marin agricultural

LAND TRUST NEWS

P R E S E R V I N G M A R I N C O U N T Y F A R M L A N D
Summer 2006 Vo l u m e 2 2 N u m b e r 2

GEOGRAPHIC STORIES OF WEST MARIN

ON DISPLAY AT PARK HEADQUARTERS
Farmland Protected by MALT Conservation Easement
Farmland Protected by Marin County Conservation Easement
Agriculturally-zoned parcels greater than 20 acres
Public Lands
Non-agriculturally-zoned land

The renowned Greek philosopher Anaximander of

Miletus was the first person to draw a map of the known world, and is
therefore considered by some to be the first mapmaker. We’ve come a
long way since the 6th century b.c.e. when Anaximander’s writings on
geography, astronomy, and cosmology were departures from the think-
ing of the time. Today, he himself might be thrilled to see what inno-
vative mapmakers can do with computer technology like Geographic
Information Systems (gis). “Geographic Stories of West Marin,” a
conference to be presented by the Pacific Coast Science and Learning
Center this spring, will be a great opportunity for the rest of us to see
the power and versatility of today’s maps to describe our world.
A number of organizations in West Marin produce maps to plan,
analyze, and describe the human and natural environments here.
Malt has relied on such maps as educational tools for many years.
You may have noticed them on our Hikes & Tours, in our malt
booth which travels to fairs, farmers’ markets, and schools, or dis-
played at special events like Taste of Marin, Harvest Day at the
Farm, or the Ranches & Rolling Hills Landscape Art Show.
While malt easement and stewardship program staff have been
creating maps in-house for some time, we recently expanded our gis mapping capacity with assistance from the Gordon and
Betty Moore Foundation, Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center staff, and especially the generous time and support of
cartographers at the Marin County Community Development Agency. We now have greater flexibility to create and adapt
maps that can tell the story of our mission, successes, and challenges, and the importance of agriculture to our county.
C O N T I N U E D PAG E F O U R

THE COLOR OF COWS

How now, brown cow—but why so few of them in
Marin County? The answer involves economics, environment
and, to a degree, successful marketing.
The cattle dotting our rolling hills are mostly black-and-white
Holstein-Friesians, the chief dairy animal in California. There
are many Black Angus, too, raised for beef and cross-breeding.
You’ll spot brown-and-white Herefords, also raised for beef, and
every once in a while someone experiments with an exotic
breed—Texas Longhorn, Brahman, Charolais, or Limousin.
What we seldom see in Marin are the “classic” picture-book
dairy breeds of Guernsey and Jersey. There’s a reason for that.
Paige Green

Holstein-Friesian is a Dutch breed, large and rugged and

sturdy. A market-weight cow will be as much as 1,250 pounds,
and a full-grown bull weighs nearly a ton. These typically
C O N T I N U E D PAG E T WO
 P E O P L E I N A G R I C U L T U R E

ON THE RANCH & IN THE KITCHEN

WITH MARIN FARMERS & RANCHERS
Marin Farm Families, Stories & Recipes was conceived by Alex Hinds, Director of
the Marin County Community Development Agency, as a supporting document to
the 2006 Marin Countywide Plan. Written by Barbara Marino with photographs by
Ken Smith, the book was designed by Susan Bercu and edited by MALT’s Elisabeth
Ptak. It profiles some two dozen ranching families and related businessmen and
women and pokes into their personal recipe files to offer up everything from David
Little’s Pouch Potatoes to Mamma Grossi’s Bread Soup. The book will be available for
sale for the first time at MALT’s display at the Marin County Fair this summer. Watch
for details in local newspapers and on our website, www.malt.org.

