“In the springtime it’s so roaring that it can sound like someone with a power-saw, but it’s the birds chirping in masses,” says Alma O’Brien, owner of Hayfork Ranch just northeast of Santa Rosa. Hayfork is a 216-acre ranch nestled next to our Saddle Mountain Open Space Preserve, and both …
This month, we got a chance to check in with Kendall Gutt, one of our awesome new Stewardship Technicians. Prior to working with us, Kendall worked for both Regional Parks and Sonoma Land Trust, where she focused on land stewardship and environmental education – including Park Preview Days on some …
Paula Lane Open Space Preserve, an 11-acre grassland in northwestern Petaluma, and is one of several community open space preserves protected by Ag + Open Space through our Matching Grant Program. In 2012, we partnered with the City of Petaluma, who at the time was working with the Paula Lane …
In this month’s staff spotlight we welcome Lukas Steinrueck (he/him), who recently joined our team as a Stewardship Technician. Lukas moved to Sonoma County after graduating from Humboldt State University with a degree in Wildlife Conservation. Since moving here, Lukas has spent time working for the California Department of Fish …
In this month’s Staff Spotlight we welcome Raquel Guevara-Bolanos, who recently joined our team as a Stewardship Technician. Raquel most recently worked at Sonoma Water, where she led workshops on riparian habitat, salmon, and the role of land management. She has also worked for Circuit Rider doing fire management, stream …
This month we’re hearing from Lauren Alpert, our Community Relations Specialist. Recently promoted from Community Relations Assistant, Lauren’s focus is on engaging Sonoma County community members in the work of Ag + Open Space and our land conservation community at-large. Lauren attended Chico State, in her much loved hometown, and …
Originally published in January 2023 print issue of Sonoma Magazine In 1996, fresh out of Sonoma State University with a degree in environmental studies, Misti Arias joined the relatively new Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. Last May, 25 years after she began with the organization, she was …
Over the last 30+ years, Ag + Open Space has conserved over 12% of our county’s natural and working lands. As we look back on 2022, we’re proud of the work we’ve done to increase the scale, pace, and equity of land conservation by putting our Vital Lands Initiative into …
In this month’s Staff Spotlight, we’re excited to welcome Pamela Swan as our Grants Coordinator – a new role that oversees our Matching Grant Program and coordinates our grant-seeking efforts. Pamela holds a Bachelor’s in Conservation and Resource Studies from UC Berkeley, as well as a Master’s in Community Development …
Park expansions and natural resource restoration projects funded in Santa Rosa and Petaluma, and a second round of Matching Grant funding opens SANTA ROSA, CA (December 13, 2022) – In the spring of 2022, Ag + Open Space launched the 2022 Matching Grant Program to provide up to $4 million to …