Oh, the never ending list of things to do, see, hear, eat in Petaluma! Wednesday, August 4 will be no exception. The Baker Creek Seed Bank will host the food journalist Paul Greenberg, author of “Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food” as he discusses his latest book. Notably, this past week, Greenberg’s book was the featured review in Sunday’s New York Times’ Book Review.

Greenberg will discuss his views on the four fish that dominate the food market today. His award-winning books and articles have received wide acclaim and he promises to be a dynamic and thought provoking speaker. Copperfields’ Books will co-sponsor the event and it promises to draw a big crowd. The speaker begins at 6:30 and the event is free.

The Baker Creek Seed Bank opened in June in a historic building in Petaluma, originally home to Sonoma County Bank (circa 1926) and offers one of California’s largest selections of organic and heirloom seeds – 1,200 varieties in all – as well as traditional gardening products. You just have to enter this mammoth building, housing thousands of packets of tiny seeds to get the juxtaposition. Rain or shine, it’s a heck of a good time. According to store manager Paul Wallace, Baker Creek chose to locate to Petaluma because 50% of its California mail-order customers live within a one-hour radius of the Central Petaluma location at E. Washington and Petaluma Blvd. North.

The LA Times and The Huffington Post both cite the unique pairing of a former bank with the location of the seed bank. Even Fast Company, the magazine with a focus on the most creative individuals sparking change in the marketplace, notes that unlike the bank that stood in its place prior, Baker Creek is thriving.

The Baker Creek Seed Bank is at 199 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, (707) 509-5171. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; closed Saturday.

Posted by:  Martha O’Hayer