Archives for “Latest News”

Staff spotlight: Olivia Fiori (she/her), Acquisition Specialist

Photo of Olivia Fiori

Prior to working at Ag + Open Space, Olivia worked at The Conservation Fund for nearly 9 years, where she focused on sustainable timber harvesting, forest monitoring, wildlife management (including working with northern spotted owls), archaeological surveys, erosion control and maintenance, and more, including on one of our conservation easements …

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Stewarding the land with “good fire” at Haroutunian South

A pile of dry vegetation burns in the background

The Haroutunian South property is a greenbelt – an open space property that acts as community separator between Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park. Purchased by Ag + Open Space in 1995, the property is home to  an old orchard, vernal pools, California tiger salamander, as well as the endangered plants …

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Staff Spotlight: Jake Newell, Stewardship Supervisor

Jake with bulls in the background

Jake grew up on the urban edge of Red Bluff, CA on a small suburban street constructed in the dwindling expanse of valley oak savannah. He spent his playtime wandering the savannah, listening to birdsong, watching out for rattlesnakes and bulls, and playing with his brothers and friends. As the …

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Staff spotlight: Steph Tavares (she/her), Sr. Acquisition Specialist

Steph in the snow

Steph grew up in an agricultural demonstration park in the Salinas Valley, where her dad was a ranger. She has a BA in Global Studies and History from UCSB and a JD and Masters in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law and Graduate School. She is the green sheep …

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Staff spotlight: Leslie Lew (she/her), Natural Resources Specialist

Leslie Lew working a prescribed burn.

Prior to joining Ag + Open Space, Leslie was the Chief of the US Fish and Wildlife Service – California\Nevada Wildlife Refuge Planning Office. Leslie has worked in habitat restoration, flood control, trail building, preserve management, and prescribed fire work. She has worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers, …

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Our accomplishments from 2023: A year in review

Year in review collage

This past year we really ramped into high gear. We closed several projects that conserve critical natural resources for future generations, deepened our commitment to our communities, and began to see the Vital Lands Initiative spring to life. We are ready to build upon this great work in 2024, but …

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Staff Spotlight: Carrie Johnson, Secretary

Carrie Johnson with family at the Grand Canyon

Meet our secretary Carrie Johnson, who has been with Ag + Open Space for two remarkable decades! With a rich background deeply rooted in agriculture, Carrie spent her early childhood years living with her mom and her maternal grandparents on their peach and walnut ranch in Gridley. It’s amidst the …

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Property Spotlight: Oken

Blue flag marking restoration sites as the intermittent stream filled with water in last winter's storms.

As we all gear up for the rainy season, we have some updates from our Oken property – home to 76 acres of gently sloping pastureland and an intermittent stream on Petaluma Hill Road.  Oken has long been part of local agricultural heritage, and currently the Crane family, famous for …

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Staff Spotlight: Taylor Acosta (she/her), Stewardship Assistant

woman smiling with a cow

Say hello to our Stewardship Assistant, Taylor Acosta. Taylor was born and raised in Humboldt County and attended Sonoma State University earning a degree in Geology while playing Division II basketball. Following graduation, she moved to Portland where she worked for Deschutes Brewery and also advanced her education earning a …

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Staff spotlight: Simon Apostol, Acquisition Assistant

Man with hard hat in forest speaking to a woman

Say hello to our newest team member, Simon Apostol. Simon comes to us after working as Natural Area Manager at the Columbia Land Trust in Vancouver, WA. At the land trust, he led several conservation, management, and restoration projects including acting as a lead for the Kwoneesum Dam removal project, …

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