News + Features

  • Beautiful 289-acre El Recreo property in Sonoma Valley protected for future generations

    June 23, 2022

    Posted in: Press Releases

    Conservation of vital greenbelt property ensures protection of water, wildlife, and local character SANTA ROSA, CA (June 23, 2022) – Through a vital partnership with the Bucklin, Tilt, and English families, Sonoma County Ag + Open Space is proud to …

  • Staff Spotlight: Cieara McKetchnie-Stanley, Administrative Assistant

    June 23, 2022

    Posted in: News Articles

    For this month’s Staff Spotlight, we’re checking in with Cieara McKetchnie-Stanley, one of our Administrative Aides. Cieara joined Ag + Open Space in 2019, and has a degree in technical theater and design. She also loves painting in her free …

  • Staff Spotlight: Amy Ricard, Community Resources Manager

    May 26, 2022

    Posted in: People & Places

    This month’s Staff Spotlight is on Amy Ricard, who was recently promoted to lead our newly formed Community Resources team! Amy was hired as a Community Relations Specialist in 2014 to oversee community engagement activities, and to develop and execute …

  • Staff Spotlight: Allison Schichtel, Senior Conservation Planner

    April 28, 2022

    Posted in: News Articles

    We’re back with another Staff Spotlight! This month we get to hear from Allison Schichtel, Senior Conservation Planner, who has a BS in Botany and Environmental Biology from Humboldt State University and a Master’s of Science degree in Geographic Information …

  • Local agroecology and a winter CSA

    April 28, 2022

    Posted in: News Articles

    Through our Agricultural Support and Protection (ASAP) Emergency Matching Grant program, we’ve been supporting Red H Farm over the last year and a half as they adapted to the pandemic. Red H Farm, which was founded by Caiti Hachmyer in …

  • Staff Spotlight: Sheri Emerson, Stewardship Manager

    March 29, 2022

    Posted in: News Articles

    This month, we’re checking in with Sheri Emerson, our Stewardship Manager, who oversees the stewardship of over 122,000 acres of land protected by Ag + Open Space. Sheri earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from Sonoma State University, and her …

  • A radical farm and the power of local agriculture

    March 29, 2022

    Posted in: News Articles

    Radical Family Farms centers LGBTQIA+ mixed-Asian American heritage and culinary culture through the vegetables, herbs, meals and events produced on their farm. This 3-acre farm was founded in 2018 by Leslie Wiser and Sarah Deragon.It’s located in Sebastopol and, as …

  • Staff Spotlight: Kim Batchelder, Vegetation Management Coordinator

    February 24, 2022

    Posted in: News Articles

    This month, we’re checking in with Kim Batchelder, the County’s Vegetation Management Coordinator. Kim has been with Ag + Open Space for over a decade, and recently moved into this role focused on the planning, development and implementation of funding …

  • Cordage-making and stewardship at Dogbane Preserve

    February 24, 2022

    Posted in: News Articles

    For centuries, Indigenous peoples have harvested the Dogbane plant for use in making cordage, nets, bags, and belts. With many years of community care, the Dogbane plant has thrived on the special three-acre, culturally-significant Dogbane Preserve in what is now …

  • A year in review: Highlights from 2021

    January 25, 2022

    Posted in: News Articles

    We are grateful to be able to do the work of protecting our county’s natural and working lands. As we move into a new year, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the work we’ve done with you, …