Hikes & Tours

Food & Farming on the Urban Edge:
The Edible Schoolyard

Join author Wendy Johnson, co-founder of the San Francisco Zen Center's Green Gulch Farm, for a tour of the Edible Schoolyard, a program of the Chez Panisse Foundation. The one-acre organic garden is a kitchen classroom for urban public school students. Wendy has been a mentor and advisor to the Edible Schoolyard since its inception in 1995. Observe kitchen and garden classes, tour the facility, and close with tea in the garden.

Space is limited. We do not keep waiting lists. Pre-registration required.

TIME: 1 - 4 P.M. Please be on time.
WHERE TO MEET: King Middle School, 1781 Rose Street, Berkeley (map).
WHAT TO BRING: Water, garden clothes, and shoes
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:
COST: $35/$45 non-members

Biking, Beef & Beer - Stemple Creek Ranch

Enjoy a 50-mile bike ride through the rolling hills of West Marin led by biker and fitness trainer Allan Reeves of France from Inside bike tours. Finish at the Poncia family ranch for a BBQ including their delicious grass-fed beef, locally-grown vegetables,and local brews and desserts. Learn about the ranch operations as you enjoy the food and views of the Tomales area. This is the perfect Marin Century training ride. Check out the route!

Not a cyclist? Join us from 12-2 for the BBQ and farm tour ($35).

Space is limited. We do not keep waiting lists. Pre-registration required.

TIME: 8:45 A.M. - 2 P.M. Please be on time.
WHERE TO MEET: 2525 Whitaker Bluff Road. From Tomales, take Hwy 1 north two miles to Whitaker Bluff Road, take left, drive ¼ mile to the first driveway on the left (map).
WHAT TO BRING: Helmets, layered clothing
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: (intermediate to experienced bikers)
COST: $50/$60 non-members, $35 lunch & farm tour only

Pinot Noir Tasting - Escalle Winery

Marin Winegrowers Association benefits MALT

Join us at the 6th 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: Dutton-Goldfield Winery, Kendric Vineyards, Orogeny Winery, Pey-Marin Vineyards, Point Reyes Vineyards, Sean Thackrey, Stubbs Vineyard, Thomas Fogarty Winery, Vergari Wines, Skywalker Ranch, Vision Cellars, and Willowbrook Cellars. A wide selection of locally-produced foods will be offered. Wine by the bottle and by the case will be for sale at a discounted price. Tickets available at the door.

TIME: 3:00 - 7:00 P.M.
WHERE TO MEET: Historic Escalle Winery, 771 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur (map)
COST: $50/valet parking and wine glass included

Nicasio Valley Cheese Company - Opening celebration

MALT members are invited to join the Lafranchi family as they celebrate the opening of their new cheese factory, the Nicasio Valley Cheese Company. Fred Lafranchi came to California from the small town of Maggia in Switzerland in 1910. His son Wilfred was on the original MALT board of directors, a position now held by his grandson Rick. With his brother Randy, Rick has brought a cheese maker from Maggia to make the Swiss-Italian cheeses of their heritage and develop some new cheeses that highlight the Nicasio terroir.

We will visit the new cheesemaking facility, tour the organic dairy, then sample cheeses and local wines on the deck of the Lafranchi family home. We will also learn about the origins of Marin's artisan cheese movement from one of its pioneers, MALT board member and Cowgirl Creamery co-owner, Sue Conley. Nicasio Cheese Co. is the latest cheesemaker (along with Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company and Barinaga Ranch) to join Cowgirl's ranks as an artisan cheese company. Inspired by their Italian heritage and the surrounding West Marin farmland, the Lafranchis have an impressive inaugural line up of four cheeses—Foggy Morning, Farmagella, Nicasio Square, and Black Mountain—which range from fresh to aged.

Space is limited. We do not keep waiting lists. Pre-registration required.

TIME: 1:00 - 4:00 P.M. Please be on time.
WHERE TO MEET: Nicasio Valley Cheese Co., 5300 Nicasio Valley Road, ¼ mile north of Nicasio Square (map)
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:
COST: $50 MALT members only

A Very Strawberry Family Day - Dolcinis' Red Hill Ranch

Visit the picturesque Dolcini Red Hill Ranch for a morning of activities that include berry picking, ice cream making, farm game playing, and shortcake eating. Feed the chickens and tour the vegetable fields. Additional strawberries, eggs, snacks, and veggies will be for sale at the farm stand.

