New tenant to farm Laufenburg Ranch

Certified organic farmer Ken Orchard of Orchard Farms has signed an agreement to lease and farm Laufenburg Ranch, one of the Land Trust’s anchor preserves. Located in Knights Valley east of Healdsburg, this 176-acre turn-of-the-century farm was bequeathed to SLT in 1987. Ken plans to grow a wide variety of vegetables there to enhance his CSA (community-supported agriculture) program. You will also be able to find his Laufenburg-raised veggies at local farmers’ markets. Eating sustainably and locally raised food, like that grown by Ken, was the subject of a provocative panel featuring Michael Pollan and others at Slow Food Nation.

Learn more about “Relocalizing Food” here

Lower Ranch lawsuit comes to successful conclusion

“We take very seriously our responsibility to enforce the conservation easements we hold. The people of Sonoma County count on us to do so,” stated Sonoma Land Trust executive director Ralph Benson as he announced the successful settlement of a nearly three-year-old lawsuit with the owners of 528-acre Lower Ranch near San Pablo Bay. This settlement upholds the agricultural conservation easement, pays the Land Trust’s legal fees, and ensures that the landowner’s activities will protect the agricultural resources on the property.

Learn more

Help us protect the Jenner Headlands
Donate now to help reach $2 million goal

Join us on a journey to protect this spectacular landscape along our Sonoma Coast. Located where the Russian River meets the ocean, and forming a critical piece of the protected land along our coastline, the Jenner Headlands graces us with rolling hills, redwood forests, abundant wildlife, clean and clear water, fish-bearing streams and fantastic vistas. At 5,630 acres, this nationally recognized project is the single largest conservation land acquisition in Sonoma County history. We need your help to ensure that this coastal jewel is preserved for generations to come. We are still $2 million short of what is needed before we can complete the purchase. We have initial funding commitments for the purchase price of $36 million. What remains to be raised is critical funding to steward the property so that the forest is well managed, trails are carefully developed, roads are maintained and the creeks run clear. Please help ensure protection of the Jenner Headlands by donating now.

5 reasons why the Jenner Headlands must be protected

Watch a video about the Jenner Headlands

November 2008
In This Issue
	Farming Laufenburg Ranch
	Standing strong on an easement
	Protecting the Jenner Headlands
	Welcoming new members
	Join SLT on Facebook
	Read the fall newsletter
	Tax-free gift alert

Welcome new SLT members!

People who become members of the Sonoma Land Trust know the value of protecting land for future generations. So let’s give a big welcome to the following visionary people for joining the Sonoma Land Trust over the last few months. From here on out, we will publish the names of new members each month in our eNewsletter. Included here are new members from August 28–October 31, 2008.
See who has joined us

Are you on Facebook?

The Sonoma Land Trust is. If you join our Facebook group, you’ll get to see cool photos from our recent hikes and workdays, and be the first to learn about upcoming SLT events and more.

Join the SLT Facebook group now

The fall newsletter is now available

If you haven’t received the Land Trust’s fall newsletter in the mail, don’t miss out on reading about our exciting new projects.
Read it online here

Tax-free gift alert

The law allowing Qualified Charitable Distributions from an IRA has been extended through 2009. Donors over 70 can make tax-free gifts to charity of up to $100,000 from their IRA. These gifts are excluded from both federal and California taxable income. For more information, call Beverly Scottland at (707) 526-6930, ext.108 or email beverly@sonomalandtrust.org.