docile animals (though the bulls can be fierce; don’t tease them) are ideally suited for
COLOR OF COWS grazing on Marin’s grassy hills, as they have large middles and will consume large
C O N T I N U E D F R O M PAG E O N E amounts of forage. Significantly for California dairy farmers, the fat content of
Holstein milk is the lowest of any major dairy breed.
“With all the grass we have in West Marin, the English breeds like Hereford and Angus do really well because they were
originally bred to thrive on English pastures,” points out rancher and current malt Board chair Sam Dolcini. “Holsteins are
the workhorses of dairy breeds with a big engine designed to produce lots of milk. Jerseys are more like sports cars, with
smaller and higher-revving engines that deliver more performance in the form of protein and fat.”
The dairying counties of New England are where you’ll see fawn-colored Guernseys and Jerseys. The dairy industry there
produces high-fat-content milk for butter, cheese, and ice cream. The natural fat content of Guernsey milk is about five per-
cent; Jerseys produce milk with even more fat, about 5.3 percent. Both breeds are smaller than Holstein-Friesians, and graze
successfully on the rocky New England pastures.
In contrast, dairying in California since World War II has been chiefly a commodity industry structured to produce low-cost
milk for drinking rather than high-fat milk for processing into cheese and other dairy products. That’s why Holstein-Friesian
dominates here. While Marin cheese production has lately blossomed, this development is too recent and not yet large enough
to impact the choice of cattle. Elsewhere in California, commodity milk production is the primary feature of the dairy indus-
try, which means Holstein-Friesians are always readily available to California dairy farmers, including farmers in Marin.
Everyone knows that Black Angus produce flavorful, tender beef. We know this because of a highly effective marketing
campaign carried out by the Certified Angus Beef organization. “They’ve done such a good job that now a lot of the black
cattle you see aren’t Angus at all,” says Sam. “There are black Limousin and Gelbviehs too. Black is perceived by a lot of
people to be a color of quality, and breeders are responding to that.” Angus are good breeders, and they’re used as cross-
breeders not just to impart color but to improve milk quality and breed out horns. They carry the dominant gene for natural
“polling,” or hornlessness. Horns can cause bruises and other wounds in a riled-up herd.
The Hereford steer, with rusty brown on the sides
and back and white on the belly, face, and tail switch,
is one of the primary beef animals in the United
States. It’s a very old breed, originating from English
cattle raised in Herefordshire that were cross-bred
with Flemish cattle. They were originally used as draft
animals on English farms due to their enormous
strength and size of up to 3,000 pounds.
“Every once in a while someone tries something new
out here,” says Sam. “There are a few Shorthorns,
which is another English breed, in West Marin too.
There have been a few Longhorns on occasion, and
there are even a few Brahma cattle with the big humpy
backs out near Nicasio right now. If you find out what
Elisabeth Ptak

those cattle are doing out there, let me know!”

—Steve Bjerklie
2 M A R I N A G R I C U L T U R A L L A N D T R U S T
 WORKING LANDSCAPE INSPIRES
Ranches & Rolling Hills ARTISTS
Since 1998, a group of talented California artists has been illustrating Marin’s farmlands and open
spaces—its Ranches & Rolling Hills—for display in an art show and sale that benefits malt’s farmland
preservation program. This year’s event is set for Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21, at the Druid’s
Hall in Nicasio.
With the cooperation of local farmers and ranchers, the painters, printmakers, and photographers cap-
ture the working landscapes and views that might be threatened by development. Since the artists also
believe that art can act as an agent of change and because they are dedicated to helping preserve the land
that inspires their art, they contribute 50% of the income from sales to malt. So far, this artistic survey of
the contemporary rural landscape has raised more than half a million dollars for the purchase of conserva-
tion easements on Marin farms, permanently protecting them from non-agricultural development.
Over the years, the show’s reputation in the artistic
community has grown, and competition to be part of
the event is significant. Some 40 artists, many of them
with national reputations, participate each year. About
half hail from Marin and half represent Santa
Barbara’s Oak Group, started by renowned California
landscape painter Ray Strong (at the age of 101,
Strong is still an active participant in the show). Ray
also founded our show with curator Michael Whitt.
Without a doubt, artists have played an important
role in documenting the American landscape, from
the 19th century history of conquest to the conserva-
tion successes being illuminated by the artists of
Ranches & Rolling Hills. We hope you’ll stop by the
Druid’s Hall to experience the beauty of this unique
collection and support malt by making a purchase.
The show is open to the public at no charge on
Saturday, May 20, from 2–5 p.m. and on Sunday, May
21, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
NEW! Ranches & Rolling Hills Collection Series II:
The first greeting card set was such a success (it’s sold
out, in fact), we’ve created a brand new set. Cards are “Ranch” by Whitney Abbott
packaged in boxed sets of ten different images by participating artists. Pick up a box or two on May 20 or 21,
where they will be for sale for the first time. Art and card sales support malt ’s work of preserving Marin
County farmland.
—Elisabeth Ptak

