Black Mountain Ranch, Pt. Reyes Station
1,192 ACRES MALT-PROTECTED SINCE 1993
Black Mountain, known by locals as Elephant Mountain, provides an iconic visual backdrop to Point Reyes. It’s named for pioneer cattle rancher James Black who purchased it, along with surrounding land, for a mere $2,000 in 1851. His descendants sold a portion of the ranch including the western side of the mountain to Margaret Nobmann in 1974. She has since preserved the land’s historic use as a cattle ranch and in 1993 worked with MALT to give nearly 1,200 acres permanent protection.
The ranch now produces grass-fed beef under the Black Mountain Ranch Beef label. The business is a partnership between Margaret, her son Dave Osborn, and long-time rancher Mike Giammona. Mike has worked to certify the pastures as organic and is improving them through rotational grazing. Due to the thoughtful and sustainable stewardship of the ranch’s natural resources, Black Mountain looks much the same as it did 160 years ago.
“We are stewards of the land; we don’t really own it,” says Dave. “Mike’s vision for sustainable grazing practices and our partnership with MALT together fit into our family’s plan for what we want for the ranch and the planet.”
How to Purchase Black Mountain Ranch Beef
For more information on Black Mountain Ranch beef or to place an order, please email blackmountainbeef@yahoo.com.