A notable addition to Sonoma’s real estate inventory is the home of astronaut Russell “Rusty” Schweickart, who piloted the Apollo 9 lunar module that made way for the Apollo 11 moonwalk. The well-traveled Schweickart settled on a sweet patch of earth on Sonoma’s east side, where he has called home since 2000.

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom, 3,071-square-foot dwelling is now listed for $2,500,000.

At the entrance, the light-drenched, high-ceilinged foyer shines in this circa-1991 home. A grand double staircase leads to the upstairs, which includes a library.

An orangerie — a home addition designed to serve as a greenhouse — has repeating French and transom windows, plus skylights. The structure creates a light-flooded seating area with generous views to the gardens and, predictably, the stars.

The home includes an updated kitchen. The grounds are lush with mature plantings.

For more information on this home at 760 Fifth St. E. in Sonoma, contact listing agent Kathleen Leonard, Compass Real Estate, 135 W. Napa St., Suite 200, Sonoma, 707-287-4314, kathleenleonard.com, compass.com

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A circa-1867 Queen Anne — the former home and office of Occidental’s first doctor — is currently listed for sale. Originally built as a mock-up for San Francisco Victorians, the renovated 4,052-square-foot historic home has six-bedrooms, two bathrooms and multiple auxiliary spaces. The asking price is $1,399,999.

Classic details include claw-foot tubs, two stories of wraparound porches, wainscoting and rosettes, dormers and shingles. With a modernized tranquil interior — evoking a type of Nancy-Meyers vibe — comfort, beauty and history merge nicely in this dwelling.

The renovated kitchen boasts marble countertops, Thermador appliances and direct access to the porch, which overlooks the garden’s mature trees and roses. 

The home’s top floor gives views to the tiny town and rolling hills. A full basement offers more usable space below. 

The carriage house, wherein the doctor saw patients, has been reframed and could serve as an office or workout space. Beneath the carriage house is a renovated studio that’s ready to serve as a rental unit. 

For more information on this home at 14952 Coleman Valley Road, Occidental, contact listing agent Emily Beaven, 415-730-9759, Compass, compass.com

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A beautifully preserved craftsman home in the historic Oakhill-Brewster neighborhood in Petaluma is currently listed for $1,150,000. The circa-1920 two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom residence spans 1,277 square feet on a 9,004-square-foot property.

The dwelling stuns with original details, like stain-grade redwood woodwork — contrasted sumptuously with teal paint in the kitchen and a rich-green floral wallpaper in the dining room. Plus, a front porch, French doors, and a large kitchen and pantry with generous cabinetry.

Upgrades like Marvin dual-pane windows seal up the vintage charm with modern-day, energy-efficient insulation.

A detached two-story barn has storage and a workshop space. The unit is topped with one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest quarters with a kitchenette and skylights. 

The yard has many seating areas and is exceptionally landscaped with raised beds, fruit trees and a super lush collection of plantings. 

For more information on this home at 306 Howard St. in Petaluma, contact listing agents Jeremy and Peg King, LivXplore Real Estate and Lifestyle, 707-338-8821, pegking.com, livxplore.com

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A contemporary Kenwood home with cheerful farmhouse style is currently listed for sale. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom dwelling sits on an acre — enough land for a starter farm. The asking price is $1,295,000.

The 2021-build enjoys the days-gone-by charm of scalloped and vertical siding, plus double-hung windows and a front porch. The interior is cozy with stone-topped stained cabinetry, a gaslit fireplace and lots of sunlight.

Solar power, a back-up generator and an EV charger in the detached garage address sustainability needs.

The large property enjoys shrubs and trees, but ample space is ready for additional plantings. The surrounding farmland, vineyards and mountain vistas can jumpstart the inspiration.

For more information about this home at 1670 Schultz Road in Kenwood, contact listing agent Gina Clyde, 707-529-8504, regina.clyde@sothebys.realty, Sothebys Realty, ginaclyde.com/properties/1670-schultz-rd-kenwood-ca-95452-325064146

The post Cheerful Kenwood Home Ready for Sustainable Living and Farming appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

A circa-1940s cottage on a woodsy half acre along Salmon Creek in Occidental has hit the market. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom home has 1,340 square feet of vintage charm and is listed for $799,000.

