Beef It Up
Local ranch Alhambra Beef and Pears was formed by the merger of two ranches in the Alhambra Valley/Briones Agricultural Preserve. Family run, the ranch raises grass-fed cattle and sells on-site or at the Martinez Farmer’s Market. Alhambra also raises pigs and makes their own bacon, chorizo, andouille, bratwurst, and other sausage. With prices on par with local meat counters or below, it’s worth making the trip to stock the freezer. Big beef eaters in the family? Purchase a ¼ steer and get bulk pricing. Pick-up is by appointment only. 

Want your beef dry-aged? Johnson Farm will sell you a ¼ or ½, or whole steer. Cattle from Johnson is grass-fed, grain or hay finished, and often graded prime or choice. Johnson raises Berkshire heritage pigs and sells them by the whole or ½ cut to your specifications. Tack on a couple dozen of their farm-fresh eggs, and you’ll be frying up the best breakfast in town. 

Find the folks from Hansen Family Farms at the Livermore or Vallejo Farmer’s Market, or give
Jim a call at 925 759-4378 to see if you can pick up some of their beef, pork, lamb, chicken, or eggs at their place in Clayton. Keep up with the latest by following the farm on Facebook.

Napa Not Necessary
There’s no need to drive an hour or more for a wine tasting. Captain Vineyards in Moraga will happily accommodate you and your crew. Take a tour and finish with an assortment of their small-batch, slow barrel-aged vintages accompanied by artisanal cheeses and homemade steam- baked bread. Tours and tastings are by reservation only. More than ten drinkers? Give them a call for group pricing. 

Tucked into a neighborhood just across the road from BART in Lafayette, Deer Hill Vineyards has been producing wine for over 20 years. The vineyard is a two-time winner of the Chronicle’s San Francisco wine competition with their Cabernet and Sangiovese but also offers Chardonnay and Pinot. Owner Bill Scanlin has built a tasting room reminiscent of a cave at a small French winery, where he pours a variety of vintages alongside a board full of nibbles and bites. You can find several of the winery’s bottles at Diablo Foods, but buying from the source is so much more fun. 

Budding Bakeries
Ten years ago, while living in New York, Yuri Yoshida went in search of high-quality, Japanese bread. When she came up empty, she began to bake on her own, seeking to perfect her kaku shokupan, a Japanese sandwich bread. Now on the West Coast, Yoshida found herself inspired by the pandemic of 2020 to play around with sourdough. The results were so successful that her friends begged to buy the breads, and Yuri’s Panya was born. Made with high-quality, primarily organic ingredients, the Japanese style and long-fermented sourdough breads are almost too beautiful to eat. Don’t let that stop you! The time spent on these loaves—three days for the sourdough—makes them exceptionally flavorful and flawlessly textured. For now, Yuri’s Panya is a home bakery with limited production. Find out what’s are available and place your orders at Yuri's Panya or visit her Facebook page to see what she’s baking up.

Boxing It Up
Having a socially distanced happy hour in your backyard and wishing for one of those camera-ready charcuterie boards you see on Pinterest? The team at My Sustainable Table can hook you up with one of their spectacular nosh boxes. Colorful curated combinations of fresh fruits and veggies and a multitude of hand-selected cheeses, cured meats, nuts, crusty bread and seasonal treats will impress even the most jaded of your foodie friends. Made-to-order, the boxes are available for 6 or 10 people or in individual servings (10 minimum) by emailing through their website. A huge supporter of local causes, the catering company even whipped some boxes up for hardworking hospital staff during the pandemic.  

Winning Walnuts
If you’re putting your own cheese board together, take it up a notch with Noci Bella. Local producer Adam Harris was simply trying to concoct a late-night snack when he created his walnut terrazzo, and the rest is history. Handcrafted of California-grown nuts, pure clover honey, real maple syrup and sea salt, it complements just about any cheese and is gluten-free. For a healthy treat, grab a package of the chocolate-dipped variety, chop it into bite-sized pieces, and pop it in the freezer. Keep a couple of bars stashed away: beautifully wrapped, they make winning hostess gifts.  

Creative Condiment 
Aioli, make way for Anne’s Toum (pronounced “too-m”)! This Lebanese garlic sauce is available in three flavors, original, za’atar, and lemon sumac and can be used as a spread, sauce, ingredient, or marinade. Fans call it “life-changing” and “seriously perfect on everything”. Produced from a family recipe using organic California garlic, lemon juice, and Lebanese spices, this condiment could be the key to a new you in the kitchen. Look for it in the vegan section near the cheese at our own local grocery, Diablo Foods, or at the Sunday farmer’s market in Moraga. 

