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MALT's Dolcini Ranch Purchase
by Aleta George — published October 01, 2008
In West Marin, the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) has purchased an agricultural conservation easement on the 585-acre Dolcini Ranch, a property the land trust has been seeking to protect for over a decade. Located eight miles south of Petaluma, the farm has been in the same family for nearly a century and currently supports ranching, organic row crops, and a small nursery. With its open fields, Victorian-era farmhouse, red barns, and clusters of live oaks, the ranch seems like a postcard from California's rural past. Now, it also represents a commitment to the state's agricultural future.
A grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture contributed about one quarter of the $2,680,000 purchase price, but most of the funds came from individual MALT supporters. With this investment, the Dolcinis can continue as the ranch's stewards for decades to come.
California native Aleta George writes for numerous regional and national publications, including the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.
This article appeared as part of our "Ear to the Ground" column covering local nature and news from the conservation community.
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