Stained glass, open-beam ceilings, built-ins and wainscoting are some of the cherished classic details. Upgrades include Schoolhouse Electric lighting and a Fireclay hearth.

The grassy yard enjoys patches of sunlight and shade through redwoods. There’s a deck and a spa from which to enjoy the setting. Toe-dipping in Salmon Creek is just a few steps away. Free wine tastings at Occidental’s Bohème Wines is a mere three-minute drive.

For more information on this property at 2770 Bohemian Highway in Occidental, contact listening agent Emily Beaven, Compass, 415-730-9759, emilybeaven.com 

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A modern, farmhouse-style estate on 18 acres in the St. Helena AVA of Napa Valley is up for sale. The five-bedroom, seven-and-a-half bathroom home with a barn and pool house is currently listed for $21 million.

The 7,484-square-foot dwelling constructed by Field Architecture and Grassi & Associates is made up of multiple structures — each with a steeply sloped corrugated roof — situated in a U-shape around the terrace and pool. Reclaimed coral board vertical siding blends with surrounding soil.  

Interiors by Shawback Design offer a gentle luxury, letting the quality of the finishes do most of the talking: white oak cabinets, plaster walls, polished concrete floors and hand-blown chandeliers.

A few spots of vivid color add energy, such as the deep blue on a powder room wall, bathroom tile, laundry room cabinetry and various textiles. The cool hue is a nice counterpoint to the earthy palette, and it continues outside via the shade umbrellas, chairs and tennis court turf. 

The pool’s surround of concrete has rectilinear cutouts for patches of lush vegetation. Meticulous landscaping and garden design is the work of Surfacedesign. This geometry is a good match for all those rows of the property’s Cabernet Sauvignon and heritage Zinfandel vines — some of which date back to 1935 and 1979.

For more information on this property at 1540 West Zinfandel Lane in St. Helena, contact listing agent Cyd Greer, 707-322-6825, Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley, 1775 Lincoln Ave., Napa, cydgreer.com/listing/modern-farmhouse-napa-valley-2/

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A new luxury five-bedroom, six-bathroom home and casita in Kenwood is currently listed for sale. The modern dwelling, with a combined 5,200-square-feet of living space, is seeking $12,800,000 — the highest listing price in the tiny town’s history. 

Four of the home’s bedrooms are suites. All living areas have floor-to-ceiling views of the lush landscape and Sonoma Valley thanks to Portuguese glass door systems, some of which tower at 17 feet.

There’s a media room and a chef’s kitchen with a Lacanche range, a walk-in refrigerator, and a kegerator for the hops-happy Wine Country dweller.

The lush gardens include a 65-foot saltwater pool and spa, a full outdoor kitchen and a pool house.

Other architectural elements include custom steel fascia, white oak cabinetry, radiant heated floors, copper gutters and downspouts, and hand-milled cedar siding. The angular home with its natural palette gives a strong-yet-subdued aesthetic, which sits gently in the breathtaking setting.

For more information about this listing at 9777 Via Cantera, Kenwood, contact listing agents Caroline Sebastiani, 415-290-3123, 707-935-2277, or Ginger Martin, 415-516-3939, 707-200-2488, sothebysrealty.com/eng/sales/detail/180-l-1188-y4tzjf/9777-via-cantera-kenwood-ca-95452

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A circa-1947 modern home on 1.2 private acres in Forestville is currently listed for $1,595,000. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 2,414 square-foot dwelling was originally commissioned by the Kellogg family and is the work of notable architect John Hans Ostwald.

The home exemplifies the Swiss chalet-meets-modernism style of Berlin-born Ostwald, who received his degree in architecture in Zurich. Sleek modern lines and repeating windows are warmed up with stained-wood walls and the intentional cozy connection to the woodsy outdoors.

A 1950 publication of Arts & Architecture praised the home for its u-shaped layout that shelters the pool and terrace and frames nature views.