Blooms with a View
The women at Bluma grow their flowers on a rooftop in the heart of Berkeley, supporting local pollinators and insects that feed on the nectar and pollen. The bonus? A whole lot of gorgeous blooms available for pick up or through a variety of subscription programs. Looking for a fun spot to throw a party or event? Bluma rents their deck by the hour and supplies tables, chairs, linens, tea, a tour of the farm, and an incredible view. 

Salad Days
Hidden away in a neighborhood in El Sobrante, tiny Cloverfield Farms grows just about anything that thrives by the bay. Pick-your-own organic produce is available in small quantities every month of the year. Come with an open mind; the assortment is determined by ripeness and availability. In November, you might find Persian Limes and Pineapple Guava, while December and January could bring Cara Cara Oranges, Rio Red Grapefruit, or Tango Mandarins. Pick up some Cloverfield honey and Black Point olive oil and dream of a winter fruit salad on the drive home. 

Sweets For The Sweet
Kids coming home from college? Surprise them with a dozen chocolate chip cookies from Kim Bettencourt. These legendary Lafayette favorites will make everyone happy. DM her on Instagram @beesweetercookiesbykim to order and pick up from her porch. 

Impress your friends with a flourless chocolate cake from @susiesbakedgoods (you don’t have to admit where it came from), or stock your freezer with her dough-to-go and have warm cookies anytime you wish. Susie also bakes up seasonal treats, including pies at Thanksgiving, cinnamon rolls, and sticky buns at Christmas, and decorated heart cookies and Valentine’s Day. Email her at susiesbakedgoods@gmail.com or send her a message on Instagram.

Let's Jam
“Summer in a Jar” is the motto of local jam maker Marc Mergen’s JamAlula. Farm fresh fruit cooked in small batches in traditional copper pots, without preservatives, or pectin ensures that the essence of peak ripeness remains in each and every bite of jam. Flavors like strawberry, peach, apricot, and raspberry are available for purchase on their website, but be sure to check back for seasonal specials like Elephant Heart Plum or Mission Fig. 

Traveling Tapioca
When the teens are clamoring for boba but you can’t motivate to get in the car, hop on Insta @mrsboba and place an order. Delivering flavors like milk tea horchata and taro directly to your door, this family-owned business can turn an ordinary weekday into an afternoon of armchair travel. While the kids suck down their matcha strawberry, grab yourself a green tea infused with guava dragonfruit and sip your way to the tropics. Served in PLA cups with fat paper straws, any of their drinks can be made dairy free and come with either lychee jelly or tapioca boba. They’ve got a two-drink minimum. Not to worry—everyone in the house will want their own. 

Get Your Buzz On
So good their 2020 stock sold out; sweet sisters Sophia and Cecilia’s locally made S&C honey is now available for preorder on their website. When they’re not busy at school, these two busy beekeepers take care of six hives producing organic, eco-friendly honey right in Lafayette. Keep up with their progress and find out when the honey’s back on the shelves at Diablo Food by following them on Instagram @lafayettehoney. 

Founder of the Mt. Diablo Beekeepers Association, Steve Gentry’s eponymous honey can be found at retail outlets around the bay as well as farmer’s markets in Orinda, Moraga, Walnut Creek, and San Ramon. Steve’s Bees also sells bee pollen, a mixture of flower pollen, nectar, honey, enzymes, bee secretions, and wax proven to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. 

Looking to get buzzy? Beeopic in Walnut Creek can help you get your own apiary going. Supplying queens and nucs to aspiring beekeepers, the company is an excellent resource for information on all things bee-related. Got allergies? Try their honey and pollen from bees, which forage on local wildflowers, reported to help inoculate against local allergens.

More than a decade ago, Hollie Lucas Alcalay transformed a half-acre weed patch into a thriving organic herb farm. Also in the bee business, Hollie’s Homegrown produces honey infused with herbs, spicy pepper, and rose petals. Stop by her charming shop at the corner of Mt. Diablo and Moraga Road for farm-grown products, vintage glassware, and hand-crafted, locally made gifts. While you’re there, ask for a taste of the wine Hollie’s dad makes in Santa Barbara County. As if that’s not enough, the shop sells live plants as well as an assortment of herbal teas, herb infused oils and vinegars, and seasoning salts in innovative flavors like chimichurri and citrus ginger. Find out what’s cooking on Facebook and Instagram @HolliesHomegrown. 