SUMMER CAMPS LET KIDS EXPERIENCE FARM LIFE IN MARIN

Devil’s Gulch Ranch: Day camp with archery, swimming, hiking, crafts, helping out on a pro-
ductive working ranch. Ages 6–17. 707-953-0923 or www.devilsgulchranch.com

Slide Ranch: Day camp with animal, garden, and environmental activities. Ages 5–12; junior
counselors age 13 and up. 415-381-6155 or www.slideranch.org

Walker Creek Ranch: Residential camp in arts, ecology, garden, and animal care. Ages 9–12.
415-491-6602 or www.walkercreekranch.org

M A R I N A G R I C U L T U R A L L A N D T R U S T 3
PRESERVING FARMLAND WITH THE HELP
Rita Cummings, Director of Development
“It was a circuitous route,” says Rita Cummings, malt’s new
Director of Development, but she believes her connection with
West Marin and ultimately with malt, began in the Scottish
countryside where she grew up. “Scotland has so much natural
beauty. Sheep and dairy farming were all around,” she recalls.
Rita brings 25 years of senior marketing experience to her
position here. She helped develop innovative online bank-
ing programs for Bank of America and Wells Fargo, headed
up her own consulting company, and was Vice President of
Marketing and Business Development for wine.com until its
sale in 2001.
What came next was a consideration of the second half
of her life. “I wanted to do something that made a differ-
ence,” Rita says. Throughout her corporate career, she had
volunteered for the Women’s Foundation, ywca, Camp Fire
Girls, and other organizations working to prepare girls and
women for corporate leadership roles. She chaired several
giving and major gifts committees for these organizations.
For the past four years, Rita was Development Director at
the San Francisco Zen Center. Upon taking on that same
role for malt, she
says, “I treasure this
landscape, and I feel
inspired by the work
that malt does. It
really goes back to my
life in Scotland—the
black-faced sheep, the
cows. It really felt like
coming home.”
Rita Cummings and Katie Medwar
Katie Medwar,
Development Associate
With a degree in Natural Resources from Cornell, a love
of hiking, a natural curiosity about people, and experience as
an organic farm manager and fundraiser, Katie Medwar joins
malt as our new Development Associate. She seems partic-
ularly well-suited to support our fundraising efforts and to
help with special events, both of which can be daunting
tasks. “I’m an uphill person,” she proclaims.
Born in Connecticut, Katie spent childhood summers on
Cape Cod and loved being connected to a beautiful land-
scape, though she says now, “I just remember being dirty as a
kid.” She spent her junior year of college in Nepal where she
OF NEW STAFF
designed a research project that studied visitors’ perceptions
of Everest National Park.
Her studies at Cornell, a land grant university where con-
siderable agricultural research is conducted, led to an inter-
est in small farms. But her stint as a farm manager convinced
her of the difficulty of making a farming living. malt gives
her an opportunity to be connected to the land, she says,
and to get to know the people who have lived and worked
on Marin’s family farms for generations.
Katie calls herself a fledgling surfer and recently moved to
Bolinas, where she sometimes checks out the waves before
work. Afterwards, on her way to Point Reyes, she passes
through the historic pastoral Olema Valley, a verdant comple-
ment to the mosaic of farmland she’s now working to protect.
Barbara Petty, Director of Finance &
Administration
Fairfax resident Barbara Petty has
joined malt as Director of Finance and
Administration, a new part-time position
for the organization. A certified public
accountant with her own private practice,
Barbara’s expertise will enable her to
formalize financial policies and controls
for our increasingly complex operations.
“But without infringing upon malt’s relaxed,
friendly culture,” she is quick to point out. Barbara Petty
The descendant of pioneers who came by foot and cov-
ered wagon from Missouri to Santa Rosa in 1849, Barbara
takes preserving farmland very personally. One great-grandfa-
ther started the first dairy cooperative in the San Joaquin
Valley; another grandparent taught agriculture at UC Davis.
And growing up, she spent many happy days visiting a family
ranch in the Central Valley town of Newman. “As far as you
could see, there was agriculture,” she remembers.
After Barbara’s grandmother’s death, family members sold
the property to a developer to settle her estate, an increasingly
common scenario, but a decision that still saddens Barbara. Now
she looks forward to helping malt enable local farming families
to choose conservation over the sale of their property, and she
and her husband want their own young son to experience some
of what she knew as a child. “West Marin feels like it’s really a
part of me—a connection all the way back to those earlier gener-
ations. malt is a tie to the land and everything that feels good.”
—Elisabeth Ptak

