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Spring
2002
The dairy, with 326
acres in Marin County and 1237 acres in Sonoma, is located on the
banks of Americano Creek which flows into Estero Americano. In January,
the Marin portion of the operation became the 46th ranch to be permanently
protected from non-agricultural development by a Marin Agricultural
Land Trust conservation easement. Financed by a grant of $395,000
from the California Coastal Conservancy and $127,600 from contributions
to MALT's capital campaign, the easement brings to 30,655 the total
number of Marin farmland acres now preserved. The property is jointly
owned by the Ielmorinis, their nephew Steve Moody, and his wife
Jeannie. Jeannie grew up on a small farm in Cotati, and ever since
Steve was a little boy from Rio Vista visiting his Aunt Rose and
Uncle Leo during summer vacations, he's wanted to be a rancher.
"They put me to work," he remembers now, "but I also
got the run of the ranch." Steve's love of the
ranching life and the open spaces that go along with it never changed.
When he graduated from high school in 1978, he came to live with
the Ielmorinis, while completing a degree in Agricultural Business
at Santa Rosa Junior College. It was just natural for him to begin
to work in partnership with his uncle. "He's the son we don't
have," says Leo. This month that relationship was sealed with
the sale of the easement to MALT that allowed Leo, Rose, Steve,
and Jeannie, to purchase the 326 acres the Ielmorinis have leased
for 47 years. "MALT's program was a great opportunity to help
us finance the purchase price and keep open space for generations
to come," Steve, the father of two young boys, says. The Ielmorini-Moody
project is unique because it was completed in combination with sale
of a conservation easement to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation
and Open Space District on the ranch's Sonoma acreage across Highway
One. Sale of both easements helped the two families finance the
land's purchase and will enable them to improve their operation
which includes replacement dairy heifers and a herd of 100 beef
cows in addition to 300 milking cows. In a rain-fed pond on the outskirts of the ranch, a flock of snowy egrets keeps company with dairy heifers grazing nearby. A red-tailed hawk soars overhead. Leo laughs when friends ask them why they want to live in the boondocks. He points out that things have changed quite a bit since he and Rose began their married life here in 1954. You can't drive cattle across the highway any more, and taking a tractor out on the road on weekends is risky business, but the Ielmorinis, and now their nephew's family, can't imagine living anywhere else. After nearly 50 years making his living raising livestock here, Leo admits, "It kinda grows on you." Then he adds, "What I like about MALT is that when we're gone, the ranch is still going to stay in agriculture of some type. It's insurance." Inquiring minds at Marin
Agricultural Land Trust wanted to know what MALT members think about
the work we're doing to preserve Marin County farmland. Though we've
met many of you personally over the years, we were interested in
taking an even closer look at exactly what motivates you to support
our efforts, and we wanted to give you an opportunity to tell us
how you think we can improve our programs, activities, and communications.
"This is the first
time in our 21-year history we've undertaken such a comprehensive
study," noted Executive Director Bob Berner. "We'll use
what we've learned to improve activities and communications as well
as boost member retention and recruit new members. More than that,
though, you've given us a clear signal that you believe the preservation
of Marin farmland is vital." In September 2001, two
MALT volunteers, Joe Gillach and Jim Drummey, we introduced us to
the San Francisco-based marketing research firm Socratic Technologies,
Inc. which agreed to create and analyze a survey pro-bono. The two
organizations worked in tandem throughout September and October
to create a 28-question survey. The objectives of the questions
were varied, ranging from learning your main reasons for supporting
MALT, to determining which activities you engage in while in West
Marin. MALT and Socratic mailed
the confidential questionnaire to our 5,000-plus current member
base, as well as to some 2,300 lapsed members. In an outstanding
response rate by normal standards, nearly a quarter (about 1,200)
of current members completed the survey. Throughout November and
December, completed surveys flooded the Socratic offices where they
were tallied and analyzed. Because 83% of you told us you're faithful
readers of our newsletters, we'd like to share some highlights here
first: Significant differences
lie in the ways Marin Residents vs. Non-Residents report hearing
about MALT for the first time. Marin Residents more commonly report
friends or family as their original source of learning about MALT
(37% vs. 24% for Non-Residents), while a greater proportion of Non-Residents
report correspondence/mailings from MALT as their first contact
(19% vs. 10% for Marin Residents). This suggests that direct communication
from MALT to people outside Marin is an effective means of gaining
new members, while word-of-mouth travels efficiently within Marin. Ninety-three percent
of those surveyed are "very" or "extremely satisfied"
overall with MALT. Not surprisingly, those who describe themselves
as "Avid Supporters" tend to be more satisfied with MALT
overall than do "Casual Supporters" or "Lapsed Supporters."
