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HRH Prince Charles touring the organic farm
of EAC board member Peter Martinelli.
West Marin is known nationwide for the production of high-quality
food by small producers. From coastal dairies to grass-fed beef,
from organic fruits and vegetables, from farmstead cheeses to
locally raised oysters, West Marin is home to family farms, struggling
to stay in existence and innovate. Most of Marin’s agricultural
production, including beef, lamb, milk, butter, and cheese, is
grass-based. Our open rolling hills provide residents and visitors
with high quality food, as well as beautiful views. But agriculture
comes with a cost to the environment as well: over-grazing can
lead to soil compaction and erosion, irrigated farming can compete
with salmon for water; livestock waste and chemical controls can
cause water pollution. EAC supports and encourages sustainable
agricultural practices that are compatible with and enhance healthy
ecosystems and native species.
For years the major threat to West Marin’s agricultural
lands was large-scale residential development. Nowadays, the problem
is different. Large ranches are being bought not by developers
wanting to subdivide and build scores of homes, but by wealthy
individuals wanting to build large country estates. In this way,
land is taken out of agriculture for isolated part-time residences,
and the fabric of rural life declines. EAC works to keep agriculture
alive and environmentally sustainable in West Marin.
Dr. Ignacio Chapela demonstrates the
intricacies of genetic
modification in ways even the layman can understand at
EAC's 33rd Annual Potluck dinner |
EAC is a member of Wild Farm Alliance, a coalition
of wildlands proponents and ecological farming advocates who
share a concern for the land and its wild and human inhabitants.
WFA’s mission is to promote agriculture that helps to
protect and restore wild nature.
For more information: http://wildfarmalliance.org/ |
Other Links:
Click here for an analysis
of the impact that building large homes on agricultural land has
on agriculture.
Marin Organic
Marin
Organic Certified Agriculture (MOCA)
Marin Agricultural Land Trust
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