Marin Agricultural Land Trust

06/05/2026

How do we protect and scale solutions for the land and sea we call home? 🌊🌾

Join our own Lilly Verdone for the next Sonoma Sunday Supper Series on June 28th for an evening of stimulating conversation, community, and incredible local food. This month's program, STEWARDING PLACE, brings together two incredible local leaders at the intersection of science, conservation, and community:

✨ Lily Verdone, Executive Director of the Marin Agricultural Land Trust
✨ Bill Sydeman, President & Chief Scientist of the Farallon Institute

Set at the gorgeous 63-acre Asombrosa estate just outside Petaluma, the evening kicks off with a self-directed tour of the gardens, forest, and labyrinth, followed by local beverages from Barber Cellars. We'll then gather for a beautiful, communal buffet dinner by chef Stephane Saint Louis of Bijou Restaurant. 🍽️🥂Let’s come together in community to explore our collective sense of place.

📅 When: Sunday, June 28 | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Where: Asombrosa, Petaluma, CA🎟️ Tickets: Seating is limited! Grab yours at the link in our bio.

06/05/2026

Those few pennies at the register are doing some pretty big things for our backyard.
Thanks to Marin’s Measure A, we’ve been able to partner with the county to protect over 11,000 acres of farmland so far. That means more room for wildlife to roam, more carbon tucked away in healthy soil, and more family farms that will stay family farms—forever.

It’s democracy in action, and it’s a shared investment in the West Marin we all love. We’re so proud to be part of a community that prioritizes the land we all live on. Photo by Scott Dunbar of our Stewardship Team

06/03/2026

West Marin isn't just a place—it's a community rooted in the land, family farms, and a shared commitment to our agricultural heritage.

As a proud sponsor of Western Weekend, Marin Agricultural Land Trust is honored to celebrate our rural roots alongside the farmers, ranchers, and neighbors who keep this region thriving.

We can't wait to see everyone at the parade this Sunday at noon! Let’s come together to celebrate the beautiful working landscapes and community spirit that connect us all. 🥕

Write in the comments if you are in this year's parade!

05/29/2026

We are absolutely thrilled to share the final results of our MALT ChangeMaker Challenge, and honestly, you all blew us away!

Because of your incredible generosity, we raised over $425,000!
But wait… it gets better. Thanks to our matching gift, the first $400,000 is doubled, bringing our grand total to an astonishing over $825,000 for agricultural conservation! 🌾🐄

This isn't just a number; it’s a massive investment in the future of our local farms, ranches, and wild spaces. To every single person who donated, shared, and cheered us on: THANK YOU. You are the ultimate ChangeMakers. 💛
LandTrust

05/29/2026

Designed with love for the land. ✨

Introducing our new, limited collection of MALT organic tees and sweatshirts designed by Cole Franson—crafted for those who find peace in the rolling hills, beauty in the coastal fog, and purpose in protecting our local food systems. We are swooning over the colors!

Whether you’re out on the trails or shopping the local farmers market, these tees and hoodies are the perfect way to show your support of protecting our working landscapes!

Quantities are limited, so visit the link in our bio to claim your favorites today. 🌿
Share a photo of you sporting any vintage or new MALT swag in the comments!

05/29/2026

Stemple Creek Restoration
When Al Poncia started fencing riparian areas along Stemple Creek in the 1980s, the creek was already listed as impaired — choked with sediment, habitat degraded. He was one of the first ranchers in the watershed to take it on voluntarily, well ahead of the regulatory and grant programs that would follow.

His son Loren and daughter-in-law Lisa kept going: 10,000 trees planted, five miles of streambank fenced, partnerships built with the Marin RCD, NRCS, and the Marin Carbon Project. Bobcats, badgers, and two endangered species have returned. "We're standing on my dad's shoulders," Loren says. "He laid the foundation. We just went to the next level. MALT has partnered with the Poncia family since 1992. The before-and-after isn't just visual. It's 40 years of a family deciding what kind of land they wanted to leave behind.

05/24/2026

There is a special kind of magic in a spring egg. ✨🥚

As soil temperatures rise, billions of microorganisms awaken, fueling the growth of protein-rich young grasses and clover. When our local hens forage on this seasonal bounty, the result is unmistakable: deeper orange yolks, firmer whites, and a flavor that simply can’t be matched.

It’s a delicious reminder that the quality of our food starts deep in the soil of our working grasslands. 🌿
Have you noticed the difference in your breakfast lately?

Tap the link in our bio to our Buy Local page to find a local egg producer near you! 🍳

05/22/2026

California's most cost-effective climate program — one that protects working farmland while fighting climate change — is quietly at risk of losing its funding.

The Marin Agricultural Land Trust has relied on this program to protect hundreds of acres of Marin farmland, and hopes to use it to protect four more ranches in the near future.

MALT Executive Director Lily Verdone makes the case for why it matters — for Marin's farms, for California's climate goals, and for the communities that depend on both.

Read the full op-ed in the Marin IJ.

California’s most effective tool for protecting agricultural land while fighting climate change is quietly at risk of losing the funding that makes it work, and Marin County farms and ranches are among those that stand to be…

05/19/2026

There is a distinct kind of grit, grace, and groundedness that comes with being a 4-H kid, and you truly witnessed it as this past weekend's West Marin 4-H Fair!

It starts with the pledge—head, heart, hands, and health—but it truly comes alive in the early mornings, the late nights, and the spaces in between. Whether you are raising livestock, learning a traditional craft, or stepping up to lead a club meeting, 4-H teaches a quiet kind of resilience that lasts a lifetime.

Being a 4-H kid means learning that:

Responsibility isn't theoretical. It’s showing up to feed your animal when it’s freezing outside, or finishing a project even when it gets tough.

Community is built by hand. From county fairs to local service projects, 4-H connects generations and teaches kids the value of showing up for their neighbors.

Failure is just part of the process. A missed ribbon or a botched project isn’t an ending—it’s just the first draft of next year’s success.

The projects in 4-H eventually end, but the character they build lasts a lifetime. It shapes the entrepreneurs, the stewards of our land, and the community leaders of tomorrow.

Thanks to the Gallagher North Bend Ranch family for hosting this important event.

Once a 4-H kid, always a 4-H kid. 🍀

05/17/2026

"The best parts of my education came from a horse." 🐎

There’s a kind of status in cowboy culture you can’t manufacture. But as Matt Dolkas explores in our latest blog, the real work isn't about the hat or the boots—it’s about the gentleness. It’s about learning to read a hillside like a person’s face and realizing that "working the land" is less about muscle and more about listening.

In a world that rewards efficiency and screens, there is something deeply necessary about the rootedness of our ranching community. They didn’t forget that we are creatures of instinct and timing.

Tap the Blog link in our bio to read "Why Cowboys Still Wear Blue Jeans"—a reflection on goats, grit, and the quiet conversation between the soil and those who tend it.