MALT STORIES

Coming Home: McIsaac Ranch

Coming Home:
J. McIsaac Ranch, Nicasio

The McIsaac family has been leasing this property to graze dairy heifers for 136 years. Jim and his wife Sue have recently managed to purchase the ranch and secure an agricultural conservation easement with Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT).

Looking to the Land to Mitigate Climate Change

LTA: Looking to the Land to Mitigate Climate Change

Date: April 18, 2018
Source: Land Trust Alliance: Saving Land magazine, Spring 2018
Author: Marina Schauffler

The accredited Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) in California helped launch the Marin Carbon Project (MCP) to see whether improved agricultural management practices, such as managed grazing and spreading compost on rangeland, could help soil take up more atmospheric CO2.

Can Dirt Save the Earth?

The New York Times: Can Dirt Save the Earth?

Date: April 18, 2018
Source: The New York Times
Author: Moises Velasquz-Manoff

MALT’s local and regional partnerships, including the Marin Carbon Project, have been recognized as a national model for collaborative, climate-smart conservation. Today, in partnership with the Marin Resource Conservation District (Marin RCD), the agricultural community and other stakeholders, MALT is playing a leading role in the development and implementation of Carbon Farm Plans across Marin including some of those featured in this New York Times article.

Measure A money helping to secure West Marin farmland

Marin IJ: Measure A money helping to secure West Marin farmland

Date: March 17, 2018
Source: Marin Independent Journal
Author: Richard Halstead

The preservation of West Marin land for agriculture is proceeding apace through a combination of Measure A funds and private donations to the Marin Agricultural Land Trust.

Beyond 51,000 acres: MALT protects Bianchini Ranch

In another triumph for sustainable agriculture in Marin, MALT finalized a conservation easement on the Bianchini Ranch, 705 acres of rolling hills, productive organic rangeland and forested habitat overlooking Tomales Bay.

Protected ranches provide coho habitat

In December 2017, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) was searching for various locations throughout the Walker Creek Watershed to release adult coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), part of an ongoing partner effort with Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) to increase existing populations of the once-abundant species in the watershed.

Milestone: 50,000 acres preserved

Milestone: Furlong Ranch, Marshall

Marin Agricultural Land Trust finalized an agricultural conservation easement deal on 609-acre Furlong Ranch in Marshall today, pushing the land trust over the halfway point toward its goal of protecting 100,000 acres, nearly all of the productive private farmland in Marin County. The easement ensures that Furlong Ranch will be protected from subdivision and development and will continue to be used for farming and ranching forever.

Access to Farmland: Black Mountain Ranch

Access to Farmland:
Black Mountain Ranch

Just east of Point Reyes Station, Molly Myerson of Little Wing Farm is in her first season of farming at her new location on the beautiful and diverse Black Mountain Ranch, protected by MALT since 1993. With a background in sustainable land use practices and small-scale farming, she was invited to work the land by owner Dave Osborn and his family. Black Mountain hosts several young farmers including Tabletop Farm and Living Seed Company.