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Port

Chicago

Walnut

Creek

Pittsburg

Concord

Fairfield

(^1) Vacaville

WXÕ^680
XWÕ^505 VUÓ
80
lL
‘Freedom Rangers’
breed, which peck
around the 45 acres. ‘I
made it at home, this
simple chicken, and you
know what, I’m pretty
used to good chicken.
It tasted like no other
chicken I’ve had in the
United States. The dark
meat was richer, more
flavorful, and it was a
revelation. It reminded
me of the chicken I had
35 years ago in France.’
Pick up some eggs from
the cooler at the end
of the drive and leave
your money in the jar.
‘Her eggs are fantastic,’
Waters says. ‘I just
feel like I’m making a
donation to the cause.’
The Drive » From Vacaville,
go south on I-80 for 20 minutes
and follow the exit for Hwy 37,
which skirts the marshes of the
San Pablo Bay and leads into
Novato. Head north on Hwy 101
for 20 miles to Petaluma.
2 Petaluma
Near the elegantly
slouching Victorians
of Petaluma is another
Alice Waters standby,
Green String Farm (www.
greenstringfarm.com; 3571
Old Adobe Rd; h10am-5pm
winter, to 6pm summer). Bob
Cannard has pioneered
sustainable farming in
the North Bay for 30
years, and you can taste
the chemical-free fruits
of his labors at the on-
site farm store, which
serves seasonal produce,
local cheese and nuts.
Instead of battling weeds
with herbicides, Green
String’s lets them coexist
with cover vegetation
and planted crops,
creating a symbiotic
ecosystem that yields a
smaller crop but richer
soil. The only weed eaters
on hand are the fluffy
sheep you can pet near
the store. You may also
meet strutting chickens,
members of the Green
String Farm Band (theme
song: ‘Favorite Chicken’),
and Bob himself. ‘Bob is
doing amazing things
with that land,’ Waters
says with admiration.
The Drive » Take the Point
Reyes–Petaluma Rd 19 miles
west of town to Point Reyes
Station.
3 Point
Reyes Station
Surrounded by dairies
and ranches, Point
Reyes Station became
a hub for artists in
the 1960s and offers a
pleasant collection of art
galleries, tourist shops
and excellent food. The
tour of Point Reyes’
5
Napa Valley
Cruise the winding
back roads of America’s
most celebrated wine
region, home to several
of California’s best
restaurants. Connect to
this trip by crossing into the
North Bay on I-80 and going
west on the Lincoln Hwy.
7
Russian River
& the Bohemian
Highway
Sink into the slow pace
of the North Bay’s rural
charms, by traveling north
over the Golden Gate Bridge
and touring the Bohemian
Hwy’s orchards, vineyards
and country hotels.
LINK
YOUR
TRIP
NORTHERN.CALIFORNIA.
4
.ALICE WATERS’ CULINARY TOUR