Active Advertisers

Avocet Research — by Chris Darling — last modified 2012-01-05 12:50 PM

Avocet Research Associates, established in 1984, is an independent biological consulting firm. ARA wildlife biologists conduct monitoring studies of avian populations in Bay Area wetlands to document habitat affinities, abundance, viability, and reproductive success. We have collaborated with many of the environmental consulting firms and public agencies in the Bay Area to develop restoration plans, monitor goals and protocols, achieve long-term objectives, and solve management challenges. Our main focus is on rare, threatened, and endangered species, however we also conduct broad-scale biological reconnaissance, assessments, and impact analyses. Personnel includes: Jules Evens, Mary Anne Flett, Rich Stallcup, and Seth Bunnell.

Bay Natives — by Dan Rademacher — last modified 2012-01-04 01:53 PM

Bay Natives Nursery, the purveyor of local Bay Area native plants, has opened a walk-in retail location at Pier 96 on San Francisco's southern waterfront. The new nursery sits at the terminus of Cargo Way and cross-street Jennings St., adjacent to Heron's Head Park on the northern edge of the India Basin Shoreline. We look forward to seeing you!

Bloom Gardens — by Chris Darling — last modified 2011-08-31 03:00 PM

We've been building quality residential landscapes since 1983. We install new gardens and renovate older ones in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and San Francisco Counties. Our designs synthesize your needs and our vision. Through expert construction, our installations transform properties into dream getaways and natural habitats. We also offer lawn to edible conversions, children's and container gardens. Our approach is sustainable, low water use, and cost effective. Our beautiful hardscapes-- Patios, paths, retaining walls, fences--provide settings for California natives and Mediterranean plants that thrive here. Our crews get rave reviews. We also offer consultations to homeowners, realtors, Homeowners' Associations.

Cal Flora Nursery — by Chris — last modified 2011-01-28 04:17 PM

Cal Flora is a small unconventional nursery devoted to natives and habitat gardening with an exceptional diversity of offerings. Honest, intelligent, and original with attention to local Bay Area needs and conditions. Open seven days a week from March through October. Call for winter hours. Located at the intersection of Somers and D streets in Fulton, Sonoma County, just north of Santa Rosa.

California Native Plant Society — by Dan Rademacher — last modified 2012-01-04 01:56 PM

CNPS is a statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of California's native flora. Its Bay Area chapters offer weekly field trips, monthly classes & workshops, biannual plant sales, and annual wildflower shows and native garden tours. Membership is open to all.

Chris E Hecht Design & Landscape Construction — by Chris Darling — last modified 2012-01-04 02:01 PM

We are exceptional East Bay based landscape designer/ builders, specializing in creating naturalistic gardens, with a focus on hillside landscaping solutions which often incorporate ponds and water features, stone walls, and beautiful boulder and stonework. Our gardens are sustainable, "bay-friendly", and environmentally sensitive; lush-looking but with low water requirement. In speaking of our work, customers have said "outstanding project, fun to work with", "excellent taste, "worry free, great crew" and "awesome job." When you're ready to realize the front or backyard landscape design of your dreams, we're just a call or click away. We service Alameda, Contra Costa, and Marin counties.

Dolphin Charters — by Dan Rademacher — last modified 2012-01-04 12:40 PM

Join Dolphin Charters and renowned historian and naturalist Ronn Patterson for a tour around our magnificent Bay waterfront or through the extensive Delta. Come birding up our rivers or on Brooks Island. Bring your group on an educational tour around lighthouses and under bridges. Away from home, get intimate views of earth's creatures in Alaska, South Texas, Baja, Ecuador, and the Galapagos.

Farallone Pacific — by Chris Darling — last modified 2011-01-28 03:30 PM

For two decades Farallone Pacific has taken a lifelong devotion to environmental activism and nonprofit advocacy and turned it into the first "Green" certified insurance agency in the North Bay. The Agency's clients include hundreds of nonprofit organizations, many green companies, and businesses entities on and off "Main Street". Over 4,000 individuals and families count on Farallone Pacific to protect their homes, autos, families, and lifestyles. A per centage of all sales goes to the many environmental organizations and non-profits that we support.

Footloose Forays — by Dan Rademacher — last modified 2011-01-28 03:33 PM

Footloose Forays are educational trips into the natural world. Each trip is personally directed and guided by Michael Ellis. You'll find a wide selection of expeditions here, from day trips to three-week adventures; near your backyard or in another hemisphere; just for adults or great for the entire family; energetic to slow and easy. We specialize in guiding small groups to an enjoyable experience in nature.

Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden — by Dan Rademacher — last modified 2012-01-04 02:06 PM

The Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in its work of public education, horticultural development, and conservation. The Garden is a beautiful 10-acre living museum of California native plants located in the hills above Berkeley, California, and open to the public daily. The Garden also offers free weekend tours and fee-based classes.

