summer 2004 marin agricultural land trust newsletter

8/8/2019 Summer 2004 Marin Agricultural Land Trust Newsletter

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Since its founding in 1980, ma l t hasprotected 35,000acres of farmland fromdevelopment through the acquisition of agricultural conservation easements.While a small number of those easementshave been conveyed by the ownerswithout cost to ma l t, the majority havebeen purchased at a total cost of $28million. To tackle the increasing chal-lenge of raising the money to buy addi-tional easements, ma l t has recentlybecome part of a private-public partner-ship in which the easement programmanager works with state governmentagencies to co-fund easement acquisitions.

The private funds in this partnershipcome from contributions by our membersto the Ellen Straus Farmland PreservationFund. But what about the public funds?

Where do they come from? And howdo they end up at ma l t?Currently, most of the public funds

come from bond measures passed by vot-ers, then appropriated by the Legislatureto state agencies that implement thegoals of the measures. In the last fouryears, California voters have consistentlysupported bond

m a r i n a g r i c u l t u r a lL A N D T R U S T N E W Sv o l u m e 2 0 n u m b er 2 su m m er 2 0 0 4

P R E S E R V I N G M A R I N C O U N T Y F A R M L A N D

P UBLIC FUN D S H ELPP ROTECT M ARINFARM LAN D

T he barnyard mud is just about dry on an early spring day at the Nicasio Valleyranch that cattleman Rich Gallagher has called home since his birth therealmost 70 years ago. The sun is warming up the old hay fields, too, and the viewsof Big Rock Ridge, Mt. Tamalpais, Black Mountain, and Hicks Mountain arecrystal clear. After a long, wet winter, the cricks are runnin good, says Rich.Its my favorite time of year.

The youngest of nine children born to descendants of Irish immigrants, by1999 Rich was one of numerous heirs to the landmark 1000-acre propertylocated at the intersection of Nicasio Valley and Point Reyes-Petaluma roads.Faced with distributing the family assets among so many, a sale becameinevitable. I hated to sell it, Rich recalls, but I went along with the rest

of them. Being it had to be sold, there couldnt be a better guy than Jim.Jim is Jim Moore, a Columbia University graduate and former WallStreet investment banker who with his wife Margaret purchased the prop-erty from the Gallagher family five years ago. Early this year, the Mooressold an agricultural conservation easement to mal t, permanently protecting the land from subdivision and non-agricultural development. mal t paithe appraised easement value of $1,710,000. The Department of Conservations California Farmland Conservancy Program contributed$1,000,000to the purchase. The remainder of the funds were raised fromma l t members and contributors.

In a partnership that seems to sit well with both past and present owners,Rich Gallagher retains ownership of the ranchs catt le business. I have adeep appreciation of both the challenges and the C O N T I N U ED P A G E T W

Rich Gallagher and Jim Moore

M O O R E R AN CH EASEM EN TFINDING COMMON G ROUND TO

PRESERVE H ISTORIC RANCH

C O N T I N U ED PA G E T W O

The Zimmerman Ranch


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pleasures of ranching, Jim says. As ayoung man, he worked and lived onranches throughout the West, and hisparents owned a cow/calf operation forseveral years. But Rich is as much a partof this place as that rock, he says, point-ing to one of the sandstone outcroppingsthat characterize the landscape. Wewant to make sure he can do what hesbeen doing since day one.

The land was once part of the RanchoNicasio land grant, initially presented toDon Pablo de la Guerra and John Cooper.James Black purchased a large part of it inthe mid- 19th century and established atenant ranch. The owners from 18811950 were all heirs of the Pacheco familyof Ignacio. It was purchased in 1950 bythe Gallagher family who had leased itsince 1923. The Gallaghers operatedone of the biggest dairies at the time,milking about 150 cows.

In those days, availability of home-grown feed dictated the cycle of thedairys year. Cows bred in the winter weredry during pregnancy through the summermonths when the hay was growing. Thegrain was harvested in the fall about thesame time the new calves were born. Themilking cycle could begin once again,and young Rich and his brothers andsisters would be put to work.

