Hidden Villa / Toddler on the Farm Series

Hidden Villa is a great non-profit in Los Altos that has a bunch of educational programs around nature, farming and sustainable food. Some of our favorite programs include their working farm which provides internships for aspiring farmers and sells local, sustainable produce at the Los Altos farmer's market, and their environmental education summer camp for young kids.

One of the programs that we want to try out is the toddlers and preschoolers on the farm series - a 3 week "class" for toddlers 1.5-3.5 yr olds that allows kids to bury their hands in wool, throw corn to the chickens, and explore other ways to connect with aspects of a working farm.

This class runs every month on Fridays, from 3-4pm. We might sign up in January!

18 Reasons / Bi-Rite Family of Businesses

We have a new favorite non-profit helping build community and connect people with local, sustainable food: 18 Reasons in the Mission in San Francisco. Started by the folks from Bi-Rite Market, 18 Reasons is a non-profit community space that brings people, artists and food together.

We're hopefully going to Butterfest '09 at 18 Reasons on Sat, 12/12, 6-8pm: a 2 hr celebration of butter!

If you sign for a $40 membership at 18 Reasons now, you will get the following benefits: free scoop of ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery, $5 gift card at Bi-Rite Market, $5 gift card at Dolores Park Cafe, $5 off a pizza at Pizzeria Delfina, $5 gift card at Tartine Bakery and 10% off one visit to Omnivore Books.

Monterey Bay Aquarium & Sustainable Seafood Watch

We took our first trip as a family to the Monterey Bay Aquarium today. Not only did we have a good time watching the sea otters, fish and sharks, we also learned about what seafood is sustainable to buy and eat, and what seafood is not. The aquarium has promoted its seafood pocket guides for years, and one of the new features this year is a pocket guide for sushi! Download them here.

Kaiya & Daddy on our bike

Just got the ibert bike seat and we're getting our money's worth!

- 2 weeks ago: biked to the garden, baby Caitlin's house in Sunnyvale

- Last weekend: REI, baby Cole's house, garden

- This week: biked to daycare everyday

It's been a lot of fun to ride around to daycare, the garden, friend's houses, and just around town!

Silicon Valley Reads 2010 Features Sustainable Food, Gardening

Silicon Valley Reads 2010 has selected Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food as the book it will invite Silicon Valley students, families, workers and communities to read together in February 2010. This self-proclaimed "Eater's Manifesto" offers practical guidance and solutions to eating in a sustainable way, and is a great follow up to Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma.

Silicon Valley Reads also features two children's companion books with similar themes around sustainable food: Tops & Bottoms by Janet Stevens and Seed Folks by Paul Fleischman.

Open Farm Days at TLC Ranch

TLC Ranch, purveyors of pasture raised pork, beef and eggs at SF Bay Area farmer's markets, have started opening up their farm once per month for "open farm days" where you can buy products, tour the farm and know more of where your food comes from. Their farm is in Aromas, near Watsonville.

Here are the dates for for the next few months.

• Sunday, November 15th 10am to 4pm
• Sunday, December 13th 10am to 4pm
• Sunday, January 10th 10am to 4pm
• Sunday, February 7th 10am to 4pm
• Sunday, March 7th 10am to 4pm

New Kid Store in Mountain View w/ Eco-Friendly Wares

Little Stompers has opened in downtown Mountain View! After a year in downtown Los Altos, this locally owned, boutique kid store moved over to Castro Street a few weeks ago. Lots of really nice features to this store including a play room in the back so kids can play while parents shop, a super friendly and knowledgeable staff, and a great selection of eco-friendly toys and baby gear (i.e. Green Toys, Melissa & Doug, See Kai Run, etc.).