In total, respondents are generally most satisfied with MALT's efforts
to protect farmland from development. Interestingly, the majority
of respondents were not West Marin residents. Two-thirds (67%) of
Current Members indicate they are "Visitors Only," as
are 63% of Lapsed Members. The most popular activities
respondents engage in while in West Marin include Hiking/walking
(87% Resident, 81% Non-Resident) and Shopping/dining (69% Resident,
62% Non-Resident). Twenty-eight percent of respondents participate
in MALT-sponsored activities. Over two-thirds (69%)
of the respondents are over age 55, while only 2% are under 35.
MALT's membership tends to be highly educated, with nearly 9 out
of 10 respondents (89%) holding at least a bachelor's degree. Over
40% of respondents are retired. One lucky survey respondent, Marjorie Hoversten, was selected in a random drawing as the winner of a beautiful framed photograph of Marin by Richard Blair. Congratulations, Marjorie! And thanks to Socratic Technologies for its generous pro-bono contribution of time and expertise, to all the volunteers who assisted on it, and to all who participated in this valuable study! Look for more results in future newsletters.
You saw it here first! With the enthusiastic participation of MALT supporters George Lucas, Russell Chatham, Anne Lamott, Alice Waters, and Bob Weir, the pro-bono professional services of N2O Advertising of San Francisco, landscape photography by Marty Knapp, and the invaluable help of MALT volunteers Joe Gillach, Claire Myers, and Martha Greer, we are launching our first ad campaign to reach out to those who are not yet aware of our farmland preservation program. We think the series of five ads, each featuring one of the above celebrities, will be a great success, but we need your help. If you are able to assist in any way in finding pro-bono placement in local or national publications or outlets, please contact eptak@malt.org or phone 415-663-1158, ext. 2.
The 294-acre ranch,
protected by a MALT easement since 1992, is leased to a sheep rancher
who, coincidentally, has an easement on his own nearby ranch. Both
owner John Mitchell and lessee Bill Jensen were enthusiastic about
working with MALT to fix the eroding channel. "Any time we
can take on a project to improve the condition of the land, it's
worth it," said Jensen. "It's a way to show how much we
care." As the children learned
that day, the gully drains into Keys Creek, a tributary of Walker
Creek, then out to Tomales Bay. Erosion and sedimentation from a
variety of sources have degraded spawning habitat in the creeks
for steelhead trout and coho salmon, both listed as threatened under
the Federal Endangered Species Act. Repairs to the gully can positively
impact threatened fish populations while reclaiming valuable grazing
land. The project began with
a conceptual drawing donated pro-bono by Valley Ford Civil Engineer
Lee Erickson and a $15,000 grant from the California Forest Stewardship
Program. In spring 2001, earthmoving machinery sloped back the nearly
vertical banks. Rock was brought in to armor the channel, and an
underground pipe laid to carry water from a culvert under Dillon
Beach Road. Finally, the entire area was fenced to keep out curious
animals until the plantings are established. Projects like this often
begin through conversations with easement landowners during fall
monitoring visits. MALT's stewardship coordinator discusses land
management and conservation options with landowners faced with erosion
or weed problems, then works with the operator to find solutions
and/or links interested ranchers with groups working on these issues.
Major work on the gully is now complete, and native seed the children planted lies dormant under a layer of straw. But heavy rains this winter are putting the repair to the test. Although we use our experience, best judgment, and even earthmoving machinery to try to improve range conditions and restore our local streams, we are constantly reminded of all that is not in our control-a valuable lesson that, for these schoolchildren, began in the third grade. —Susan Kester
As the fastest growing segment of
the U.S. food industry, organic production in places like the Central
Valley has reached the agri-business scale. In Marin, 28 registered
organic producers are farming more than 357 acres, producing crops
valued at $3.2 million. And now Marin Organic, a new local marketing
group, is on the cusp of launching a labeling program that will
clearly identify Marin-grown and -produced organic products. Sue Conley, a member of the MALT
board of directors and a founding Marin Organic board member, is
particularly excited about the labeling program. "This is truly
groundbreaking work. It has the potential to substantially boost
organic food sales within Marin," said the local cheesemaker
who creates her award-winning cheeses with Straus organic milk. Several other things have occurred
that should help local organic growers, too. The USDA's National
Organic Program sets federal requirements for producers to meet
the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. Meeting those standards
requires a lengthy and sometimes expensive certification process.