​If we've learned anything over these last few years, it's that along with the beauty of living in the Bay Area: access to hiking trails, proximity to one of the world's greatest cities, stunning beaches, and some of the country's best dining, comes the need to be prepared for the occasional natural disaster. According to NASA's Earth Observatory, "Eight of the state's largest ten fires have occurred in the last ten years." This winter's heavy rains and storms, known as "atmospheric rivers," have created mudslides, flooding, and downed powerlines. Earthquakes are rare but can leave residents without electricity and drinking water and often leave fires in their wake. What can we do to prepare so we can rest easy knowing that when nature issues us a challenge, we're ready to meet it head-on? 

Stay Alert

Staying informed during an emergency can save lives. It's easy to sign up for Nixle alerts which, in addition to making you aware of wildfire progress and approaching storms, will keep you up to date daily on downed power lines, power outages, and traffic accidents in your area. Sign up here or text your zip code to 888777. Contra Costa County also offers an emergency warning system. To register, click here. Download the MyShakes app for Apple or Android to receive notifications of imminent earthquakes, giving you valuable time to find a safe place for you and your family. Be sure to enable location services to allow the ground sensors to connect to your device. 

Purchase a hand-crank radio to continuously monitor your local FCC-licensed community information and emergency radio station. In Lamorinda, the channel is AM 1670.
Designate an Out-of-State Contact and add that person's cell number into your family's phones. After a natural disaster, text, don't call. Let your designated contact keep everyone informed of each person's location and safety status and leave the phone lines open for emergency services. 

Will emergency services be able to find your home quickly? As Gorden Graham of the MOFD says, "in an emergency, seconds count." Have your house number painted on your curb in contrasting colors. Lighted street numbers can be especially helpful. The fire code requires that addresses are visible in all areas. 4" minimum. 5" if you are 72" feet away. 
When preparing to evacuate, check ZoneHaven for updated evacuation areas and routes by entering your zip code. For a map of each city’s zones, click here.


Does it Feel Hot in Here to You? 

Exceptionally high summer temperatures, strong, dry winds, and plenty of vegetation fuel increase the risk that California will have one or more major fires each year. Thinking ahead can mitigate or eliminate the risk of injury and reduce property damage. 

Protect your assets by creating a defensible space around your home and other structures through vegetation management, weed abatement, and fuels reduction. In addition to creating a 0-5 foot "no fire" zone around buildings by replacing wood-chip mulch with stone, gravel, or bare mineral soil, choose fire-resistant plants that are low to the ground and have a minimal sap or resin content, such as bush honeysuckles, cotoneaster, and shrub apples. Trim branches away from eaves and rooves and remove highly flammable trees, including eucalyptus, pines, juniper, and cypress, from within 100' of structures. Click here for a more extensive list of plants and trees which are prohibited in your jurisdiction by the local Fire District and Inspector and those which are fire-resistant. As soon as grasses die and turn brown, weed whack or mow before 10:00 a.m. and only when wind speeds fall below 5 MPH. Do not mow dry grass during Fire Weather Watches or Red Flag Warning, as the plant material may ignite. 

In conjunction with the Moraga-Orinda Fire District, the City of Orinda runs a "fire fuel reduction program." Funded by the passage of Measure R, the Wood Chipper program offers free year-round removal of fire fuels removed from your property. Click here for more information. Moraga also runs a Wood Chipper program from November or December through June. 

One of the most significant risks to homes during wildfires comes from "ember cast," in which embers cast downwind from a large fire land on rooves or get caught in eaves and vents, creating "spot fires." Ember cast can travel as far as a mile. Don't make it easy for these sparks to ignite. According to the National Fire Protection Association, "Class A fire-rated roofing products offer the best protection. Examples include composite shingles, metal, concrete, and clay tiles." Inspect your roof and attic rents and install metal vent screens with 1/8" mesh. To prevent ember penetration, repair or replace shingles and roof tiles that are loose or missing. 
For detailed information on how to prepare your home for wildfires, visit firewise.org.


When the Earth Starts a Rockin'

Before an earthquake hits, spend time with your family to designate safe spaces in each room. Stock up on non-perishable food supplies and water and store them in airtight bins away from your home. After an earthquake, water supplies are sometimes cut off or contaminated. Lamorinda Community Emergency Response Team or CERT sells food-safe water barrels and accessories, which must be pre-ordered in April for pick up in May. Delivery is available for seniors and those who are physically unable to make it to the site.   