Jim Moore was born and raised on theeastern slope of Colorado where his familyhas resided for several generations. For Jim,that rural lifestyle would be short-lived. Iwoke up in the summers to the sound of hammers, he said, remembering themarch of suburbs across the countryside,until the former working landscape wasalmost unrecognizable. It was this earlyexperience and a recognition of thenational threat to farmland that helpedthe Moores make up their minds to sell an

easement. Thats what drove the maldecision, Jim says, You philosophicallyhave to want to tie up a piece of prop-erty in perpetuity.

Rich runs the beef business in conjunc-tion with one

funding for farmland preservation, natural resource protec-tion, and recreation, for example:

x Proposition 12, June 2000: $2.1 billion forneighborhood parks, coastal preservation, and airand water resource protectionx Proposition 13, June 2000: $1.97 billion forwater protectionx Proposition 40, March 2002: $2.6 billion forparks and resource protectionx Proposition 50, November 2002: $3.44 billionfor water resource and coastal protection.

Ma l t has partnered with two state agencies, the CaliforniaState Coastal Conservancy ( sc c) and the Department of Conservations California Farmland Conservation Program(c f c p), to secure funds from these bonds for Marin Countyfarmland preservat ion. We work closely with agency staff toidentify easement acquisition projects that will both fulfillour mission and meet the agencys goals.

The sc c granted Proposition 12 funds to ma l t to help paythe cost of the Barboni and Ielmorini-Moody easement acqui-sitions and Proposition 40 funds to assist ma l t in buying theZimmerman and Grossi easements. Karyn Gear, the sc csNorth Coast Program Manager, says, ma l t does a fantastic

job of working with the local agricultural community andidentifying conservation opportunities, and we are pleasedto have been able to provide funding for a number of ma l tseasement acquisitions. Despite the States recent economicdownturn, California voters have shown by their approval of the resource bond acts that they place a high value on preser-

vation of our coastal resources, open space, and agriculture.The funding provided by those bond acts is what enablesthe Conservancy to support the important work of ma l t.

The c f c p contributed Proposition 12 funds toward theGrossi and Zimmerman acquisitions (with sc c and ma l tcontributing the balance). The c f c palso contributed morethan half the cost of the Moore easement from Proposition12 funds. This public-private partnership model is essentialto the c f c pbecause the programs charter states that it mayserve as a granting entity to local organizations, but may nothold conservation easements itself.

The framers of our program wanted to create an entity strict-ly to support local farmland preservation efforts, says Chuck Tyson, c f c p Program Manager. Local nonprofits like ma l thave the landowner connections, skills, and credibility to takethese easements on and do the nitty-gritty stewardship work.

But as Executive Director Bob Berner observes, Becauseof the condition of the state budget, the near-term future of funding for land conservation is uncertain. However, votershave historically been supportive of conservation. We wouldhope that another conservation bond measure might beconsidered for the ballot before the end of this decade.

For now, bond funding provides ma l t with a significantresource for preserving local family farms. Through success-ful partnerships with state agencies, ma l t is able to leveragethe private funds in our Ellen Straus Farmland PreservationFund with public money and increase the pace of permanentagricultural land preservation in Marin.

A imee C r awf

P UBLIC FUN D SC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E O N E

The Moore family, clockwise from top: Jim; Colin; Joey; Sofia; and Margaret

2 M A R I N A G R I C U L T U R A L L A N D T R U S T

C O N T I N U ED PA G E T H RE

P E O P L E I N A G R I C U L T U R E

M O O R E R AN CHC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E O N E


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M A R I N A G R I C U L T U R A L L A N D T R U S T

D eveloping knowledge and evolv-ing societal values continue toplace demands on landowners to updatetheir operations. However, new solu-tions to old problems are frequently dif-ficult and often cost more than profitscan justify in todays agricultural econo-my. To ease transitions and help main -tain ranch viability, ma l t in 2002launched its Stewardship AssistanceProgram ( sa p) with funds raised in theCampaign to Save Marins Farmlands.The Board of Directors grants up to$25,000to landowners to reduce non-point pollution sources and enhanceriparian corridors on easement properties.

During the first two years of theprogram, ma l t dispersed nearly $80,000to six different landowners in grantsranging from $4,50024,800. The fundedprojects help protect springs, ponds,and creeks through fence and watertrough development. They also help

improve riparian habitat, control ero-sion, provide creek bank repair, andenhance livestock management. Allprojects were designed to reduce theamount of pollutants entering TomalesBay, Walker Creek, and various tribu-taries while also improving long-termproductivity and viability of the land.