Space is limited. We do not keep waiting lists. Pre-registration required.

TIME: 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. Please be on time.
WHERE TO MEET: Dolcini Ranch, 6970 Point Reyes-Petaluma Rd., ½ mile north of the junction with Novato Blvd. (map)
WHAT TO BRING: Water, lunch, layered clothing, sun protection
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:
COST: $20/$25 non-members; $10/$12 for children; free for children under the age of two

Straus Family Creamery
Partners' Dairy Tours

This year MALT is very excited to partner with the Straus family to offer tours to several organic dairies that supply milk to the Straus Dairy. These tours will be offered each season and are open to the whole family. Activities include feeding a calf, butter-making, and observing a milking parlor in action. See details for the Tresch Dairy tour below. Watch this website for additional tours.

Tresch Dairy - Straus Partner Family Tour

With almost 2,100 acres, 900 milking cows, and two milking parlors, Tresch Dairy is the largest of the Straus Dairy partners. Join Kathy Tresch for a tour, bottle-feed a calf, see cows being milked, and churn and taste butter. Take a hay ride to the heirloom apple orchard, taste Straus milk products and learn about sustainable agricultural methods and the important role farms play in preserving watersheds and wildlife habitat. Suitable for the whole family.

Space is limited. We do not keep waiting lists. Pre-registration required.

TIME: 1:30 - 3:30 P.M. Please be on time.
WHERE TO MEET: Tresch Dairy, 1170 Walker Rd., Petaluma. From Petalum take Washington Street to Bodega Ave. Travel eight miles, then bear right on Valley Ford Rd. Travel three miles and turn right onto Walker Rd. Ranch is located ½ mile on the left (map).
WHAT TO BRING: Shoes and clothes that can get dirty, water, snacks
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:
COST: $20/$25 non-members; $10/12 children; free for children under the age of two

Farm Fresh Cooking - Dolcinis' Red Hill Ranch

This cooking class features food and wine produced from crops grown on MALT-protected farms and ranches. Learn techniques for preparing and grilling grass-fed beef. Tour County Line Harvest Farm, located at the ranch, then turn freshly picked greens and strawberries into soups, salads, and desserts. Chef Susan Pridmore trained at Tante Marie Culinary School and teaches in San Francisco and Marin.

Space is limited. We do not keep waiting lists. Pre-registration required.

TIME: 10:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. Please be on time.
WHERE TO MEET: Dolcini Ranch, 6970 Point Reyes-Petaluma Rd., ½ mile north of the junction with Novato Blvd. (map)
WHAT TO BRING: A chef's knife, paring knife, cutting board
COST: $95/$110 non-members

McEvoy Olive Ranch

Tour Nan McEvoy’s 550-acre organic olive ranch, where 16,000 olive trees thrive in a spectacular valley near the Marin-Sonoma border. Walk among the orchards, learn about olive-growing, and tour the pressing facility to see how olives are transformed into oil. Afterwards, taste and purchase olive oil and a variety of related products

Space is limited. We do not keep waiting lists. Pre-registration required.

TIME: 9:45 A.M. - noon. Please be on time.
WHERE TO MEET: McEvoy Ranch, 5935 Red Hill Rd., 5 miles south of Petaluma (map)
WHAT TO BRING: Water, walking shoes
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:
COST: $35/$45 non-member

Gale Ranch

Celebrate MALT's 30th anniversary on the Gale's diversified ranch. Walk along Chileno Creek Ranch with Sally Gale, a fifth generation West Marin rancher. Hike the hills with Mike Gale to meet the grass-fed beef cattle that he raises and markets directly to consumers. Pick heirloom apples that we'll pair with local cheese. Learn why MALT, diversification, and direct marketing are essential to the survival of Marin family farms.  Eggs, apples, tomatoes, and beef will be for sale.

Space is limited. We do not keep waiting lists. Pre-registration required.

TIME: 9:30 A.M. - 1:30 P.M. Please be on time.
WHERE TO MEET: Gale Ranch, 5105 Chileno Valley Rd.(map)
WHAT TO BRING: Water, lunch, hiking shoes, layered clothing
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:
COST: $35/$45 non-member