Once the shaking stops, and you've confirmed no one is injured, check your water, gas, and electrical lines for damage. If you find a leak in the gas or water lines, turn them off at the main supply or meter. It's best to locate these before an emergency and stash an adjustable wrench or gas shut-off tool nearby. YouTube is an excellent place to watch videos of how the valves work and how to shut them off. 


Water, Water Everywhere

In drought-stricken California, it's hard to believe we need to worry about floods, but the heavy rainfall can overwhelm storm drains and streams and creeks already full from previous "atmospheric rivers." Prepare your home by ensuring gutters and drains are clear. Before major storms, all cities in Lamorinda will supply designated areas with sandbags and sand, but these can often disappear quickly. Plan ahead and purchase empty sandbags and pumps at local hardware stores before flooding becomes an issue. For sandbag locations in Moraga and Orinda, click here. For sandbag locations in Lafayette, click here. Don't forget to bring gloves and your own shovel. If you miss the boat, bags of soil will do in a pinch. 


Make a Clean Getaway

Should the time come to evacuate, advance planning can save valuable minutes and provide a sense of calm in a hectic situation. Keep an emergency go-bag packed and easily accessible. For information on what to have inside, click here. 

Safes advertised as "fire-proof" don't always survive the hottest fires. Consider putting your family documents in a safe-deposit box at your bank, keep them in your go-bag, or create .jpeg or .pdf files of passports, birth certificates, wills, insurance documents, house and car titles, insurance policies, and mortgage papers as well as a photo or video record of each room of the house with a record of all valuable items. Store these electronic copies in the Cloud or on a thumb drive in your go-bag. 

Many families in fire-stricken areas are unable to evacuate because they don't have enough gas. Don't be left stranded on the side of the road. Always keep at least a quarter tank of gas in your car and, should you be forced to flee, take only one car to reduce evacuation traffic and keep streets as clear as possible for emergency vehicles. 
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If you're fleeing due to fire, leave any driveway gates open and close and lock all doors, windows, and vents to prevent drafts. Drive with your headlights on, even if you're evacuating during daylight hours. 


For more information on how to ready yourself and your home for emergencies, the Lafayette Emergency Preparedness Commission created a resident's guide to Wildfire Preparedness and Evacuation. Click here for an electronic copy and take the time to read it thoroughly. It might just save your life.

Whether you’re a hardcore marathoner or someone who prefers to limit daily exercise to the distance between the fridge and the couch, having kids changes everything. The goal of being in shape becomes less about fitness for its own sake, and more about staying healthy to be around for the long term. No matter your objective, Lamorinda’s gyms, fitness centers and studios are ready to help you succeed.

​There’s nothing like carrying an extra twenty-five pounds in front of you for nine months to destroy your mid-section. Not to worry. There are a multitude of ways to restore your core and build the strength you need for the next few years of lifting the littles. Locally owned Star Pilates in Moraga hosts small group glasses using the Reformer Apparatus as well as mat sessions. Newly opened Mighty Pilates in downtown Lafayette will lure you in with a 5 class intro pass at a generously low price of $99. Private and semi-private workouts are also available and barre classes are coming soon. Club Pilates in Lafayette offers seven class formats and four different levels utilizing a combination of Bosu Ball, TRX, Reformer, EXO-Chair, springboards and more for comprehensive fitness, mobility and flexibility. A wide range of packages and a full schedule of offerings makes it easy to find something that suits you.  The first class is free. If you’re in Orinda, look no further than In Forma, where you can get both your mind and body in shape. Options range from sculpting and circuit training to strength and balance or meditation.

One of the original barre studios, The Dailey Method was founded just across the bay in San Francisco. Lafayette’s bright and cheery outpost is small but mighty, with one room for exercise and another for the kids. Kickoff your career here with a full month for $99. Ready to commit? Core membership will get you unlimited classes, guest passes and free childcare. Other packages are available. Check out their website for more information. In Forma and Absolute Center also offer barre.

If the recent winter storms and the threat of wildfire have taught us anything, it’s that we need to be more self-reliant. There are many ways to prepare for power outages, and plenty of things you can do to make your family more self-sufficient and less dependent upon outside sources for things like power, water, and food.

Before you get some eggs and let them hatch, there are a few laws surrounding chickens and how and when they take up residence on your property. 

Many locals started by taking a class from longtime urban farming expert and local treasure Papa John Kiefer. Check out Papa John’s in-person classes or just visit his site for downloadable information on building coops and keeping chickens.

Another resource is the #1 website in the country for chicken expertise is Backyard Chickens, founded by Bay Area entrepreneur Rob Ludlow. Rob was one of our early community advocates for keeping backyard chickens. These resources will provide all you need to know to prep for chicks, build your coop, and maintain a healthy flock.

