INAUGURAL GATHERING

Sonoma Convergence: June 18–19, 2027

Lower Russian River Watershed

Our inaugural two-day gathering brings together technologists, builders, researchers, and local community members in Sonoma County’s living landscape. Guided by Indigenous Nature guides and others, and anchored by indigenous culinary traditions, we step away from screens and into connection.

Indigenous Culinary Regenerosity

A Native American chef designs and prepares feasts for both Friday and Saturday evenings. Honoring ancestral foodways, the menu centers on ingredients harvested the day of the meals—wild-foraged native plants, seasonal berries, and sustainably sourced local provisions. The food is not merely catered; it is a living demonstration of seasonal stewardship.

Friday, June 18: Strawberry Moon Opening

  • 4:30 PM | Arrival & Unwinding
    Gathering in a private outdoor space in the Lower Russian River Valley. Welcoming teas made with native botanicals.

  • 6:30 PM | The First Harvest Supper
    An outdoor opening meal prepared by our Indigenous Chef using wild produce harvested that morning.

  • 8:00 PM | Strawberry Moon Observation
    Step into the clearing to watch the June Strawberry Moon, the full moon of June.

Saturday, June 19: Intimate Micro-Walks & River Floats (45–75 Minutes)

Small groups (capped at 8–10 participants) gather with nature guides—many of whom are local Native American leaders and traditional ecological knowledge keepers.

  1. Indigenous Land Stewardship & Native Flora: Learning ancestral plant relationships, traditional gathering ethics, and seasonal care.

  2. Birding & Canopy Listening: Observe avian species and their songs.

  3. Wildlife Tracking & Sign Reading: Examining ground-level cues—tracks, scat, feeding marks, and wildlife highways.

  4. Fungal Networks & Soil Intelligence: Learning about mycorrhizal relationships and spotting wild fungi.

  5. Old-Growth Redwood Ecology: Walking beneath ancient 1,000-year-old giants to experience the ecosystem’s of the understory life.

  6. Russian River Kayak & Aquatic Wildlife Float: A gentle, guided kayak float down a calm stretch of the Russian River. A chance to spot active wildlife—including river otters, bald eagles, ospreys, western pond turtles, and migratory waterfowl.

Evening: Canopy Performance & The Nightfall Feast

  • 4:45 PM – 6:00 PM | Armstrong Redwoods Performance

    Gathering at the historic wooden outdoor amphitheater deep within Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve for a private cultural performance, dance, and storytelling session led by local Native tribes.

  • 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM | The Guerneville Nightfall Feast

    A full buyout of a venue in downtown Guerneville, reconfigured with communal tables for our second feast with our Indigenous Chef—reflecting on the day’s discoveries over wild, freshly gathered food.