But the grants do more than that.They also help easement landownersrealize dreams and give ma l t membersand staff a share in their pride.

Since purchasing an easement-pro-

tected ranch near Marshall in 2001,

Marcia Barinaga and CoreyGoodman have been work-ing to improve the propertyand develop plans for diver-sifying agricultural opera-tions. With the help of Marcias father,they plan to begin a sheep operationand start a test vineyard to comple-ment the former owners ongoing cattleoperation. First, though, they wantedto improve and protect the resourceson the ranch, and they asked for sa phelp.

In 2002, two springs and a pond thatdrained to Tomales Bay were fenced tocontrol livestock access. Troughs wereinstalled as alternative water sourcesfor the animals. Marcia has taken thelead on the project and is thrilled bythe results. I cant believe its beenonly one year since the work was done.The springs and pond have been trans-formed, and there seem to be more

birds in the tules. The lush vegetationthe birds enjoy is also arresting erosionof the pond bank and spillway, andcapturing sediment and organic materi-al otherwise headed for the Bay. Cross-fencing to improve forage managementis next on Marcias list.

Ron and Patti Pomi have lived ontheir beautiful ranch south of Petalumasince long before ma l t purchased aneasement on itour first!in 1983.The family they raised there grew upand moved away, but son Mark Pomi

and daughter Kim Naugle recently

moved back to the ranch, bringingwith them their new young familiesand new enthusiasm. As part of a planto diversify agricultural operations andmaintain a self-sufficient ranch, a sa pgrant is helping the family build fenc-ing and create a stock pond.

Mark explained that the mainrestriction to their resource and agri-cultural goals has been availability of water. Besides the creeks, the onlysource has been on a neighbors ranch.The grant is giving us the opportunityto develop our own water source so wecan fence and protect the creeks. Andthe fence that protects the creeks willalso allow us to improve our pasturerotation and get better use of the land.

And with better use of the land, Ronand Patti should also get to see theirgrandkids grow up on the ranch.

M a l t s supporters and programsnot only help protect agriculture andthe landscape we love, but also thecommunity and old friendships onwhich they depend. Marcia Barrinagamade our day when she told us thatma l t s continued interest in this pro-

ject gives us a sense that its worth-while, and that we have a partnershipthat ma l t really values.

TONY NELSO

on the historic F Ranch, formerly ownedby his family and now operated under alease with the National Park Service.

Meanwhile, the Moores are workingon improvements to the barns and out-buildings. Upgrading historic springsand distributing water more evenly will

provide diversification options in thefuture. Well maintain the beef opera-tion as Rich wants it for as long as hewants to do it. From then, well seewhat happens,says Moore.

Like the original founders of ma l t,these two men from very different

worlds have found common ground incaring for land that in many ways haschanged very little over the years.This is an amazing piece of property,Jim says, this is the old California.

ELISABETH PTA

MA LT Land Steward Tony N elson at restoration siteon Barinaga-Goodman Ranch

STEWARD SH IP ASSISTAN C EP ROGRAM O FFERS N EWSO LUTIO N S TO O LD P ROBLEMS

M O O R E R AN CHC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E T W O


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Katherine Landreth has joined ma l t as office manager, a position thatbenefits from her past experience in publishing, grant research, and invest-ment management consulting, but draws especially on her ability to beresponsive to the needs of staff and the public. Katherine will be providingsupport to all program areas, and its her friendly voice that will now greetyou when you call the ma l t office.

Raised in Menlo Park where her father owned a bicycle shop and hermother taught fourth grade, Katherine began visiting West Marin at an early

age. Her grandmother bought a piece of land in Inverness in 1960. I grew uprunning wild in the woods in the summers with my cousins, she remembers.From that I gained a lifelong appreciation for woodlands and open spaces,but also for all the different layers of people and activity and life out here.

A graduate of Stanford University with a masters degree from Brown,Katherine began her professional career as a high school teacher. Now a resident of Stinson Beach, she finds time in herdaily commute through the historic Olema Valley pastoral zone to reflect on how things change and how they remain thesame. One of the qualities that at tracted her to working at ma l t was its partnershipwith easement landowners in protecting farmland in perpetuity. An easement is aliving entity, she says. I love the continuity of names and families that have beenon the land for so long. In a small way, I share that sense of belonging.

