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Opinion
A terrific reminder of that success is MALT's recent acquisition of an agricultural conservation easement over the Robert Giacomini Dairy, a 714-acre ranch that is part of the wide-open scenery along Highway 1, just north of Point Reyes Station. Giacomini, a long-time supporter of MALT, said he decided to sell the ranch's development rights in order to preserve the ranch for future generations. In recent years, Giacomini's dairy has diversified into the headquarters for Point Reyes Original Blue Cheese, a business started by three of the rancher's daughters and one that he hopes will be continued by his grandchildren. That's what MALT is all about and why it has been successful in preserving Marin rolling ranchlands protecting family farms and productive agricultural lands from the ever-present pressures of residential development. Over the past 25 years, MALT has protected 35,000 acres across West Marin while providing economic opportunities to enable 53 family farms and ranches to stay in business and weather other financial pressures. The prevailing concern has been that each family ranch that goes out of business is a setback for the economic health of agriculture in Marin. MALT helps provide the economic and environmental protection that keeps agriculture a healthy slice of Marin's economy. As in past efforts. MALT was able to piece together private and public grants to raise the $1.8 million to acquire the Giacomini Ranch's development rights. The financial wherewithal was a combination of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation's $1.1 million grant and a $750,000 contribution from the California Coastal Conservancy. It is an acquisition that clearly benefits the local economy, the Giacomini family and Marin residents' longstanding interest in protecting its scenic West Marin ranchlands.
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