The current owners have thoughtfully updated the vintage space. The kitchen and primary bath enjoy new natural stone, cabinets and fixtures that brighten but blend with the original warm finishes. 

Other updated amenities include a pool and spa, solar power and EV charging.

For more information on the Kellogg House at 11630 River Road, contact listing agents Tom Doran, 415-860-5138, or Jeannie Vandeweg, 707-480-1541, Vanguard Properties, timelessmidcentury.com

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On 3.36 acres of oak tree-studded land in Santa Rosa is a unique modern home listed for $1,999,000. The three-bedroom and one-bathroom dwelling is unusually shaped and aptly known as the “geometric house” or the “house of angles.”

Designed by Ken O’Connor, the dwelling has walls of glass windows providing dramatic two-story views of property, which includes a half-acre vineyard of Chardonnay grapes.

The home has a separate dining room, a lofted primary bedroom and multiple alcove decks with views — one of which includes a spa. The home also has access to the hiking and equestrian trails that are part of neighboring Safari West — a 400-acre wildlife preserve often referred to as the “Sonoma Serengeti.”

For more information on 10045 Loch Haven Drive, Santa Rosa, contact listing agent Rachel Swann, 415-225-7743, Coldwell Banker Realty, swanngroupsf.com/properties/10045-loch-haven-drive-santa-rosa-ca-us-95404-325020147

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Nick Schwanz and Spencer Scott are living a vision for a more joyful and sustainable future. On their experimental land project in rural Guerneville, the couple demonstrates how a life that centers caring for the earth can be forward-thinking, delicious — and serve the wider community.

In early 2020, Nick and Spencer were living in San Francisco but dreamed of moving to a place where they could build a more thoughtful relationship to the natural world. They began to draw up a list of what that different life could look like, centering the importance of community and resilience. “We made this impossible list so that we wouldn’t do it,” jokes Spencer. “But then when we found this place, it definitely felt like, ‘OK, we’re in.’”

The place that captured their imagination was a 10-acre horse ranch that admittedly was in somewhat rough shape for a future regenerative farm — much of the front acreage was buried under a foot of compacted sand where a riding arena used to be. But it was right in Guerneville, with that town’s strongly rooted queer community, and the couple knew that with effort, the land could be remediated for vegetable beds and orchards. The property also boasted a small redwood grove, a house with enough space to host friends and family, and plenty of access to nearby wild spaces.

“You have to fall in love with land to do a land project,” says Nick. “And there’s nowhere easier to fall in love with land in Northern California. We have the most diverse, the biggest, the most grand, the most sweeping natural ecosystems of anywhere in America. It’s just crazy how magical this place is.”

The couple moved to the farm in 2020. The first order of business? Tearing out the riding arena and building up soil and infrastructure to grow food. “The beginning was actually the easiest part,” says Spencer. “There was so much excitement, and we didn’t know how far we had to go.”

“We had that sprinter energy, like the beginning of a race where you come out of the gate fast,” laughs Nick.

Five years down the road, Solar Punk Farms is an ever-evolving demonstration of a vibrant, positive, inclusive, climate-first existence. With the help of Nick’s father, a master carpenter, they’ve refurbished the house and built a large chicken coop — and a magnificent, spiral, solarpunk-style greenhouse, which has become a local landmark.

Nick and Spencer are also selling produce to local restaurants, teaching schoolkids how to grow food, and giving away 40 cubic yards of compost a month in partnership with Zero Waste Sonoma. Support from Fulcrum Arts, which works with emerging organizations at the intersection of art and science, allowed the couple to hire their first full-time employee to assist with farming outreach and education. They’ve also hosted work parties, climate education talks, homemade brunches for local seniors, wine festivals and even a wedding — their own, on a hand-built stage in the redwood grove out back in the summer of 2023.

Spencer is currently finishing a book about living a climate-forward life, even as the couple continue to shape the vision for the project and work day jobs to keep afloat. “It’s always, ‘What’s the next thing?’ And I think that’s in our blood,” Spencer says. “Nick and I are always doing three jobs and working on three projects all at once.”