Lamorindans love our homes and we want our chickens to be happy in theirs. While you are at home “nesting” (I couldn’t resist), get a little Coop inspiration here: Pinterest Coops

For ready-made coops and other chicken paraphernalia, including live chicks, visit Tractor Supply. However you choose to house your brood, be sure it’s secure from predators. Humans aren’t the only animals who love eggs! 

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If you’re looking for a local group of chicken aficionados to engage with around chicken raising tips and inspiration, join the private FB group Cluck, an acronym for Citizens of Lamorinda United in Chicken Keeping. If your children are interested in learning about raising chickens, sign your wee ones up for  4-H and join in on the Chicken project. No need to have your own chickens for this project, but if you want to enjoy the eggs you will most likely re-consider. Sign-ups for 4-H occur in early fall. For some bedtime reading, check out  RAISE, What 4-H teaches 7 million kids by Berkeley writer Kiera Butler about several local 4-H families and what the program means in regard to sustainability and food security.

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Is chicken keeping even legal? Well, thanks to lobbying by many local chicken lovers, citizens can now keep a certain number of chickens based on parcel size. Before you commit, be sure to read your local ordinances. Click here for to check out the rules for Lafayette, here for Orinda and here for Moraga. Most importantly, be a good chicken neighbor and NO ROOSTERS.
Concord Feed has all of your chicken supply needs such as basic coops, feed, watering systems, feeders and such.  Cackle Hatchery is still shipping chicks, but with longer lead times than usual. 

Owning chickens is a relatively easy and enjoyable pastime, but it’s also a big responsiblity. Happy back yard chickens lay eggs that are nutritious and delicious, PLUS you know where your food is coming from. Extra eggs are always offered up on local Facebook groups and amongst neighbors so if you’re not interested in raising the birds, you can still enjoy fresh eggs. 

Go ahead, let your pets make you breakfast!

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 As most of us know by now, staying healthy requires a synergistic approach. Exercise alone is
not enough, nor is eating the right foods. The effects of cortisol, the “stress hormone” can take a
toll on the body, just as physical ailments may eventually take a psychological one and should be addressed. Research on alternative therapies and treatments has shown that taking care of the mind and spirit can have a significant impact on overall personal wellness. When you’ve decided it’s time to focus on the health of your whole self, you’ll find many practitioners in the Bay Area who can help.

Pain, especially in your back, can make it difficult to focus and leave you feeling irritable and moody. Taking medication can compound the problem, making you foggy or leaving you with added side effects. Often what’s needed is an assessment and realignment of the spine by a licensed chiropractor. Don’t expect an adjustment on your first visit to The Source Chiropractic in Oakland. Before treatment, the professionals at The Source will do a thorough exam, including a consultation, digital posture and movement analysis, a digital thermography scan, neuro-spinal analysis and maybe even an x-ray. At your second visit, you’ll receive a “Source Score”, talk about payment options and receive your targeted, much-needed adjustment. Closer to home, locally grown Kevin Wong at Orinda Chiropractic can help with chronic pain or injury using chiropractic alignment, craniosacral therapy or cold laser therapy. Whether you need a new pillow, support brace, custom orthotics or a spinal adjustment, the Doctors Wong at Orinda Family Chiropractic will be able to set you up. They’ll also advise your young athlete on how to stay healthy, safe and in the game, be it water polo, baseball, soccer or cheer. In addition to lifestyle advice, nutritional assessment, and chiropractic services Dr. Jason Wong can recommend the best natural vitamins, mineral and herbal supplements available. The husband and wife chiropractic duo at Rivulet Chiropractic believe strongly in the brain body connection. New patients to their practice can expect a very thorough workup at the first appointment, including a health history as well as a spine and body analysis and if the doctors feel it necessary, x-rays. Treatment will begin at the second appointment where they present you with what their patients describe as a life-changing personal health plan. Village Chiropractic on Brook Street in Lafayette specializes in sports chiropractic and treatment of injuries sustained during automobile accidents. Dr. Beckman, along with the clinic’s resident deep-tissue massage therapist, is ready to help with a long list of injuries and chronic issues including frozen shoulder, headache, tennis elbow, sciatica and more. Schedule a free consultation at Steel Chiropractic in Lafayette to see if they can help relieve your pain. Steel, unlike many other chiropractic offices, accepts insurance and will bill for you. Visit them for relief from a work, auto accident or sports injury and even migraine or headaches. 

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