But now local producers can be certified at a much lower cost by
the Marin County Agricultural Commissioner's office. Marin is one
of the first counties in the state to offer such a program. In addition,
Ellie Rilla, Director of UC Cooperative Extension, announced in
January that the County has hired an advisor to aid conventional
agricultural producers interested in transitioning their operations
to organic. "Steve Quirt will serve as a resource for farmers
with the business management side of organic production and also
provide guidance on farming practices such as biological pest management
and non-chemical alternatives," she said. As Marin Organic continues to diversify its marketing strategies, you're likely to see and hear more about the agency. For now, buy from farmers sporting the attractive green and white signs on their booths at next summer's farmers' markets, visit MALT's 3rd annual Taste of Marin in June, and look for Marin Organic labels in the produce section at regional grocery stores. For more information, contact Program Administrator Wendy McLaughlin at 415-663-9667, or email wendymclaughlin@earthlink.net. —Abbie Walther
Proceeds from sales benefit MALT's
farmland preservation program. In its first four years, the event
has raised over a quarter of a million dollars for the purchase
of agricultural conservation easements. Curator and MALT member Michael Whitt
founded Ranches & Rolling Hills in 1998, along with Ray
Strong, the 97-year-old dean of the highly respected Oak Group of
painters. Strong, a former Marin County resident, studied and taught
with Maynard Dixon at the Art Students' League in San Francisco.
He now lives in Santa Barbara. Elisabeth Ptak of MALT is the coordinator
of the show. Ranches & Rolling Hills
artists were some of the first in the nation to recognize the importance
of trying to help preserve the land that inspires their work. It's
the only show to focus specifically on farmland preservation and
to feature paintings depicting many of the 45 family farms that
have been permanently protected by MALT among the nearly 250 works
of art for sale. In all, 35 nationally known California
artists will participate, including Marin County artists Ralph and
Martha Borge, Willard Dixon, Susan Hall, and Thomas Wood along with
the Oak Group which includes Marcia Burtt, Glenna Hartmann, and
Arturo Tello. Marin County lithographs by Russell Chatham will be
sold again this year, and several new artists will join the show,
including guest artist Ann Hogle, adding new techniques and styles
to the mix of past years. Invitations to the preview show and luncheon will be mailed to MALT members in March. Ranches & Rolling Hills is open to the public at no charge from 2-5 P.M. on Saturday, May 18, and from 11 A.M.-5 P.M. on Sunday, May 19, 2001. For information phone 415-663-1158, or visit our web site, www.malt.org. Following this year's show, Oak Group artist Michael Drury will lead a 4-day plein air painting workshop at the Gale Ranch in Chileno Valley which is protected by a MALT easement. For information and fees, contact Sally Gale at 707-765-6664. MALT's
Board of Directors has endorsed Proposition 40, the California Clean
Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection
Act of 2002, slated for the March 5 state ballot. If passed, it
will provide $2.6 billion to protect drinking water, air, and beaches
from pollution, to protect coastal and agricultural land threatened
with development, and to provide kids safe places to play. Proposition
40 includes $40 million for grants to Bay Area land conservation
programs and projects like MALT's and $75 million for the preservation
of agricultural and grazing lands. Proposition 40 does not raise taxes, and it is supported by a broad coalition of civic, senior, business, labor, education, environmental, conservation, community, agricultural, and water resource organizations. See www.voteyeson40.org for full information and endorsement list. We urge our members to vote YES on 40. Back to Top We have been viewing the splendid West Marin hills from our Inverness home for 26 years...there is endless peace and nobility, much of it due to MALT's ongoing efforts. We are thankful. One MALT member attached the above
note to a gift of stock for the Campaign to Save Marin's Farmland,
our three-year initiative to raise funds to purchase agricultural
conservation easements. Over 500 MALT members clearly felt the same
way and helped us meet our campaign goal of $5 million from private
sources in November, 2001! An additional $2.5 million challenge
grant was provided by the Marin Community Foundation. Because of a number of large donations,
the average gift was $10,000. More than 60 people gave appreciated
securities. Proceeds from four Ranches and Rolling Hills
art shows were dedicated to the campaign, for a total of $253,000.
Twenty-five foundations made grants totaling over $600,000. Since the campaign began in 1999, MALT has invested $1.4 million of these contributions, along with funds from public sources, to preserve 4,750 acres of threatened farmland. With new easement projects on the horizon, contributions from Marin and Bay Area citizens will continue to be essential as we work to ensure that Marin farmland stays farmland...forever!
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