Malt’s story is one of the many important chapters in the “Geographic Stories of
GEOGRAPHIC STORIES West Marin,” and we are pleased to have our map represented in the conference gallery
C O N T I N U E D F R O M PAG E O N E along with the good work of so many others. The mapmakers will be present to discuss
technical issues and content at a gallery open Marin Agricultural Land Trust News© is published
house at the Point Reyes National Seashore Red Barn Classroom at Park Headquarters quarterly by Marin Agricultural Land Trust, a nonprofit,
tax-exempt organization.
in Olema on April 22 from noon until 5 p.m. The conference maps will be displayed MARIN AGRICULTURAL LAND TRUST
there until June 30. —Tony Nelson PO Box 809, Point Reyes Station
California 94956-0809
4 M A R I N A G R I C U L T U R A L L A N D T R U S T
 M A R I N A G R I C U L T U R A L L A N D T R U S T

SUMMER
MALT HIKES & TOURS &
Our tours and talks this summer continue to explore the many ways that Marin’s farmers and ranchers define
TALKS 2006
sustainability—from diversifiying their production, to operating retail businesses, to going organic. Whether you’re a wine aficionado
interested in sampling local varieties or a parent looking for a farm field trip for the whole family, you’ll find a summertime solution here.
In the meantime, be sure to mark your calendars for the 2006 Taste of Marin. On Sunday, September 17, MALT and Marin Organic team
up once again to produce Marin’s premier food event at St. Vincent’s School in San Rafael. Meet local farmers and ranchers and watch
local chefs in action as they prepare products grown and produced right here in Marin. Details in our fall newsletter.
M ARIN AGRICULTURAL LAND TRUST
Post Office Box 809 Point Reyes Station, California 94956 415-663-1158 hikes&tours@malt.org malt.org

