Thanksgiving in Sonoma

As believers we carry in our hearts the sacred truth that the Lord God, fashioned the entire world and everything in it. This foundational fact of our faith has a way of stirring a longing within us to stop, breathe it in, and thank the Lord for all his glorious goodness.

This celebration of praise and gratitude is what Thanksgiving is all about.  And while we are commanded to give God thanks all year round, the Thanksgiving holiday does create a special opportunity to relish in the spirit of praise and gratitude and to share our blessings, and our faith with others.  The apostle Paul exhorts the saints in

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks,
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thes 5:16, NKJ

Few places in the country, make it easier to bask in the glory of God’s abundant blessings then when you drive north of the Golden Gate Bridge into Sonoma County. As you travel back roads alongside apple orchards and clusters of olive and fig trees, you sense there is something special about the land. Rolling hills brim with dairy cows, horses, sheep and goats. Tomatoes, corn and zuchini plants flourish in residential backyards where rosemary grows thick and wild. Elegant rows of vine ripened grapes stun the senses at every turn.

The rich soil, the near-perfect climate and the combination of sun-warmed hills and fog-cooled valleys make Sonoma an agricultural Garden of Eden.  Upon settling in Sonoma County in 1875, famed Horticulturist Luther Burbank said “I firmly believe, from what I have seen, that this is the chosen spot of all the earth as far as Nature is concerned.”

Indeed right here in our beautiful countryside, over 200 wineries cultivate over 56,000 acres of wine grapes. Sonoma Farm Trails has over 150 local family farms who produce a profusion of exotic fruits & vegetables, olives, herbs and farm fresh honey. From Bodega Bay’s Gleason Ranch to Rosie’s Chicken Farm in Petaluma, to Willie Bird’s Turkeys in Sebastopol, local farmers raise sustainably farmed, hormone-free, organic poultry and beef that is shipped to top chefs all over the country.

Pamper your guests and take advantage of our culinary utopia by incorporating some of the Sonoma County Harvest Fair award winners into your Thanksgiving menu. Healdsburg’s Costeaux French Bakery’s delicious Multigrain Batard is made with nine grains and a touch of molasses. A winner of  best of show in the multigrain category, this elegant loaf will make a heavenly moist stuffing.

Repeat gold medal winner, McClellan European Artisan Organic Butter, out of Petaluma, will add a luxurious flavor to potatoes, pies, sauces and gravies. B. R. Cohn Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Glen Ellen, another gold medal winner, will add depth to salad dressings and enhance the intense flavor of roasted vegetables.

The Lord’s abundant provision and the exquisite beauty of our local landscape make it easy to give thanks to Him. Let’s give praise to the Father this Thanksgiving, for surely God has given us so much to be grateful for, right here, in our sweet home Sonoma.