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Marin
Agricultural Land Trust Spring 2005 “I Believe in MALT”
The Giacomini family has owned and operated a dairy on the ranch since 1959, turning it into one of the largest and most productive operations in Marin County. At one time they milked up to 500 cows a day. However, Bob Giacomini listened carefully when his daughters proposed doing something very different five years ago. “I was 60 years old and at a crossroads in my life,” Bob remembers. He had thought about getting someone else to run the ranch, had even considered selling. Instead, he and his wife Dean teamed up experienced cheesemaker Monte McIntyre and three of their four daughters to make blue cheese. Using milk from their own herd to create the specialty cheese at a time when artisanal products were gaining recognition, they quickly found an eager market for the product. “But it’s not just a cheese on the table,” notes daughter Lynn. “It’s a lifestyle for us.” She and her sisters Jill and Karen had successful careers in sales and marketing that had taken them far from the farm where they grew up. The new business enables them to spend part of each week back on the ranch working, while their own children play in the grassy yard with its view of Black Mountain or learn the word for “cow” from the comfort of their grandparents’ laps. Though Bob credits luck for some of their success,
their timing was very good. As concern about the dangers of some
mass-produced food has increased, “people want to know they’re
getting something fresh from the farm,” Jill says. The fledgling
operation has clearly benefited from the sisters’ hard work
and breadth of experience. The only classic-style blue cheese made
in California, Pt. Reyes Original Blue Cheese is also the only nationally
distributed farmstead blue cheese in the United States. A West Marin rancher for more than 40 years and
a former national Dairyman He also served for 11 years on MALT’s Board of Directors. “I believe in MALT,” he says. He and Dean decided to sell an easement because they are committed to preserving the ranch for future generations. They’re happy to have their daughters so involved in the business and thrilled that it’s brought the family closer together. “We have a great deal of respect for each other and for what they’ve contributed,” says Dean. “And we’ve got eight little cheesemakers coming up,” Bob adds, as one of them, granddaughter Corinna, bounces happily on his knee. 1980–2005: A Permanent
Commitment When Marin Agricultural Land Trust’s first Board of Directors convened in 1980, they knew they were setting in motion something that had never been attempted before. We’re trying to be as innovative as possible,” newly elected board chair Ralph Grossi said at the time. “We have lots of ideas, though not all of them may work.” One idea that did work was using agricultural conservation easements to keep farmland from being sold or developed. Ranchers could sell their development rights to MALT while retaining ownership of their land. As a result of the transaction, the landowner would be paid a price determined by an independent appraisal. The development rights would be extinguished, and the land could never be subdivided or used for non-agricultural development. The first board members, a mix of working ranchers and farmers, environmentalists, and other concerned citizens, felt some urgency. In the 20 years prior to MALT’s founding, 32,000 acres of ranch property had been lost to development. High density plans for the Tomales Bay area nearly had been approved by a pro-growth Board of Supervisors. And despite the fact that subsequent supervisors instituted planning policies to limit development to an urban corridor along Highway 101, those zoning regulations were subject to change. Led by dairywoman Ellen Straus and biologist Phyllis Faber, a
group formed to study alternatives. After considerable research,
they decided to create MALT, the first agricultural land trust in
the United States. They filed articles of incorporation on July
16,1980—25 years ago this summer. In January of this year, MALT acquired an easement on the Robert Giacomini Dairy, bringing to 54 the number of family farms and ranches in a conservation partnership with MALT. “Today, farmers and ranchers across Marin, such as the Straus, Sartori, Gale, and Giacomini fam ilies, are much more focused on local consumers and the higher value niche markets they represent,” said Ralph Grossi, now President of American Farmland Trust. “This was our hope 25 years ago when MALT was established—that once a family made a permanent commitment to the future of agriculture they would then turn their creative attention to developing sustainable, profitable operations. It is deeply gratifying to see it actually happen.” As we celebrate our first 25 years of preserving Marin County farmland, we salute those founding board members: Ralph Grossi; Ellen Straus; Phyllis Faber; Wil LaFranchi; Earl Dolcini; Rod Martinelli; Al Poncia; John Zimmerman; and Donald Rubenstein. They were convinced of the need to protect agriculture’s basic resource—the land—and they were willing to be conservation pioneers to do so. The reasons to save farmland in Marin in 1980—agriculture’s economic contribution to Marin, the proximity of our food-producing region to a large urban center, and the intrinsic value of the natural resource of the land itself—are just as compelling today. U.S. farmland is being lost at an ever-increasing rate. MALT plans to continue the efforts of our founding board, but we need the support of the entire community, both rural and urban. aintaining the stability and productivity of Marin County’s 167,000 acres of farmland should be a priority for everyone who lives in the Bay Area. Bob Berner’s He wanted to make conservation a career, but not in an urban setting.