Mark Pasternak
MARIN WINEGROWERS’ ASSOCIATION PINOT NOIR FOOD & FARMING ON THE URBAN EDGE:
WINE TASTING AT THE HISTORIC ESCALLE WINERY HOW LOCAL FARMERS ARE SUSTAINING THEIR OPERATIONS
A BENEFIT FOR MALT Thursday, June 22
Friday, June 9 & Saturday, June 10 In the second of this series, learn how some of Marin’s family farmers are
Marin County Pinot Noir producers launch their newest vintages in an remaining sustainable by diversifying, direct-marketing, using innovative
inspired effort to preserve agricultural land in Marin County. The limited growing techniques, and going organic. Speakers include: Steve Quirt, UC
production selections include some marquee names and some of California’s Extension Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Advisor; Warren Weber, the
most promising new faces: Sean Thackrey; Pey-Marin Vineyards; Dutton- father of the California organic movement; and 5th generation rancher Jolynn
Goldfield; Stubbs Vineyard; Vision Cellars; Point Reyes Vineyards; and Mendoza who was raised on a Pt. Reyes dairy. Now she and her fiancé are work-
Corda Winery. A wide selection of Marin cheeses and other tasty locally- ing to convert his dairy to organic. Her mother, dairywoman Sharon Doughty,
produced foods will also be offered. Don’t delay; this fantastic event sold out will describe her family’s efforts to diversify to vineyards and wine production.
quickly last year. For information and on-line pre-registration for this event A local food and wine reception will follow. Pre-registration requested.
visit www.malt.org. Proceeds benefit MALT. TIME: 7:30 – 9:30 P.M. COST: Free
TIME: Friday & Saturday 5 – 8 P.M. COST: $30 / $40 non-members WHERE TO MEET: Caleruega Hall, 100 Magnolia Ave., Dominican
WHERE TO MEET:: Escalle Winery, 771 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur University, San Rafael
M A R I N A G R I C U LT U R A L L A N D T R U S T HIKES & TOURS Registration Form
Due to ongoing concerns about Foot-and-Mouth I would like to sign up for the following MALT Hikes & Tours:
Disease, we ask that individuals who have visited farms tour name # people date
outside the U.S.A. up to 10 days prior to events not par-
ticipate in farm tours. Weather can change quickly in $
West Marin. Bring a jacket for warmth, a hat for protec- $
tion from the sun, and a daypack for food & drinks. $
Most tours are not appropriate for young children.
✁ cut here ✁

