The last week of January 2010, Gian Luca Marconi and Pier Giorgio Olivetti, respectively the president and director of Cittaslow International from Italy came to Sonoma to bestow upon our town the honor of being the first cittaslow city in the United States.

Excuse me. Cittaslow? What is that?

Emily Charrier-Botts of the Sonoma Index Tribune, sonomanews.com, best describes it: “The word literally means slow city. Born out of the slow food movement, member cities are committed to a quality of life that focuses on the environment, preservation of history, support of community members, hospitality and sustainable living.” The movement which began in Italy in 1999 has grown to 128 members in 19 countries.

During the week that Italians were here, they visited places in Sonoma that reflected the values of Cittaslow. Virginia Hubbell, Director of Cittaslow Sonoma gave me the honor of the being the photographer to chronicle the visits to three organic gardens.  

Green Strings was our first stop on the outskirts of Petaluma. This farm has an on-site country store which sells the magnificent bounty from the gardens. The farm also hosts a school that trains students in the art of organic farming under the direction of Bobby Cannard, who has been at the forefront of the organic farming movement. For years, he has been a major purveyor of produce to Alice Water’ s famed Chez Panisse.

Benziger Winery was our next stop where Chris Benziger invited us to get   on a small trolley that took us through the vineyards and to the various organic gardens on the property. The Benziger family began organic practices when they realized that the quality of their wine was deteriorating from improper soil management. Lunch was in the cave at the winery and was catered by Sondra Bernstein, esteemed proprietor of three popular restaurants in the Valley: Girl in the Fig, Estate and the Fig Café.

We ended our tour at the Oak Hill Farms in Glen Ellen. The owner Anne Teller with a patrician presence greeted us at the White Barn, a venue primarily used for events. Anne started growing organic vegetables and selling them at the Red Barn on her property to keep the farm work crew busy through the summer months to augment their flower operation.