Property milestone: Camozzi Dairy

In January of 2000, Ag + Open Space staff had the pleasure of working with the Robert Camozzi family to conserve their 256-acre dairy on Pepper Road northwest of Petaluma. Protected primarily to preserve its agricultural and scenic open space values, this multi-generational dairy is still in operation today.  With Robert Jr., or Bob as most know him, at the helm, the dairy has gone organic and is a leader in climate smart agriculture with such practices as carbon farming and year-round composting to reduce greenhouse gas and methane emissions and increase carbon sequestration in soils. In addition to the cows and pastures, a tributary of Stemple Creek runs through the southeastern portion of the ranch. Perhaps more impactful than the conservation of his own dairy, Bob has encouraged several friends and neighbors to conserve their properties too, which has resulted in a nearly contiguous stretch of almost 4,000 acres of agricultural land protected forever.