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Lectures & Events
2008

MALT sponsors and collaborates on lectures and talks with experts in agriculture-related fields throughout the year. Upcoming events are listed below along with some past talks that have taken place. Continue to check this site for future events.

January February March April
May June July August
September October November December

 

California's 2nd Annual Artisan Cheese Festival
Friday–Monday, March 7–10

Marin cheeses produced on land protected by MALT will be featured at this gourmet event. Meet celebrated cheesemakers and sample artisan cheeses. The opening panel, emceed by Michael Krasny, features Jill Giacomini Basch of Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese. Also: cooking demos, cheesemaking classes, and special cheese-country tours. MALT benefits from event tickets sales. For more information and to register, visit www.artisancheesefestival.com or phone 707-283-2890.

LOCATION:  Sheraton Sonoma County-Petaluma Hotel, 745 Baywood Drive, Petaluma

 

Food & Farming on the Urban Edge:
Old and New Agriculture in Tomales
Sunday, March 16

Tomales has a long farming history and is also a center for new agricultural businesses. Start with a tour of the Tomales History Center, then meet at Town Hall to carpool for a driving tour before returning for presentations on new agricultural operations and local history. Hear from: Ted Hall, co-owner of Tomales Farm and Dairy; Dr. Tamara Hicks, co-owner of Toluma Goat Dairy; and Jennifer Donaldson of Crayne Ranch. Learn about new MALT easements on more than 1,200 acres in Tomales. Tea and snacks provided.

TIME: 1 P.M., Tomales History Center tour; 2 P.M., driving tour;
3 P.M.–5 P.M., Town Hall presentation
WHERE TO MEET: Tomales Regional History Center, 26701 Hwy 1; Tomales Town Hall, 27150 Hwy 1, Tomales.
COST: Free

 

Ranches & Rolling Hills: Art of West Marin—A Land in Trust
Book Launch Party

Sunday, April 13

Join us as we celebrate the official release of our new art book, Ranches & Rolling Hills: The Art of West Marin—A Land in Trust.  This book represents the special partnership between prominent California artists, family farmers, and Marin Agricultural Land Trust.  It also keeps alive the art and vision you experience at MALT’s annual Ranches & Rolling Hills landscape art show and sale.  This elegant, hardcover book contains over 135 full-color images selected from Ranches & Rolling Hills’ decade-long history.  Meet some of the featured artists along with author Elisabeth Ptak and art show co-founder Michael Whitt.  Local food and wine reception follows. Order your copy of Ranches & Rolling Hills: Art of West Marin—A Land in Trust now!

TIME: 2–4 P.M.
WHERE TO MEET:   Toby’s Feed Barn, Main Street, Point Reyes Station
COST: Free

 

Marché aux Fleurs Restaurant Earth Day Benefit for MALT
Tuesday, April 22

This repeat performance is not to be missed. Dine in the heart of downtown Ross at Marché aux Fleurs on the Ross Common, a restaurant that manages to be both down-home and sophisticated, all with a French accent. The five-course tasting menu features local, seasonal farm products sourced at the Marin Farmers' Market. Owners Holly and Don Baker (they also own AVA Restaurant in San Anselmo) have been supporting MALT in this way for a number of years. This dinner usually sells out, so make your reservation for seatings from 5:30 to 7:30, and be sure to mention that you want your dinner to benefit MALT. Reservations required. Call 415-925-9200.

TIME: 5:30–7:30 P.M.
WHERE TO MEET:  23 Ross Common, Ross
COST: $59

 

26th Annual Marin Human Race:
Saturday, May 10

Join friends and staff of Marin Agricultural Land Trust for the 26th Annual Marin Human Race.  We’d love for you to support farmland preservation by joining the MALT team.  90% of each dollar raised by our team is donated to MALT. The 5K race starts at the Avenue of the Flags and finishes at the Marin Center Fairgrounds.  Race Day also features a community fair at the fairgrounds and lagoon with music, food, prizes, and more. 

  • Get sponsors to donate to MALT on your behalf
  • You can walk, run, or roll in a wheelchair in this great event designed for individuals, groups, kids, and families that raises money for Marin’s nonprofits
  • Ask your company to match your sponsorships
  • Want to sponsor the team?  Make your check payable to “Marin Human Race” and mail it to MALT, PO Box 809, Point Reyes Station, CA  94956
  • Want to be part of our team?  Contact MALT Team Race Organizer, Candice Gold at 415-888-8293 or farmland@malt.org.  Support from local companies is welcomed.