Sharing their work

Nick: People are sometimes surprised that this is our home. People will drive into our driveway sometimes, and we’ll just stop and give that random stranger a tour. What helps is that we’re both very passionate about sustainability and this project we’re working on. So it’s a joy to bring people along and make community around the thing we’re really passionate about.

Self-reliance vs. community reliance

Nick: A lot of people, when they think about homesteading, it’s often framed around self-reliance. That’s not what Solar Punk is all about. This is not self-reliance; this is community reliance. One of the chapters of Spencer’s book is called the myth of self-reliance. The idea is that it’s not about being isolationist and showing all the things that we can do on our own. It’s about showing that a project like this requires a ton of community.

The role of a farmer

Spencer: I think we’ve romanticized farming in a certain way that doesn’t give enough respect for how difficult it is. I want to say that in a very positive way. I mean that it’s important to respect how difficult it is to farm — and at the same time, it’s also great to have an herb garden on your windowsill. There are different levels of what farming and growing food means. You don’t need to be a farmer to be a voice within this larger climate and sustainability movement. It’s fun to grow food and eat your own food, but it’s also fun to support your local farmers who are already doing it well. That’s ultimately part of doing a project like this.

Part of something bigger

Nick: From a strategic lens, we’re these millennial, goofy, queer, dorky people, right? Which is behind many of the things we want to do here. So many on-ramps to the bigger climate movement have been depressing for way too long. Everything’s burning, you have to run away from this, etc. The wider solarpunk movement that we named the farm for was founded on the idea that the on-ramps need to be fun and beautiful and optimistic and inclusive and all of these things, because that’s what will get people to join.

On not always knowing what they’re doing

Nick: We’ve talked a lot about how we were just run-of-the-mill, everyday city people and now we are doing this project. And the learning is the point — we’re not doing it because we’re good at farming. We’re doing it because we want to learn how to do it. So expertise isn’t a barrier — that’s one of the messages we’re trying to get at. Not everybody is going to do a land project, not everybody lives in the country, a lot of people live in cities. Everybody’s got different backgrounds. But the climate movement desperately needs everybody involved in some capacity, and being good at something shouldn’t be the limiting factor. Learning how to be good at it should be part of what makes it enjoyable.

Working at the speed of the land

Nick: My biggest awakening and shock with this project was needing to work on a different timeline than I was used to. We took a permaculture design class with Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, and on the last day, we were talking with the teacher, and I told him I’d learned that I really need to slow down. And the teacher said, ‘I’m glad that you called that out. I can tell you want stuff to move faster and be more in your control. And I can tell you, that’s not how a big land project is going to work.’ So it was a really big, energetic shift to a place where you are working at the speed of the land, and that’s fixed. You do as much as you can and then get excited for the next season.

Spencer: It’s been a battle to find a balance between staying motivated and not forgetting to be happy with where this place is at every stage along the way. It helps when people visit and they say, ‘You guys have done so much.’ Because there’s still so much more to do.

Summer on the horizon

Nick: I know everybody says summers on the farm are when it’s really crazy. But for us, spring is super intense, when we’re cleaning and planning and planting and getting all this stuff done. And then June is when all of the investment of spring comes alive and we start to realize the fruits of that labor. The big kickoff to summer is now Big West Wine Fest, and that’s also when we start to do our fun little pool parties. And this year, the garden is going to be producing a ton.

Spencer: There are all these intentionally planted things, and you start getting the fun flowers that come up in the beds after the spring wildflowers finish. So it’s about helping out in the garden, making jam, making big meals with the vegetables. It’s so fun.

Nick: We’ve never had a June like this. There’s going to be so much bounty. This is the first time when I feel like we have enough people here to do it all and do it well, so we’re really excited about it. This is going to be like the unveiling year.

To learn more about regenerative farming, LGBTQ+-friendly work parties and local outreach programs, including free compost distribution, visit solarpunkfarms.com.

Solar Punk Farms hosts the third annual Big West Wine Fest natural wine gathering June 14 and 15. bigwestwinefest.com

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