Absolutely no pets allowed

Please check with MALT. For more detailed directions to
a Hikes & Tours meeting place, phone 415-663-1158,
I’d like to become a MALT member.
Monday – Friday, 9 A.M.–5 P.M. or visit www.malt.org $40 Individual $75 Supporter $100 Associate
$250 Sponsor Other $
Easy: Flat or very little slope in a
distance of less than one mile Total Enclosed $ Tours fill up at different rates.
Moderate: Varied, mild terrain for Please enclose a separate check
Separate checks for each tour are enclosed. Charge my credit card
one–five miles for each tour, or charge tours
Difficult: Steep terrain and/or over name card # & memberships to your VISA,
five miles Mastercard, or American Express.
signature expiration date
Family Tour: Activities appropriate Registration by mail only.
for a family Please complete other side of form.
 STRAUS DAIRY FAMILY TOURS
Thursdays, June 29 & August 17
Bring the kids to this family tour of the Straus
Dairy. You’ll be guided through the unique
organic farm on Tomales Bay, introduced to the
cows, given a chance to feed a calf, and last,
but not least, you’ll make your own organic
butter. Your family will discover where milk
comes from (they might be surprised!), sample
Straus products, and learn about all the food
products made from milk. The dairy will have
bio-security protocols in place to protect the
animals. Children must be at least 10 years old.
Pre-registration required.
TIME: Noon – 2 P.M.
WHERE TO MEET: Millerton Point parking lot,
5 miles north of Point Reyes Station. Carpool
to dairy.
WHAT TO BRING: Water, picnic, shoes that can
get dirty
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:
COST: $15 adults / $ 20 non-members;
$5 children ($45 families of 5 or more)
MEET MALT AT THE FAIR!
MARIN COUNTY FAIR
June 30– July 4
If you haven’t yet visited the MALT barn at the
Marin County Fair, you’re in for a treat! Our
beautiful red barn forms the entrance to the
agricultural area of the fairgrounds. Meet our
MALT volunteers there, and ask for a tour of
our display of historic and contemporary photos
of West Marin farms and ranches. Browse
through and purchase Marin Farm Families,
Stories & Recipes, a collaboration between
MALT and the County of Marin (see story on
page 2). Then step through the big double doors
into the barnyard where cows, pigs, and other
farm animals will catch your eye and grab your
heart. For details on entrance fees and times,
visit www.marinfair.org.
HOG ISLAND OYSTER COMPANY
& STRAUS DAIRY
SUSTAINABLE FARMING, UPSTREAM & DOWN
Thursday, July 13
Learn about oyster farming and water quality issues
as you tour Hog Island Oyster Company with
the owners. Sample freshly harvested bivalves
while enjoying views of the Inverness Ridge and
Pt. Reyes National Seashore. After eating your
own picnic lunch, tour the Straus family’s organic
dairy at milking time, sample their tasty products,
and learn more about the collaboration of those
upstream and down to enhance the water quality
of Tomales Bay. Pre-registration required.
TIME: 11 A.M. – 3 P.M.
WHERE TO MEET: Hog Island Oyster Co., Hwy. 1,
Marshall (10 miles north of Point Reyes Station)
WHAT TO BRING: Water, picnic, shoes that can
get dirty
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:
COST: $25 / $30 non-members
DEVIL’S GULCH RANCH
WINE TASTING & VINEYARD TOUR
Saturday, July 22
Mark and Myriam Pasternak raise premium wine
grapes, rabbits, poultry, sheep, pigs, asparagus, and
watercress. Their vineyards are among the oldest in
Marin and feature Pinot Noir grapes, plus small
groves of Chardonnay and Gewurztra-miner.
You’ll have an opportunity to taste a variety of fine
wines made from the Pasternaks’ grapes by
Dutton-Goldfield, Schramsberg, and Sean
Thackrey wineries. Pre-registration required.
TIME: 10 A.M. – 2 P.M.
WHERE TO MEET: 1/4 mile north of Nicasio
Square; park along fences in front of farm; car-
pool to ranch
WHAT TO BRING: Water, picnic, hiking shoes
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:
COST: $35 / $45 non-members
MCEVOY OLIVE RANCH
Fridays, July 28 & August 25
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 trans-
formed into oil. Afterwards, taste and purchase
olive oil and a variety of related products. Limited
to the first 40 reservations received by mail.
Pre-registration required.
TIME: 10 A.M. – Noon
WHERE TO MEET: McEvoy Ranch, 5 miles south
of Petaluma at 5935 Red Hill Rd. (aka D Street
Extension or Point Reyes-Petaluma Rd.)
WHAT TO BRING: Water, walking shoes
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:
COST: $15 / $20 non-member
SLIDE RANCH
FARM FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Saturday, August 5
Slide Ranch is an agricultural and environmen-
tal learning center housed in a historic former
dairy overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Children
and adults will have a chance to feed the chickens,
eat from the garden, milk a goat, hike the ranch,
and learn about our interdependence with all
things. Pre-registration required. Call Slide
Ranch at 415-381-6155.
TIME: 10 A.M. – 2 P.M.
WHERE TO MEET: Slide Ranch, 2025 Shoreline
Hwy. (Route 1), two miles north of Muir Beach
WHAT TO BRING: Water, picnic, hiking shoes
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:
COST: $15 / $60 per family of four or more,
(under 2 free), payable to Slide Ranch
DOUGHTY DAIRY
& POINT REYES VINEYARD
CHEERS TO WINE & MILK
Saturday, August 19
In 1990 Steve and Sharon Doughty’s love of
fine wines led to their planting a small vineyard
on eight acres of pastureland. The vineyard’s
success resulted in award-winning wines brought
forth from West Marin soils. They operate the
first commercial winetasting room in Marin
since the 1930s. We’ll sample a selection of five
wines: Champagne, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir,
Cabernet Sauvignon, and Viognier. Afterwards,
we’ll tour the dairy at milking time and learn
about its conversion to organic production.
Pre-registration required.
TIME: 12:30 – 4 P.M.
WHERE TO MEET: Point Reyes Vineyard Inn,
12700 Hwy. 1, two miles north of Point Reyes
Station.
WHAT TO BRING: Water, picnic, walking shoes
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:
COST: $35 / $45 non-member