TIME: 7 A.M.–11:30 A.M. (Race begins at 8:30 A.M.)
LOCATION: Marin Center Fairgrounds

 

Ranches & Rolling Hills: Art of West Marin—A Land in Trust
Panel Discussion and Book Signing
at Copperfield's Books, Petaluma

Friday, May 23

Join us as we continue to celebrate the release of our new art book, Ranches & Rolling Hills: Art of West Marin—A Land in Trust.  This book represents the special partnership between prominent California artists, family farmers, and Marin Agricultural Land Trust. It also keeps alive the art and vision you experience at MALT’s annual Ranches & Rolling Hills landscape art show and sale. This elegant, hardcover book contains over 135 full-color images selected from Ranches & Rolling Hills’ decade-long history. Enjoy an evening talk and book signing with author Elisabeth Ptak in conversation with ranchers and artists featured in this treasure of a book.

TIME: 7–9 P.M.
WHERE TO MEET:  140 Kentucky Street, Petaluma
COST: Free



Marin Winegrowers' Association

Pinot Noir Wine Tasting at Historic Escalle Winery
Saturday, June 14

Join us for the 4th annual Marin County pinot noir tasting, an inspired effort to preserve agricultural land in Marin County. Proceeds will benefit MALT. The limited production Marin County pinot noirs include some marquee names and some of California's most promising new faces: Corda Winery, Dutton-Goldfield Winery, Kendric Vineyards, Orogeny Winery, Pey-Marin Vineyards, Point Reyes Vineyards, Sean Thackrey, Stubbs Vineyard, Thomas Fogarty Winery, Vergari Wines, Vision Cellars, and Willowbrook Cellars. A wide selection of locally-produced foods will be offered.  Don't delay, this fantastic event sells out quickly. On-line registration only for this event at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/32277.

TIME: 2–7 P.M.
WHERE TO MEET: Historic Escalle Winery, 771 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur
COST: $50; valet parking & wine glass included.

 


PAST EVENTS


Taste of Marin

Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Marin Organic, and the Marin County Farmers’ Market will team up to create Marin’s premier dining event on Sunday, August 26, from 4–10 P.M. Taste of Marin features a wide array of local food and wine prepared and presented in the magical setting of St. Vincent’s in San Rafael. Created by MALT’s Constance Washburn in 1999, the event has grown in size and scale since we partnered with Marin Organic several years ago. This year, the Marin County Farmers’ Market Association joins in the production of this incomparable evening. Farmers from throughout the county will be on hand to talk about what they produce, while local chefs will be cooking up tastes of their specialties. The evening includes a silent auction, a live auction, and a special guest speaker. Wear your dancing shoes, too, so you can tap your heels to great music as the evening draws to a close.

 

Farmland Forever Dinner & Auction at Left Bank Brasserie

Left Bank Brasserie will host the 1st Annual Farmland Forever Dinner & Auction at their Larkspur restaurant on Sunday, October 14, beginning at
5 P.M. Proceeds from the event will help MALT preserve more Marin County farmland. Attendance is limited to 150 people.

Renowned chef Roland Passot of La Folie, Left Bank Brasseries and Tanglewood will create a special menu for the dinner featuring local, seasonal foods with a Grown in Marin theme. Tickets at $250 per person include a Farmer's Market and special tasting from local producers, followed by a sit-down dinner and auction.

We greatly appreciate the support of Left Bank Brasserie in creating and hosting this event to help MALT preserve more Marin farmland, says Executive Director Bob Berner. In the coming year alone, we have a unique opportunity to protect another 5,000 acres at a cost of close to $13 million. We can't achieve this goal without community support. This event will be a great boost to our efforts.”

MALT's work is vital to the survival of working farms in West Marin,” says Left Bank Brasserie Vice-president of Operations, Tom Bensel. “Our Bay Area restaurants depend on the availability of fresh, local food and wines. Our decision to host this dinner to raise money for MALT's programs is a testament to our commitment to ensuring continued access to healthy, local food not just now, but for future generations.”