ELISABETH PTAK

C ALLIN G ALL ED UC ATORS TOTH E SUMMER AGRICULTURAL I N STI TU TE !

K ATH ERI N E LAN D RETH JO IN S STAFF

Marin Agricultural Land Trust News is publishedquarterly by Marin Agricultural Land Trust, a nonprofit,tax-exempt organization .

MARIN AGRICULTURAL LAND TRUPost Office Box 809

Point Reyes Station, CA 94956-0809

T eachers, take note: the 6th annual Marin SummerAgricultural Institute is just around the corner.Presented by the Marin Agriculture and Education Alliance,of which ma l t is a collaborating partner, the 2004 sessionwill be held from June 1517at the Tomales History Center.This year, the seminar is coordinated by Cindy Pomi of theMarin County Farm Bureau.

The training gives k12 educators the tools and hands-on experience to integrate agricultural education into math,language arts, history, ecology, and biology lessons.Complete with curriculum plans that correspond toCalifornia State Standards, this three-day session includesfarm visits and lots of inspiration for utilizing school gardensand local farms as learning opportunities.

Each year, participating teachers have raved about theexperience. I was so inspired by the workshop both person-ally and as a teacher, reported San Domenico elementaryschool teacher Alison Adams. This year, we did a unitabout the farm before visiting the Lafranchi Dairy and grewfood from our garden to make a 7-layer lasagna to teach

about local farms and food. We would not have done this if it werent for attending the Institute.

Marin Farm Field Studies Program, a program started in2003 to help school children visit local farms, is made avail-able to teachers who have attended the Institute. Over 28school groups have visited sites such as Star Route Farms inBolinas, th e Murphy Ranch on the Pt. Reyes Peninsula, andFairlea Ranch in Nicasio. Program Coordinator AnneMurphy explains, We do programs for kids from kinder-garten through high school. No matter what age, childrenlove farms and have a great deal of interest in understand-ing the work of farmers. Being on the ranch really capturestheir attention.

The Institute is funded in part by the Marin CommunityFoundation and Autodesk. Pre-paid enrollment of $55 is dby May 31. A stipend of $100 is offered to Marin teacherswho complete all three days. One unit of DominicanUniversity credit is available for $45. To obtain a registra-tion form, contact the Marin County Office of Education at415-499-5877.

LEAH SMI

Office Manager Katherine Landreth

M A R I N A G R I C U L T U R A L L A N D T R U S T4

ElizabethPtak


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H I KES &TOURS & TALKS

M a r i n Ag r ic u l t u r a l La n d Tr u stPost Office Box 809 Point Reyes Station, California 94956

415-663-1158 hikes&[email protected]

Easy: Flat or very l ittl e slope in adistance of less than one mile

Moderate: Varied, mild terrain foronefive mi les

Difficult: Steep terrain and/or overfive miles

Family Tour: Activities appropriatefor a family

Due to ongoing concerns about Foot-and-MouthDisease, we ask that individuals who have visitedfarms outside the U.S.A. up to 10 days prior toevents not participate in farm tours. Weather canchange quickly in West Marin. Bring a jacket forwarmth, a hat for protection from the sun, and a day-pack for food & drinks. Not all tours are appropriatefor young children. Please check with MALT. Formore detailed directions to a Hikes & Tours meetingplace, phone 415-663-1158, Monday Friday.

I would l ike to sign up for the following MALT Hi kes & Tours:tour name # people date

$$$

Absolutely no pets allowed.

Id like to become a MALT member.$ Individual $ Supporter $ Associate$ Sponsor Other $

Total Enclosed $

Separate checks for each tour are enclosed. Charge my VISA or Mastercard

Name Card #

Signature Expiration datePlease complete other side of form.

M A R I N A G RI C U LT U RA L L A N D T RU ST HI KES & TOURS Regi stration Form

As tours fill up at differentrates, please enclose a sepa-rate check for each tour, orcharge tours & membershipsto your VISA or Mastercard.

Registration by mail only.

