The Local Food Movement in West Marin
How Our Farm Country Was Saved
When our father settled here in 1941, this area was the "milk shed" for the whole region, with about 150 dairies in Marin alone. By the late 1980s, just a few dozen were left.
In 1980, our mom and her friend Phyllis co-founded the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT). Their low-cost conservation model protected large stretches of farmland from sprawl. It also helped spark a new generation of ranchers leading the way in regenerative farming, organic food, artisan cheesemaking and land stewardship.
In 1992, our parents sold conservation easements on our ranch to MALT. They put that money into the risky move to certified organic farming. That move led to Straus Family Creamery, the first organic dairy west of the Mississippi.
Our pastures have been certified organic since the early 1990s. Today we lease them to Bivalve Dairy, whose heifers graze here seasonally. We also take part in the Marin Carbon Project and California's Healthy Soils Initiative.
Partial List to Whet Your Appetite
Here are some of the farms and makers that make West Marin such a delicious place.
Cheese and Dairy
Cowgirl Creamery: Founded in 1997 by Sue Conley and Peggy Smith to celebrate organic practices and local, sustainable farming. Its cheeses include Mt Tam and Red Hawk.
Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company: A fourth-generation family farm overlooking Tomales Bay, where you can taste cheese and tour the farm. It is known for its Original Blue, along with Toma and Gouda.
Nicasio Valley Cheese Company: Made by the Lafranchi family on their certified organic ranch in Nicasio. The family started its dairy there in 1919 and its cheese company in 2010, using recipes from Valle Maggia in Switzerland.
Shoot - there was some organic dairy ... what was their name??
Meat, Eggs and Farms
Marin Sun Farms: Grass-fed, pasture-raised California meat and eggs.
Devils Gulch Ranch: A diversified family farm in Nicasio. It raises rabbits, heritage chickens, quail, pigs, sheep and goats, and grows wine grapes.
AppleGarden Farm: A working farm and cidery in Tomales. They grow apples, raise hens and make AppleGarden Hard Cider, and they host guests in a farm cottage.
Mead and Wine
Heidrun Meadery: Makes naturally sparkling meads, which are wines made from honey, using the traditional French Champagne method. Its Point Reyes Station farm, once a dairy, is now planted with flowers to feed its honeybees.
Point Reyes Vineyard Inn & Winery: Its website says it is temporarily closed while the property is sold.
Bread and Pantry
The Wild Pear Company: Fruit jams, jellies and marmalades, including low-sugar and no-added-sugar kinds, plus savory and spicy jams.
Brickmaiden Breads: One of our local bakeries in Point Reyes Station.
Additional Resources
California Cheese Trail - visit a local cheese maker! (developed by none other than ... Vivien Straus!) Its trail map helps you find nearby farms, cheesemakers and cheese shops.
During the COVID shutdown, Michael and Vivien also launched California Cheese Trail Home Delivery, to bring new sales to small artisan cheesemakers.
Want to meet more of the makers? Read our blog post Meet Your (Food) Makers.
Curious how the ranch and the creamery are related? Here's the longer answer.