M A R I N A G R I C U LT U R A L L A N D T R U S T HIKES & TOURS Registration Form

name(s)
Space is limited, and tours fill up
quickly. Registration is by mail
street only. Full payment is required, and
city state zip all participants must pre-register
✁ cut here ✁

by five days prior to event.

telephone email
Confirmations will be sent. Refunds
RELEASE OF LIABILITY: Each participant must sign. are given only if MALT cancels a
I am aware that accidents or injuries may occur during hiking and walking activities sponsored by Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT). I am tour or if tour is already full. Please
voluntarily participating in these activities. I hereby agree to accept any and all risks of injury on behalf of myself and any of my minor children
who may also participate in the activity. As consideration for being permitted to participate in this activity, I hereby release, discharge, waive, and be prompt. Events are timed around
relinquish any and all actions, causes of action, or claims for personal injury or damages that I, my assignees, heirs, and legal representatives may the farm’s or dairy’s work sched-
have now or hereafter against MALT or the property owner resulting from negligence or other acts, howsoever caused, by any employee, officer,
agent, or contractor of MALT or the property owner arising from my participation or my child(ren)’s participation in the activity. ules. We will be hiking and touring
on private property. You have per-
signature date
mission to enter for the hike or tour
signature date only. You may not re-enter at anoth-
Mail completed registration forms and signed release for each participant with checks made payable to MALT. er time. Absolutely no pets allowed.
Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Post Office Box 809, Point Reyes Station, California 94956 . 415-663-1158
 P R O T E C T I N G T H E F U T U R E

GIVING & GENEROSITY

As MALT’s new Director of Development, I want to say thanks to all of you who support the organization. We deeply
appreciate your help. I love fundraising, and I love encouraging giving in others. For me, giving is an expression of our val-
ues and our commitment. Giving is a way to connect ourselves to others and to express directly what matters most to us.
And in this way, it is transforming for both the giver and the recipient.
I’ve been reading several books recently about giving. They include Lewis Hyde’s classic book The Gift, and more recent-
ly a book called The Soul of Money by Marin resident, Lynne Twist. I also recently heard Lynne speak to a group of
Development Directors. She was inspiring because she talked about money in a different way—one that reflects my own
beliefs and understanding:

It could be said that a great fundraiser is a broker for the sacred energy of money, helping people use the
money that flows through their lives in a useful way that is consistent with their aspirations and hopes for
humanity... No matter how much or how little money you have flowing through your life, when you
direct that flow with soulful purpose, you feel wealthy…When you let your money move to things you
care about, your life lights up. That’s really what money is for.

Becoming a member of malt is a way to express your values directly. It says that you care about preserving the beautiful
landscape of West Marin for all of us and for future generations. It also says you care about the food produced right here—
from the local milk you purchase at your supermarket, to locally grown lettuce, vegetables, and berries, to yogurt, cheese,
and olive oil—and the farmers and workers who produce them.
Your gift to malt allows us to purchase conservation easements on local farms and ranches to preserve the land for agri-
cultural use and protect the landscape from future development. Ranchers considering malt’s conservation option are com-
ing to us in numbers we haven’t seen before. There’s a window of opportunity to permanently protect these lands as the
younger generation of farmers takes over. Your gift to malt is an investment that we put to work right away.
As you drive or bicycle through West Marin, you can see how your membership makes a difference. You know you can
depend on the land. It endures. With your gift we become collaborators and partners invested in making the dream of
farmland forever a reality.
If you are not yet a member, I hope you will join us in this important cause. If you are already a member, please drop
me a line about why you joined and what malt means to you. I’d like to share those messages in future newsletters. You
can contact me by email at rcummings@malt.org or by regular mail at malt, Box 809, Point Reyes, CA 94956.
—Rita Cummings

