require timely information, collaboration, and practical solutions. Across Marin, Napa, and Sonoma, our teams continue to work alongside growers, residents, volunteers, and local partners to connect University of California research and expertise with the needs of our communities.

A recent example is the coordinated response to the detection of glassy-winged sharpshooter life stages associated with incoming nursery shipments. UCCE Academic Advisors have provided technical expertise, research-based resources, and hands-on identification training to help agricultural professionals and community members understand the issue and respond appropriately. In June, a GWSS workshop co-hosted by Napa County Viticulture Advisor, Dr. Monica L. Cooper and the Napa County Ag Commissioner reached 80 participants, while North Coast IPM Advisor Cindy Kron is offering hands-on identification workshops in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. That expertise is also being extended through our local volunteer networks: more than 30 Marin County Master Gardener Help Desk volunteers received GWSS identification and customer-response training, while Sonoma County Master Gardeners have helped share resources with more than 6,000 subscribers.

Extension in Action: Connecting Expertise and Community

This same model of bringing people together around complex local challenges was also on display in Sonoma County in June, when UCCE Food Systems staff partnered with County departments and local leadership to convene more than 100 stakeholders around food access. The convening explored anticipated impacts of H.R. 1, changing community needs, and strategies to strengthen Sonoma County’s food access system. Building on the County’s 2024 food distribution assessment, conducted in partnership with UC Cooperative Extension, the discussion gathered stakeholder input to help inform future County planning and recommendations, with County staff anticipated to return to the Board in the fall.

These examples represent just a small part of the work happening across our region, but they reflect something central to the role of Cooperative Extension: we are present in the communities we serve. We bring research and technical expertise to local challenges, build the capacity of trusted community partners and volunteers, and help create spaces where people can learn, connect, and work toward solutions together. With a UCCE presence in each of our three counties, our local teams are able to respond to statewide and regional issues while remaining grounded in the unique needs, relationships, and opportunities of the North Bay.

We hope you will take a moment to explore the stories, programs, and resources highlighted in this issue and join us in the field this season.

— Lauren Cartwright, Area Director

@UCCENorthBay

Crop Spotlight

Peaches

Ever thought about exploring stone fruit? Peaches may offer another option for North Bay growers interested in diversifying, with vareity selection, site conditions nd careful management all playing important roles in successful production.

Explore these resources to learn more:

What's Happening in the Field

4-H Summer Learning Takes Off

This summer, nearly 375 youth from Marin, Napa and Sonoma counties participated in 4-H summer programs filled with hands-on learning, exploration, and fun. Whether investigating climate science, building with new technologies, or discovering careers in agriculture, youth spent their summer learning by doing. At the Marin 4-H Climate Connections Academy, middle school youth explored water quality, soil health, fire-adapted ecosystems and solar energy through field studies and outdoor activities. In Napa County, participants took to the skies with drones while learning about GIS mapping, aviation safety, and the growing role of technology in agriculture. Sonoma County’s Tinker Academy gave youth the opportunity to dive into laser cutting, 3-D printing, coding, circuits and other maker technologies. No matter the program, youth worked alongside educators and mentors to ask questions, solve real-world problems and build confidence in their abilities.

Summer also meant time for adventure and friendship. Youth from across all counties attended sleep away and day camps where they enjoyed arts and crafts, educational and science activities, water games, team-building challenges, and campfire skits. These camps helped young people develop indepdence, strengthen leadership skills, make new friends, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Together, these summer experiences showcase what 4-H does best – providing environments where you can explore their interests, develop new lifelong skills, build meaningful relationship, all learning by doing.

A Place to Grow

Sonoma County Nokhnoma Demonstration Garden Secures a Long-Term home

A garden planted by volunteers in the aftermath of the 2020 Glass Fire now has a permanent place to grow and an expanded opportunity to serve the community for decades to come. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors recently approved an extension of the UC Master Gardener Program’s license to use the 2.3-acre site at the County’s Los Guilicos campus through 2057, providing a long-term home for Nokhnoma Demonstration Garden.

Restored by UC Master Gardener volunteers, the site has become a thriving public garden and outdoor classroom where residents and students can explore water-wise, fire-smart and wildlife-friendly landscaping. The garden’s name, Nokhnoma, meaning “Friend Village” in the Wappo language, recognizes the site as an ancestral location of the Wappo people and reflects the collaborative spirit of its educational mission.

Through UC Cooperative Extension, the UC Master Gardener Program shares University of California research-based gardening knowledge with Sonoma County communities through workshops, school field trips, plant sales and volunteer activities. With a long-term home now secured, Nokhnoma can continue to grow as a place where community members learn, connect with nature and explore ways to create healthier, more resilient landscapes.