When MALT advertised for an Executive Director, Bob jumped at the
opportunity. “To be presented with the possibility of working
for an organization involved in protecting the landscape that had
become my favorite place was very appealing,” he recalls.
This year marks the beginning of his third decade working with family
farmers and ranchers to protect Marin County farmland MALT’s long-term sustainability has been bolstered by the confidence of the agricultural community and financial supporters. “With Bob’s quiet competence, even hand, and reliable performance, MALT has earned the trust of all participants in its enterprise, without which it could not have succeeded,” said former board member Dick Davis. During Bob’s tenure, MALT has broadened funding sources by launching its first capital campaign, planning for the next campaign, and increasing applications to public grant programs. All of this suggests a promising future for MALT, one that Bob hopes will result in the protection of even more farmland. “Certain market forces, real estate prices, and economic forces that bear on the viability of agriculture are beyond our control. But I hope that MALT can ultimately protect most, if not all, of Marin’s ag land.” There is nothing flashy about Bob Berner. If you asked him, he would describe his style as “steady-as-you-go.” His work is houghtful, consistent, and deliberate—essential characteristics in the business of protecting farmland if you're striving for solid, long-term success.
MALT
Stories Celebrate Whichever talks you decide to attend, we encourage you to bring a friend who isn’t already a MALT member. We want them to learn more about Marin’s family farms and the food they produce and MALT’s efforts to keep the land protected and productive. In addition to the speakers, we’ll display photos of Marin farms and sample local food and wine. Finally, we want to make sure we have plenty of birthday cake on hand, so please pre-register by calling 415-663-1158. A complete listing of Spring Hikes and Tours. Celebrate MALT’s quarter century of farmland preservation. Co-founder Phyllis Faber will recall the political and environmental climate of 25 years ago that led to the creation of MALT, the first farmland preservation organization of its kind in the United States. She’ll be joined by these early board members: Ralph Grossi, now President of American Farm Land Trust; Earl Dolcini, past chair of the Farm Credit Council; Gary Giacomini, former 4th District Marin County Supervisor; and Al Poncia, Tomales rancher. Learn how MALT was conceived and what its founders and those who have followed in their footsteps have done to help preserve Marin County farmland. Time: 4–6 P.M. STAYING ON THE
LAND Why did Valley Ford ranchers befriend the artist Christo? How was a couple living in Hawaii reconnected to family land in Chileno Valley? What brought a woman born to missionary parents in China to a Tomales ranch? How did one dairy family decide to become winemakers? Got wine? Meet some of the people who have sold conservation easements as they tell their family stories and describe the reasons they partnered with MALT to protect their farmland forever. Learn about new enterprises and restoration projects undertaken to safeguard natural and agricultural resources. Speakers include: Leo and Rose Ielmorini; Hank Corda; Mike and Sally Gale; and Lois Parks. THE NEXT 25 YEARS In the first 25 years of its history, MALT has protected more than 35,000 acres of land on 54 family farms and ranches. Look with us into the future and imagine the challenges and opportunities ahead as Executive Director Robert Berner describes the farmland still threatened by non-agricultural development. Hear from the upcoming generation of ranchers and farmers living on properties protected by MALT in partnership with their parents as they talk about their own future plans. Speakers include: MALT board members Loren Poncia and Sam Dolcini whose fathers both served as founding board members; organic strawberry grower Russ Sartori; and Jill Basch, daughter of former board member Bob Giacomini, now helping produce and market the family’s Point Reyes Blue cheese.