MCEVOY OLIVE RANCHFridays, June 4, July 23, August 27Tour Nan McEvoys 550-acre organic olive ranch , where 16,000 olivetrees thrive in a spectacular valley near the Marin-Sonoma border. Walk among the orchards, learn about olive-growing, and tour the pressingfacility to see how olives are transformed into oil. Afterwards, taste andpurchase olive oil and a variety of related products. Limited to the first60 reservations received by mail. Pre-registration required.T IME : 10 A.M. NoonW HERE TO MEET : McEvoy Ranch, 5 miles south of Petaluma at 5935Red Hill Rd. aka Point Reyes-Petaluma Rd.W HAT TO BRING : Water, walking shoesD EGREE OF D IFFICULTY :C OST : $15 / $20 non-member

HOG ISLAND OYSTER CO . & S TRAUS DAIRYThursdays, June 17, August 5Learn all about oyster farming as you tour Hog Island Oyster Companywith the owners. Taste oysters grown in Tomales Bay while enjoyinggreat views. After eating your own picnic lunch, tour the Straus familysorganic dairy at milking time and sample Straus cheeses. Bio-securityprotocols will be in place to protect the animals. Pre-registrationrequired.T IME : 11 A.M. 3 P.M.W HERE TO MEET : Hog Island Oyster Co., Highway One, Marshall (10miles north of Point Reyes Station )W HAT TO BRING : Water, picnic, shoes that can get dirtyD EGREE OF D IFFICULTY :C OST : : $25 / $30 non-members


This summer MALT will once again offer a variety of tours and events, some of them especially designed forfamilies. Educating the next generation about the value and wonder of local agriculture is important because MALT preserves farm-land in perpetuity. MALT and Marin farmers will need the support of an engaged community for generations to come. So bring yourchildren and your friends, and plan on learning a lot while having a good time. Agriculture will survive and thrive with your help.

M ALT

Su m m e r2 0 0 4


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BIG RO CK TO BIG ROC K RIDGESaturday, June 26Hike along the open space trail that winds its wayup the open hills above the new Lucasfilm officeson the old Grady Ranch. Staff from Lucasfilmwill show us historic photos of the areas oldranches, plus before-and-after photos of their con-struction project. Naturalist David Wimfpheimerwill lead the trek, pointing out native plants,grasses, and birds. From the top get a birds eyeview of Nicasio-area ranches as well as Novato,Terra, Linda, Mt Tamalpais, San Pablo Bay, and

the Pacific Ocean. Pre-registration required.T IME : 9 A.M. 2 P.M.W HERE TO MEET : 3838 Lucas Valley Road, fivemiles west of Highway 101W HAT TO BRING : Water, picnic, hiking shoes,binocularsD EGREE OF D IFFICULTY :C OST : $20 / $ 25 non-members

MEET MALT AT T HEMARIN COUNTY FAIRJuly 15If you havent yet visited the MALT exhibit atthe Marin County Fair, youre in for a treat! Ourbeautiful red barn forms the entrance to th e agri-

cultural area of the fairgrounds. Meet our MALTvolunteers there, and ask for a tour of our displayof historic and contemporary photos of WestMarin farms. Then step through the big doubledoors into the barnyard where cows, pigs, andother farm animals are waiting to be pet ted. Th isyears theme is the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright .For details on ent rance fees, visit marinfair.org.T IME : 11 A.M. 11 P.M. daily

STRAUS DAIRY SPECIAL FAMILY TOURFriday, July 9This first-ever family tour of the Straus Dairywill guide you through the unique organic farmon Tomales Bay, introduce you to the cows, giveyou a chance to feed a calf, and make your ownorganic but ter. Your family will learn where milk comes from, sample Straus products and learnabout all the products that are made from milk.The dairy will have bio-security protocols in placeto protect the animals. Pre-registration required.T IME : Noon 2 P.M.W HERE TO MEET : Millerton Point Parking Lot,5 miles north of Point Reyes Station; carpool tothe dairyW HAT TO BRING : Water, picnic, shoes that canget dirtyD EGREE OF D IFFICULTY :C OST : $15 adult members / $ 20 non-members/ $5 all children / $45 families of 5 or more

ACME CHOPHOUSE BENEFITDINNER & PANEL DISCUSSIONTuesday, July 13San Francisco Giants fans are familiar with AcmeChophouse, the acclaimed restaurant located onWillie Mays Plaza outside SBC Park. Famous forits food, Acme also takes the cake for its com-mitment to serving sustainably produced localfarm products and supporting organizations likeMALT that help protect farmland from devel-opment. This benefit evening features a grass-fed beef dinner and a lively panel of culinary andfarming experts. Seating is limited. Reservationsrequired. Phone 415-644-0240.T IME : 6 P.M.W HERE TO MEET : 24 Willie Mays PlazaC OST : $75 (includes food, wine, tax & gratuity)