Get Out! 150 Easy Ways for Kids and Grown-Ups to Get Into Nature — by Chris Darling — last modified 2011-01-28 03:13 PM

Get Out! 150 Easy Ways for Kids and Grown-Ups to Get Into Nature and Build a Greener Future by Judy Molland (free spirit, 2009) Get Out! is chockful of eco-friendly ideas to help families, classrooms, and groups get outside, learn about nature, experience the world in new ways, and take a hands-on approach to green living. You'll discover ways to: Get Started: Cool Ways to Embrace Nature Today Go Further: Projects, Plans, and Outings Get Smart: Be Green Consumers—and Eaters Get Active: More than Just the Three Rs Get Involved: Take a Green Stand

Hedgerow Farms — by Ellen Weis — last modified 2012-04-05 03:34 PM

Hedgerow Farms is Northern California’s largest native grassland seed production farm. Located north of Winters on the west side of Sacramento Valley, we produce origin-known California native grass, wildflower, sedge and rush seed on over 500 acres. Our species list includes more than 70 different species, many with multiple ecotypes offered. We provide consulting services for restoration, revegetation and landscaping projects, as well as plug transplants, native grass straw, custom seed cleaning, equipment rentals, contract plug transplant grow-outs and contract seed increases. We regularly host tours of our farm to explore the on-site examples of roadside, canal and ditch revegetation; grassland restoration; and hedgerow plantings.

Live Oak Landscape — by Dan Rademacher — last modified 2011-01-28 05:03 PM

Live Oak Landscape is a small, design and construction company located in Berkeley and serving nearby Bay Area communities within a 40-mile radius. Owner, Neil Collier grew up in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden in Scotland and spent some years in England and Australia and now has lived in California many years. In his garden design and construction he blends old world tradition and charm with Mediterranean and Californian style.

Looking Glass Photo — by Dan Rademacher — last modified 2012-01-04 02:09 PM

Looking Glass Photo has everything that photographers need, film or digital. Best of all, Looking Glass is there seven days a week with friendly, helpful, knowledgeable customer service before and after you make your purchase. You don't have to shop online to get great prices. If you're not buying your stuff at Looking Glass, you're not getting all the service you deserve. Come and experience the difference.

Los Gatos Birdwatcher — by Chris Darling — last modified 2011-01-28 04:10 PM

Los Gatos Birdwatcher is the general store for nature lovers specializing in everything to do with bird feeding and bird watching, including seed, feeders, baths, hardware and optics. also included in our offerings are clothing, jewelry, books, kids stuff and many great gift items. Our mission is to create magic and adventure through the love and experience of nature. We bring this mission to reality through our Kid's Corner classes and community outreach. We are located in the King's Court Center at the corner of Blossom Hill Road and Los Gatos Blvd. 408/358-9453 www.losgatosbirdwatcher.com.

Metrpolitan Transportation Commission — by Ellen Weis — last modified 2012-03-29 06:56 AM

"The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) was created by the California Legislature in 1970 to plan the transportation network for the nine Bay Area counties. As the Bay Area grew, MTC’s responsibilities increased, until today MTC is three agencies in one with a wide range of duties and a shared mission: to keep the Bay Area moving. In addition to its original charge to plan, finance and coordinate Bay Area transportation, MTC, as the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA), administers the toll revenue for the Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges and is directing a multi-billion dollar program to protect them against earthquakes. As the Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways (SAFE), MTC oversees a regionwide network of freeway call boxes and roving tow trucks. The three agencies are directed by MTC’s 19-member policy board. To help achieve its mission, MTC is aided by its Policy Advisory Council and by a coalition of federal, state, regional and local agencies that are responsible for transportation and environmental quality in the Bay Area. MTC has spearheaded a number of innovative customer-service programs for Bay Area travelers, including the telephone- and Web-based 511 traveler information service, the new Clipper® transit fare smart card, and the FasTrak® electronic toll collection system. MTC and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) are currently in the process of developing Plan Bay Area, the region’s long-range effort to better integrate transportation investments with land uses to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

Mostly Natives Nursery — by Ellen Weis — last modified 2011-09-01 05:56 PM

 

Mrs. Dalloway's Literary and Garden Arts — by Dan Rademacher — last modified 2011-01-28 04:26 PM

Mrs. Dalloway's Literary and Garden Arts is new to the Elmwood shopping district on College Avenue in Berkeley. Remodeled with eco-friendly and sustainable materials the store is a delightfully airy setting for all kinds of books, plants, and art. The literary side of the house offers a high quality mix of fiction and non-fiction; the garden side has a comprehensive selection of books on gardening (with a special emphasis on the Bay Area climate), architecture, and natural science. A cozy corner in the back is set aside for great children's books, both new and classic.

Pacific Coast Seed — by Chris Darling — last modified 2011-01-28 04:35 PM

Pacific Coast Seed, Inc. provides material for diverse applications including restoration, reclamation, revegetation, erosion control, and ornamental landscaping. Our work with public and private enviromental designers emphasizes the development of seeding programs that are practical, effective, and affordable. We supply California grass, shrubs, wetland, and wildflower seed, and contract for special seed collection and the increase of seeds of site-specific plants.

Paradigm Winery — by Chris Darling — last modified 2011-01-28 03:09 PM

Paradigm Winery is a family-owned and sustainably-farmed vineyard and winery producing estate grown wines from the heart of Napa Valley’s Oakville appellation. Crafted by esteemed winemaker Heidi Peterson Barrett since the winery’s creation in 1991, the wines embody elegance and balance year after year. As a member of 1% for the Planet, Paradigm annually donates 1% of all winery sales to a network of environmental organizations. Tours and tastings are offered by appointment, Monday – Friday.