“But I grew up in the country,” Tony recalls, “even living for a while on a dairy farm. I saw the importance of family farming then, and I've always believed the family farm is central to what’s best in America. Serving on the MALT Board gives me the opportunity to try to preserve and sustain that way of life here where I live now.” Tony and his wife Laurel began volunteering for MALT in 2000 after taking the training offered by the Education Department and have been energetic volunteers at many of our events and activities. He’s also provided his considerable legal expertise to MALT, volunteering his time to assist with development of agricultural conservation easement contracts. “Tony combines a great passion for Marin agriculture and landscape with his highly competent grasp of the complicated legal aspects of MALT easements,” noted Executive Director Bob Berner. “We’re very pleased to have him join the Board.” USF Graduate Students
In fact, Laura was working very hard—up to 60 hours a week or “till the work was done,” she recalls. That experience led to other internships at small farms throughout California until 1996 when she took a job in the Capay Valley at Full Belly Farm, an operation well-known for the quality and variety of its organic crops. There she learned more about farm operations and was involved in producing large-scale public events, and there she met her future husband who worked at a neighboring farm and was a fledgling cheesemaker. Laura and her husband now live in Petaluma where they have a herd of a dozen or so goats. Eric has become a cheesemaker at Cowgirl Creamery in Pt. Reyes. The two of them dream of one day owning a small farm of their own where they’ll raise goats and make cheese from the milk. In the meantime, she says working here and having an opportunity to connect urban dwellers and farmers and educate consumers about local agriculture. While she’s sure to spend some of her time out on the land, the job may be more like the business career Laura’s parents envisioned for her. “Okay,” she imagines them saying, “she works in an office.” Then she laughs, “I think they’ve accepted it now.” Member Survey: As MALT enters its 25th anniversary year, we are considering ways to improve our communication with you, our members. Since we have grown to more than 5,600 active supporters, it has become harder to speak to you individually to receive your feedback on the job we are doing. To assist us, two friends of MALT introduced us to Socratic Technologies, an independent market research firm located in San Francisco. The good folks there conducted a survey for us in 2001, which enabled us to fine tune our outreach, communications, and educational programming. They’ve now offered to help again, pro bono, so we can see if those changes have been effective. In March you’ll receive a confidential survey and a postage-paid envelope for your response. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. The results will enable us to know which issues and programs are of greatest interest to you. All surveys are mailed back to Socratic Technologies for tabulation. We know that many of you are computer-savvy, so if you prefer to respond on-line, you’ll have that option, too. The mailed survey will contain detailed information guiding you to a website location where you can easily complete the survey. Whether you fill out the survey on paper or on line, your answers are confidential. And everyone who helps us out by completing the survey has a chance to win a special basket of foods from West Marin farms and ranches. Now that’s reason enough to be looking for that survey in your mailbox! Do you enjoy shopping from the comfort of your home computer? Now there’s a way to do so and donate to MALT at the same time! A special on-line shopping site called iGive.com participates with more than 400 stores like Petco, OfficeMax, Lands End, Circuit City, Dell computer, Eddie Bauer, eBay, JC Penney, Hotwire, Priceline, and many others to direct a percentage of sales to selected nonprofits. Each time you shop, start at www.iGive.com
through their “Mall” or through the electronic iGive
Newsletter for access to participating stores. Membership is free.
Monies earned are disbursed monthly to MALT (or any other selected
cause). Be sure to check member options and the iGive FAQ section
for more information. While MALT does not directly endorse any of
the stores listed through iGive, we think you’ll find satisfaction
in knowing that some of your shopping dollars are benefiting an
organization you already support. Archived Newsletters Acrobat Reader is required in order to view PDF
documents. Year in Review
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Marin
Agricultural Land Trust has purchased a conservation easement on
the 714-acre Robert Giacomini Dairy, located just north of Point
Reyes Station. Clearly visible from State Highway One, Inverness,
and Point Reyes National Seashore, the property is an important
part of West Marin’s pastoral landscape. With its panoramic
views and dramatic location, it might easily have been targeted
by a developer for estate homes. MALT’s easement purchase
will protect the property permanently for agriculture.
Dressed
comfortably in bluejeans and a fleece jacket while seated at his
desk in MALT’s Pt. Reyes Station office, Bob Berner still
looks very much like the man who first hiked the trails of West
Marin more than 20 years ago. He was working then for The Foundation
for San Francisco's Architectural Heritage after having served in
the Washington D.C. office of The Nature Conservancy as Vice-president,
Finance. 
Marin
Agricultural Land Trust welcomed Tony Gilbert of Marshall to the
board of directors at its October meeting. Tony received his undergraduate
degree from Harvard and his law degree from the University of Chicago.
He spent most of his career with the firm of Cooley Godward, LLP,
counseling high technology firms in business law. He is currently
is Of Counsel with that firm.
Students
in Dr. Leslie Goldgehn’s MBA Marketing Class at the University
of San Francisco last fall had the opportunity to transform theoretical
concepts into real-world solutions by conducting a marketing audit
of Marin Agricultural Land Trust. Students first analyzed MALT and
its current marketing practices, and then used tools and methods
learned in class to develop recommendations for the organzation.
A field trip to West Marin introduced them to the real world of
agriculture. They’re pictured here at the Doughty Dairy in
Point Reyes with the owner’s niece Jolynn Mendoza who gave
them a tour at milking time.
Laura
Patterson has joined the MALT staff as a Development Associate,
bringing computer skills, event planning expertise, and an interest
in agriculture that began when she was a student at Grinnell College
in Iowa. Her interest was stimulated by classes on sustainable agriculture,
farm visits, and by meeting the people who cultivated the f fields
that surround the college. After graduation, she interned on a small
farm in California where she learned to plant, milk cows, make butter,
birth the sheep, and handle draft horses. “My family thought
it was just a phase,” she remembers. “They wanted me
to get out and start working,”