News + Features

  • Ag + Open Space Board of Directors to Consider “Vital Lands Initiative”

    December 17, 2019

    Posted in: Press Releases

    Ag + Open Space Board of Directors to Consider “Vital Lands Initiative” on December 17 Long-range strategic plan will chart next 10 years of Ag + Open Space work SANTA ROSA, CA (December 11, 2019) – On Tuesday, December 17, …

  • Ag + Open Space Protects Scenic West Petaluma Ranch

    December 11, 2019

    Posted in: Press Releases

    Ag + Open Space Protects Scenic West Petaluma Ranch Long-time ranchers, Walter & Arleen Jacobsen, conserve 127-acre ranch SANTA ROSA, CA (December 10, 2019) – Today the Board of Directors for the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District …

  • Healdsburg Ridge transfers to City of Healdsburg

    September 27, 2019

    Posted in: News Articles

    Healdsburg Ridge, protected + public forever In 2003, Ag + Open Space acquired two properties for $7.6M along a prominent ridgeline on the northeastern side of Healdsburg to create the 153-acre Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve.  Since 2008, we’ve redesigned …

  • Welcome to our new Advisory Committee youth members!

    September 26, 2019

    Posted in: People & Places

    Welcome to our new Advisory Committee youth members! Ag + Open Space is happy to welcome our two new Advisory Committee Youth Members. Austin Maners and Alex Wood joined in September and we’re looking forward to the impact their perspectives …

  • Vegetation mapping + fire resiliency

    September 24, 2019

    Posted in: News Articles

    Vegetation mapping + fire resiliency Recently, Ag + Open Space’s Allison Schichtel and Karen Gaffney spoke with NASA for their “A Partnership Forged by Fire” story about our vegetation mapping efforts, and how the data are being used today to …

  • Sheep grazing + monitoring at Calabazas

    August 22, 2019

    Posted in: News Articles

    Sheep grazing + monitoring at Calabazas Several hundred sheep have arrived at our Calabazas Creek Open Space Preserve! Sheep from Sweetgrass Grazing Company will spend the next several weeks grazing about 50 acres of grassland near the Nun’s homestead, an …

  • In honor of our friend, Ted Eliot

    August 16, 2019

    Posted in: News Articles

    In honor of our friend, Ted Eliot We at Ag + Open Space were deeply saddened to hear of Ted Eliot’s passing earlier this month. Ted was an avid conservationist, whose tireless efforts over the last thirty years led to …

  • Youth work days at Dogbane Preserve

    August 9, 2019

    Posted in: News Articles

    Youth work days at Dogbane Preserve Since 1997, Ag + Open Space has owned and stewarded a greenbelt property, Dogbane Preserve in north Santa Rosa between Highway 101 and Old Redwood Highway. Dogbane Preserve is three acres of open space …

  • Local agriculture + education at Sonoma Garden park

    July 24, 2019

    Posted in: News Articles

    Local agriculture + education at Sonoma Garden park Our competitive Matching Grant Program brings open spaces into urban environments by working with public agencies and nonprofits to protect and enhance local agriculture, community recreation, natural resource restoration, and public access …

  • U-Pick Blueberry Days at Duckworth Family Farm

    July 24, 2019

    Posted in: News Articles

    U-Pick Blueberry Days at Duckworth Family Farm Duckworth Family Farms, otherwise known as our Nahmens conservation easement, is an 80-acre organic blueberry farm outside of Sebastopol. The easement was originally acquired in 1999, and Duckworth Family Farms bought the property …