STRAUS FAMILY DAIRY &CREAMERYThursday, July 15The Straus Family Creamery was the first cert i-fied organic dairy west of the Mississippi. Thistour will guide you through the unique farm onTomales Bay and through the bottling plant onthe nearby S/2 Ranch . Youll sample Straus milk products as you picnic at the dairy. Bio-securityprotocols will be in place to protect the ani-mals. Pre-registration required.T IME : 10 A.M. 1 P.M.W HERE TO MEET : Millerton Point Parking Lot,5 miles north of Point Reyes Station. Carpoolto farm and creameryW HAT TO BRING : Water, picnic, shoes thatcan get dirtyD EGREE OF D IFFICULTY :C OST : $20 / $ 25 non-members

FRESH RUN FARMS SPECIAL FAMILY TOURSaturday, July 17Frogs, llamas, foxes, and egrets all share PeterMartinellis organic farm where he grows a vari-ety of vegetables while leaving plenty of roomfor wildlife. In 1870 the farm boasted the areasfirst apple orchard. Successive owners dairiedand raised chickens and artichokes. Peter firm-ly believes in providing fresh local foods to theMarin Community and will show you how toplant strawberries and h arvest veggies. Picnicnext to the frog pond. Pre-registration required.T IME : 11 A.M. 2 P.M.W HERE TO MEET : Fresh Run Farms, Bolinas.From Hwy. 1, turn west on the Olema/BolinasRoad for one mile, then right at stop sign ontoHorseshoe Hill Road. Go uphill one mile &turn left onto paved road. At the T, turn

right. Park inside the gate.W HAT TO BRING : Water, picnic, hiking shoesD EGREE OF D IFFICULTY :C OST : $15 adult members / $ 20 non-members/ $5 all children / $45 families of 5 or more

ANE CARLA ROVETTA AT COWTRACK RANCH SPECIAL FAMILY TOURSaturday, August 14Ranchopalooza! Bring the whole family to CowTrack Ranch where owner Liz Daniels will takeus to visit longhorn cattle, Canada geese, andher large organic vegetable garden. Then joinartist, storyteller, and naturalist Ane Rovetta ona magical tour of ranch woodlands, highlightedby stories and legends about the oaks, bays, andfirs and their medicinal and culinary properties.The day will end with creation of an art projectfrom natural materials. Pre-registration required.T IME : 10 A.M. 2 P.M.W HERE TO MEET : From Nicasio Square, go north1 mile. Turn right just past County maintenanceyard. Follow dirt road for 1.25 miles. Park near barnW HAT TO BRING : Water, picnic, hiking shoesD EGREE OF D IFFICULTY :C OST : $15 adult members / $ 20 non-members/ $10 all children / $60 families of 4 or more

GALE RANCH BURGERS & A PPLESunday, August 29Sally Gale, 5th generation West Marin rancher,will lead a tour of restored buildings and landson her familys Chileno Valley ranch. For lunch,enjoy mouth-watering burgers from the ranchsgrass-fed beef, topped with local organic saladgreens and AllStar Organics heirloom toma-toes. Mike Gale will take us to meet the cowsand describe his beef operation. For dessert, visitthe five-year-old dwarf apple tree orchard, andsample the taste-test winners such as Zesta,Mutsu, and Pinova. Pre-registration required.T IME : 10 A.M. 2 P.M.W HERE TO MEET : Gale Ranch, 5105 ChilenoValley Rd.W HAT TO BRING : Water, snacks, hiking shoesD EGREE OF D IFFICULTY :C OST : $30 / $40 non -members

SAVE THE DATE !ALICE WATERS &TASTE OF MARINTh ursday, September 23Enjoy a presentation by the woman who inspireda culinary revolution while you sample the bestof local farm products at the Marin Art &Garden Center. Details in Fall newsletter

M A R I N A G RI C U LT U RA L L A N D T RU ST HI KES & TOURS Regi stration Form

signature date

signature date

RELEASE OF LIABILITY: Each participant must sign.I am aware that accidents or injuries may occur during hiking and walking activities sponsored by Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT). I amvoluntarily participating in these activities. I hereby agree to accept any and all risks of injury on behalf of myself and any of my minor childrenwho may also participate in the activity. As consideration for being permitted to participate in this activity, I hereby release, discharge, waive, andrelinquish any and all actions, causes of action, or claims for personal injury or damages that I, my assignees, heirs, and legal representatives mayhave now or hereafter against MALT or the property owner resulting from negligence or other acts, howsoever caused, by any employee, officer,agent, or contractor of MALT or the property owner arising from my participation or my child(ren)s participation in the activity.