 

Food & Farming on the Urban Edge
Marin Farmland & Family Histories
Sunday, November 4

Marin County farmers and ranchers have many stories to tell about their family’s history on the land. The history of how the land remained in agriculture or not is also a fascinating tale. Join: MALT founder Phyllis Faber; dairywoman and past MALT board member, Sharon Doughty; ranch owner and past board member Crawford Cooley; and historian Dewy Livingston for a presentation on Marin farmland and family histories. Crawford will talk about the Black (as in Black Mountain) family history. James Black was the first assessor of Marin County and in the 1860s he owned 44,000 acres. Who owns it now? Sharon Doughty will talk about the four generations of her farming family living in Marin. Phyllis will describe the founding of MALT. The Nicasio Historical Society will introduce its new book on the history of Nicasio. Enjoy afternoon tea and local food treats.



Food and Farming on the Urban Edge:
GGNRA: 75,000 Acres of Open Space, Wilderness & Farmland

Hear author and activist Amy Meyer, co-chair of People For a Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Her New Guardians for the Golden Gate: How America Got a Great National Park, tells how the park grew from an idea for a contained bit of green into a band that stretches from Tomales Bay to beyond the Golden Gate. She’ll be joined by Olema rancher Joanne Stewart, daughter of Boyd Stewart, an advocate for inclusion of farms and ranches in national parks. Also: GGNRA Superintendent Brian O’Neill and Charles Higgins of Slide Ranch discussing the importance of sustainable agriculture to the health of people and the environment. Local food and wine reception follows.


Ralph Grossi, President, American Farmland Trust, Discusses Food & Farming on the Urban Edge

Meet Ralph Grossi, a charter board member of MALT and a fifth-generation Marin rancher. Now president of the American Farmland Trust, he’ll update us on the state of agriculture around the nation and detail AFT’s Farm Policy Campaign and its vision for change in the 2007 Farm Bill: a vision of well-managed, protected farm and ranch land that provides open space, clean water, healthy food, wildlife habitat, and a renewed connectedness between the farm community and the rest of America. A reception of award-winning Marin cheeses, wines, and oysters will follow this talk at the landmark San Francisco Ferry Building, home to a nationally known farmers’ market and shops featuring many Marin farm products. Co-sponsored by the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA) and American Farmland Trust. Ralph Grossi’s 95-year-old father is one of the farmers profiled in Marin Farm Families—Stories & Recipes.


Ranches & Rolling Hills Landscape Art Show

On the third weekend of every May, the Ranches & Rolling Hills landscape art show and sale is held at the Druid’s Hall on the Village Square in Nicasio. The show features more than 250 images of natural and working West Marin landscapes including many of the 61 family farms that have been permanently protected by MALT.

More than 250 images of natural and working landscapes can be found at Ranches & Rolling Hills. A select group of artists and photographers capture the spirit of the farms, ranches, and open spaces of West Marin on canvas, paper, and film.

Curator Michael Whitt founded Ranches & Rolling Hills in 1998, along with Ray Strong, the dean of Santa Barbara's highly respected Oak Group. A former Marin resident, Strong studied and taught with Maynard Dixon at the Art Students’ League in San Francisco. A continuing inspiration to the Ranches & Rolling Hills artists, Strong always attended the show including his last in May, 2006, just prior to his death at the age of 101.

In all, 35-40 nationally known California artists participate, including Marin painters Ralph and Martha Borge, Willard Dixon, Timothy Horn, Susan Hall, Wendy Schwartz, and Zenaida Mott along with artists Arturo Tello, Glenna Hartmann, Meredith Brooks Abbott, Whitney Brooks Abbott, and other members of the Oak Group of Santa Barbara. Marin County lithographs donated to MALT by Russell Chatham are also available and may be purchased at any time in the Malt Shop.

Fifty percent of all sales benefit MALT’s farmland preservation program which provides a conservation alternative to the sale or subdivision of Marin farmland. Some of the Bay Area's most highly acclaimed dairy products and organic crops, including Cowgirl Creamery cheeses, Straus Family Creamery dairy products, and Point Reyes Original Blue cheese are produced from farmland protected by MALT conservation easements.

For more information about Ranches & Rolling Hills go to http://www.malt.org/hp/artshow.htm.