There’s something deeply satisfying about eating a berry you picked yourself—especially when it comes straight from one of Sonoma County’s most interesting working classrooms.
Santa Rosa Junior College’s Shone Farm is opening its fields for a series of Friday U-Pick days, inviting the public to gather berries and other seasonal produce while getting a firsthand look at the 365-acre farm in the Russian River Valley.
Shone Farm serves as an outdoor classroom for SRJC students studying sustainable agriculture, viticulture, natural resource management and animal science. Its vineyards, forests, pastures, gardens and livestock facilities also provide opportunities for students in programs ranging from botany and ecology to culinary arts.
In other words, the berries growing here are part of a much larger experiment in how the next generation of farmers and environmental stewards will work with the land.
The U-Pick events offer a particularly delicious way for the rest of us to participate. Visitors can wander the farm, pick what’s ripe and take home a little piece of the season—while supporting an educational farm dedicated to sustainability and hands-on learning.
What’s available depends on what’s ripe and ready for picking. A quick call to Janet Stribling, Shone Farm’s admin assistant, got us the answer:
“Right now, we have strawberries, black berries, pole beans, tomatillos, peppers, and cherry tomatoes,” Stribling cheerfully shared.
Bring your own basket or container to help cut down on waste. If you’re using a wicker basket, metal container or sturdy plastic bin, please check in with the cashier before heading to the field.
For a comfortable day of picking, wear sunscreen, a hat and sturdy shoes, and don’t forget a water bottle.
Shone Farm U-Pick runs from 10am–2pm on Fridays, with remaining 2026 dates Aug. 14, Aug. 21, Aug. 28, Sept. 4, Sept. 11 and Sept. 18.
For more info, click here.
Shone Farm
7450 Steve Olson Lane
Forestville