Mail completed registration forms and signed release for each participant with checks made payable to MALT.Marin Agricul tural Land Trust, Post Office Box 809, Point Reyes Station, Cali forni a 94956 . 415-663-1158

name(s)

street

city state zip

telephone email

Space is limited, and tours fill upquickly. Registration is by mail only.Full payment is required, and allparticipants must pre-register byfive days prior to event.Confirmations will be sent. Refundsare given only if MALT cancels atour or if tour is already full. Pleasebe prompt. Events are timedaround the farms or dairys workschedules. We will be hiking andtouring on private property. Youhave permission to enter for thehike or tour only. You may not re-enter at another time. Absolutelyno pets allowed.

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here


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S tendhal, the 19th century French novelist, was so stirredby the art he saw in Florence that he experienced whathe called a sort of ecstasy or celestial sensation. He com-plained of palpitations of the heartand walked with thefear of falling. Stendhals syndrome, as this malady is calledtoday, continues to afflict art lovers.

Clearly, art moves us.Nineteenth and early twentieth century American landscape

artists, many of whom were commissioned by railroads eagerfor passengers, painted the splendors of the western frontier.We might say that the art of these landscape paintersBierstadts grand canvases of Yosemite are just one exampleenticed an entire population to move westward.

In a 1997 article in Artweek , Bay Area artist Mary HullWebster notes that Westerners and by extension, their art,tend more toward conservation of land and waters than to[the] intellectual acrobatics which may characterize [art in]other parts of the world. Indeed, she argues, art connectedto a place goes deeper; it allows the local image to carrya sense of soul meaning.

Whether this tendency to land preservation is inherent inWestern artists or not, there are groups of artists who make theconnection between their work and land preservation clear. In1985, Santa Barbara painters Ray Strong and Arturo Telloformed the Open Air Klub ( oa k), a group of painters who work to combine the aesthetics of plein air painting with the ethosof preservation. Through consciousness-raising and fund-raising activities, the group is committed to protecting ranch-

lands as well as undeveloped coastal lands. They have partici-pated in mal t s Ranches & Rolling Hills art show from its incep-tion, helping to raise almost $400,000for farmland preservation.

Another group, the BayWood artists, is composed of Marinartists whose mission is to conserve farmlands and preserve BayArea open space. A number of BayWood artists also participatein ma l t s show. Zenaida Mott, co-founder of the group, is

passionate about Marin and the environment. Her land-scapes evoke a sense of nostalgia for simpler times, remind-ing us that the farmlands she depicts could become memo-ries unless we act to keep them safe.

Perhaps the art of Point Reyes Station native Susan Hall,whose work is well represented in the Ranches & Rolling Hillsshow, exemplifies this affinity best. She describes her paint -ings as the result of more than 50 years relationship withthis land, its weather, its people. Her work, she says, iscontemplative, rather than literal, hopefully distilling andreflecting the soulful depths of what I call home.

In his writing about landscape and narrative, authorBarry Lopez describes an exterior and an interior landscape.The exterior, which we access directly with our senses, isunderstood by perceiving the relationships in it which havepurpose and order, he writes in Crossing Open Ground . Thinterior landscape is shaped by our personal history, by thekind of life we live, by our beliefs, by our habits, by ourexperiences with the world and with those beings that fill it.

The interior landscape, Lopez notes, responds to thecharacter and subtlety of an exterior landscape; the shape of the individual mind is as affected by land as it is by genes.

Landscape painters participating in mal t s show are linkinthe connection we feel to placethe landscape we call WestMarinwith our desire to conserve the open spaces andfarmlands that surround us. Perhaps one outcome of thisrelationship is arts ability to move us to action.

MARY PILEG

W H Y Art M O VES U S

Aaah,the joys of summer: schools out, days grow longer, birds chirp, cows moo, vacation time draws near.