Total Total
Acres Family Farms
Year Protected Protected Easement Program Update
1908 MALT founded
1985 6,605 4 One of the most important uses of our newsletter is to introduce you to the family farm-
1990 12,864 14 ers who choose to keep their property farmland forever by selling an agricultural con-
servation easement to MALT. Though this issue doesn’t contain news about a recent
1995 25,503 38
easement purchase, we wanted to let you know that we are working hard on a num-
2000 29,811 43 ber of active and potential projects. In the coming year alone, MALT has the opportu-
2005 38,000 57 nity to protect almost 4,000 additional acres of farmland in West Marin—at a cost of
almost $10 million. So stay tuned. We’ll be keeping you posted on all of these efforts
To learn more about Marin family to protect more of Marin’s farmland. And we’ll be asking for your help!
farms and the food they produce
visit malt.org

M A R I N A G R I C U L T U R A L L A N D T R U S T 7
 Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PA I D
Marin
A g r i c u l t u ra l
L a n d Tr u s t
P R E S E R V I N G M A R I N C O U N T Y F A R M L A N D

M ARIN A GRICULTURAL L AND T RUST

Box 809 Point Reyes Station California 94956
malt.org

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

NEW! S ERIES II
MALT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sam Dolcini, Chair Rancher, West Marin
Warren Weber, Vice-Chair Organic Farmer,
Bolinas

MALT Stan Gillmar, Secretary

Doug Moore, Treasurer
Attorney, Inverness
Businessman, San

Presents Janeann Erickson

Phyllis Faber
Francisco
Bob Bingham Investment Advisor, San Francisco
Rancher, Tomales
Biologist, Mill Valley
S E R I E S II Anne Flemming Community Volunteer, Ross
Ranches & Rolling Hills Callection Tony Gilbert
Joe Gillach
Lawyer, Marshall
Businessman, San Francisco
MARIN AGRICULTURAL LAND TRUST Chris Kelly Conservationist, Larkspur
Steve Kinsey Marin County Supervisor,
4th District
Jim McIsaac Rancher, Novato
Tim Nunes Rancher, Point Reyes
Loren Poncia Rancher, Tomales
Lynn Giacomini Stray Farmstead Cheese
Producer, Point Reyes Station
Bill Zimmerman Rancher, Marshall

STAFF
Robert Berner, Executive Director
Aimee Crawford, Easement Program Manager
Rita Cummings, Development Director
Laura Holter, Bookkeeper
Katherine Landreth, Office Manager
Katie Medwar, Development Associate
Tony Nelson, Stewardship Coordinator
Boxed set of 10 full-color greeting cards with envelopes Boxes @ 15.00 each = $ Laura Patterson, Membership & Database Manager
Barbara Petty, Director of Finance & Administration
Elisabeth Ptak, Associate Director/
Shipping/Handling: Add $5.00 per order Director of Outreach
Total $ Leah Smith, Education Associate
Constance Washburn, Education Director
My check payable to MALT is enclosed Charge my VISA Mastercard American Express
MARIN AGRICULTURAL LAND TRUST is a
name Marin Agricultural Land Trust private, member-supported, nonprofit organiza-
tion created in 1980 by a coalition of ranchers
street Post Office Box 809
and environmentalists to permanently preserve
city state zip Point Reyes Station, California 94956 Marin County farmlands for agricultural use.
telephone: email 415 663 1158 MALT eliminates the development potential on
card # expiration date farmland @ malt.org farmland through the acquisition of conserva-
tion easements in voluntary transactions with
signature malt.org landowners. MALT also encourages public
Editor: Elisabeth Ptak. Graphic design: Gay Stack. Printed with soy ink on recycled paper. N222 policies which support and enhance agriculture.