Sonoma County Honors International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day on March 8 is for celebrating what eventually became National Women’s History Month thanks to advocates right here in Sonoma County, California.

Women’s History Day Started in Sonoma County

For quite some time, women’s history was practically an unknown topic in schools and public consciousness. So in 1978, the Education Task Force of Sonoma County created the first Women’s History Week. More than 100 women participated by presenting in classrooms, and an essay contest drew hundreds of entries. The finale was a parade in downtown Santa Rosa.

In February 1980, President Carter declared the week of March 8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week. That same year, the National Women’s History Project was founded in Santa Rosa with a goal to “write women back into history.” In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month.

Women Leaders in Sonoma County

Indeed, Sonoma County has been shaped by incredible women. This rich agricultural region includes women with a strong connection to animals, such as Deborah Blum of Goatlandia.

Notable women in this region have broken barriers and fostered community in Sonoma County’s wine industry, like Kim Stare Wallace, the owner of Dry Creek Vineyard in Healdsburg, and Marimar and Christina Torres, the mother/daughter owners of Marimar Estate Vineyard and Winery in Sebastopol.

Amy Bess Cook champions women-owned wineries through WOW Sonoma. Brenae Royal makes farming decisions that make Monte Rosso Vineyard grapes so premier, and former art historian Akiko Freeman infuses her native Japan into impressive winemaking at Freeman Winery. These women add to the legacy started by wine legends like Merry Edwards and Carol Shelton, who call Sonoma County home.

Sonoma County women are making a name for themselves in the craft drink industry, too, like Tara Jasper of Sipsong Spirits, Amy Groth of Prohibition Spirits &HelloCello, and Ashby Marshall of Spirit Works Distillery, which was named the 2020 National Distillery of the Year by the American Distilling Institute. Brewing world-class beer is Natalie Cilurzo of Russian River Brewing Company, and shining a cider spotlight on Sonoma County is Ellen Cavalli of Tilted Shed Ciderworks.

Women also lead in the kitchen, including entrepreneur Crista Luedke of boon eat + drink, El Barrio, and Road Trip; Chef/Owner Liza Hinman of Spinster Sisters; Mimo Ahmed, Pastry Chef at Glen Ellen Star; Leah Scurto, award-winning pizza chef and co-owner of Pizza Leah; and Duskie Estes of Black Pig Meat Co.

In Sonoma Wine Country, women make specialty products, such as Candice Koseba of Sonoma County Bee Company; Deb Rock, owner of Sonoma Hot Sauce; Donna Pacheco of Achadinha Cheese Company; Sheanna Davis of Epicurean Connection; and Leslie Goodrich of Lala’s JamBar and Urban Farmstand.

The wonderful women of this region have led us outdoors, including Erin Ellis of Triple Creek Horse Outfit, Siki Waters of Water Treks EcoTours and Kayak Rentals, and Margaret Lindgren of Unbeaten Path Tours & Yoga.

Here, local women run museums, including Jean Schulz of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Holly Hoods of the Healdsburg Museum & Historical Society, and have launched beloved festivals like Kathryn Hecht of the Alexander Valley Film Festival.

Creative women in this scenic region include SCAPE Mural Project, Maria de Los Angeles, Bud Snow, MJ Lindo-Lawyer, Adelle Stoll, and many more.

Industries, such as wellness, have the women of Sonoma County to thank, like Rosemary Gladstar, known as the “Mother of Herbalism,” who founded the California School of Herbal Studies in Forestville in 1978. Also, Lily Mazzarella the herbalist, nutritionist, whole foods chef, and owner of Farmacopia, an apothecary and integrative health clinic.

Sisters Pandora and Emma, plus her daughter Sabrina, are behind Three Sisters Apothecary, which creates artisan bath and skin care products using centuries-old traditions. West and Pure Apothecary, owned by holistic estheticians Laura Heath and Sarah Carlson, offers exceptional skincare and non-toxic products. At Renew Yoga Petaluma, owner Pamela Maldonado teaches with the concept “Be Love, Do Love.”

We are grateful for these women and so many others who make Sonoma County a vibrant, thriving place to be.