During the coming months, many of you will have the opportunity to visit West Marin. As you drive or bicycleabout, appreciating the protected farmland and admiring Marins summer landscape, think of your MALT membership

You are the heart and soul of our success! You provide the solid base needed to support our work of acquisition, stewardship, and education.But you may wonder about others ways you can help us:

Any of these take only a short time to consider and act on, but they help us continue our mission of preserving Marin County farmlands.Thank you for your membership and for all the other ways you help keep Marins working landscape farmland forever . ROBB OLLETT

ENJOY THE LAND , THINK OF MALT, WITH OUR THANKS !

P R O T E C T I N G T H E F U T U R E


Support local agriculture by shopping at farmers markets

Ask your grocer to stock Marin County farm products

Bring your family and friends on a MALT hike or tour

Celebrate a birthday or anniversary with a gift membership

Wear your heart on your sleeve: purchase a MALT t-shirt

Become a Partner for Preservation by naming MALT in your estate plan

Check the website for events and news updates

Consider an additional gift to the Ellen Straus Farmland Preservation Fund

ma l t s 7thannual Ranches& Rolling Hillslandscape artshow will takeplace this yearfrom 25 p.m.on Saturday,May 15, & from10 a .m.4 p.mSunday, May 1at the DruidsHall in NicasioAdmission is fr A rtist Tim Horn on the Zimmerman Ranch

Elisabeth Ptak


8/8

100% Cotton T-shirt (Adult S, M, L, XL) .100% Cotton T-shirt (Youth S, M, L) .

100% Cotton Baseball Cap .(Spruce green, adjustable strap)

An Abundant Land:T he Story of West Marin Ranching .(An audio cassette driving tour narrated by Peter Coyote)

Shipping/Handling: Add . per orderTotal

Nonprofit OrgU.S. Postage

PAIDMar in

Agricul turaLand Trust

M a r i n Ag r ic u l t u r a l La n d Tr u stBox 809 Point Reyes Station California 94956www.malt.org

A D D R ESS SERV I C E R EQ U EST ED

MALT BOARD O F DI RECTORSChris Kelly, Chair Conservationi st, LarkspurSam Dolci ni, Vice-Chair RanchSue Conley, Secretary Businesswoman

Point Reyes StationStanley Gillmar, Treasurer Attorney, InvernesBill Barboni II Veterinarian

Hicks ValleJaneann Erickson Ranchwoman / Youth Leader,

Vall ey FoAnne Flemming Community Volunteer, RossTim Furlong Rancher / Contractor, TomalesSteve Kinsey Marin County Supervisor,

4th DistrHaynes Lindley Attorney, RosJim McIsaac RanchDouglas Moore Businessman, San Franci scoTim Nunes Rancher, Point ReyesLoren Poncia Rancher, TomalesKarin Urquhart Community Activis

San AnselmWarren Weber Organic Farmer, Bolinas

STAFFRobert Berner, Executive Director Aimee Crawford, Easement Program Manager Julie Evans, Membership Director Rebecca Lyons, Membership Associate Tony Nelson, Stewardship Coordinator Robb Ol lett, Associate Director/

Director of DevelopmentElisabeth Ptak, Associate Director/

Director of OutreachLeah Smith, Volunteer Coordinator Katherine Landreth, Office Manager Constance Washburn, Education Director

namestreetcity state ziptelephone: emailcard # expiration datesignature

Marin Agricultural Land TrustPost Office Box 809

Point Reyes Station, California 94956

415 663 [email protected]

www.malt.org

M a r i n Ag r ic u l t u r a l La n d Tr u stis a private, member-supported, nonprofit organi-zation created in 1980 by a coaliti on of ranchersand environmentalists to permanently preserveMarin County farmlands for agricultural use.MALT eliminates the development potential onfarmland through the acquisition of conserva-tion easements in voluntary transactions with

landowners. MALT also encourages publicpolicies which support and enhance agriculture.

My check payable to MALT isenclosed Charge my VISA Mastercard

I want to help MALT preserve Marin Countys beautiful and productive agricultural land.Heres my tax deductible contribution of:

Other

The MALT SHOP

MAY 15 & 16R ANCHES & R OLLING H ILLS LANDSCAPE ART S HOW

P R E S E R V I N G M A R I N C O U N T Y F A R M L A N D S

summer 2004 marin agricultural land trust newsletter

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