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Solano Land Trust News
February 2010
Welcome to the second edition of our bi-monthly electronic newsletter. The print version of Vistas will continue to arrive in your mailbox in the spring and fall. Only members receive the print version and invitations to special events.
Where's the Lamb?
Support your local farmers
 If you want to be a locovore, someone who buys all your food locally, Solano County makes it easy. You can go straight to the source for your produce and wine, but what about meat? Dixon and the Montezuma Hills are known as lamb country, but where can you buy it?
Just twenty years ago, you could buy a
sheep directly from a farmer and send it to one of several local
slaughterhouses, but nearly all the family-owned facilities have closed. “Regulatory overhead, compliance costs, economies of scale have
made industrial processing more cost effective,” said Jim Allan, Solano County
Agricultural Commissioner.
Years before the locavore food
movement, Solano Land Trust Board President Ian Anderson tried to direct market his lamb. He found that it was
too time consuming. Instead, he sells his sheep to Niman Ranch, a high-quality, natural, meat purveyor. If you buy Niman Ranch
lamb in summer and autumn, the lamb will be from sheep raised in the Montezuma Hills, either from Anderson's ranch or several others including Jeanne McCormack's, which has a conservation easement held by Solano Land Trust.
Another local lamb product is
labeled Superior Farms. Superior Farms in Dixon is the only processing plant west
of the Rockies. Superior guarantees that if you buy your lamb locally, the product
will be from local sources. (Superior has plants in other states, and the
products sold in those states will come from their local sources.)
The era of the direct lamb
purchase isn’t completely over. If you raise your own or know someone who will sell you a sheep, you can send it to Gates Ranch Meat Company in
Vacaville where Joe Gates will cut and wrap it for you.
Places to buy pre-packaged local lamb:
Mediterranean Food Center, Fairfield
Coalition Urges Governor to Restore Funding for the Williamson Act
Nicole Byrd, Executive Director
Solano Land Trust, along with 41 other members of the California
Rangeland Conservation Coalition, signed a letter this month urging
Governor Schwarzenegger to restore subvention funding (financial
assistance) to counties for the Williamson Act.
Historically, Williamson
Act funding from the state has helped counties provide tax relief to
farmers and ranchers by assessing their land at the agricultural value instead of the developable value, which can be assessed at more than twice as
much. In exchange for being taxed at the agricultural value, the farmer
or rancher agrees to keep the property in agriculture for ten years.
This program provides a strong investment in agriculture and helps keep
farmers and ranchers in business by keeping their taxes low.
When the state eliminates
subventions to the counties, counties must take on the burden locally.
In the current economy when counties are increasingly burdened by the
state’s massive budget shortfall, taking on Williamson Act subventions may be more than counties can handle over the long
term. So far, Solano County Supervisors have supported continued
funding for the Williamson Act program; however, it is imperative that
the state resume subventions to keep the Williamson Act sustainable
over the long term.
The California Rangeland
Conservation Coalition, which Solano Land Trust joined in 2009, is an
unprecedented group of California ranchers, environmental
organizations, and government agencies. Together, these partners are
working to preserve private working landscapes, support the long-term
viability of the ranching industry, and protect and enhance California
rangeland for both legally protected and still-common species. This
unique partnership encompasses the expertise of rangeland managers,
ecologists, grassland wildlife experts and private ranchers who
strongly believe the Williamson Act is intrinsically linked to the
coalition’s ability to preserve private working rangelands.
Partnership a Win-Win
Solano County takes pride in Lynch Canyon
Lynch Canyon Open Space and the ongoing partnership between Solano
County and Solano Land Trust are prominently featured in text and
photos in the recently released Solano County 2009 Annual Report.
Lynch Canyon is heralded for offering healthy recreation (including a
photo and caption on the annual Lynch Canyon Trail Run), community
service, and other volunteer opportunities. The report praises Lynch
volunteers’ “can-do spirit and love of the outdoors” and their major
contribution of over 2,900 volunteer hours for Lynch! Congratulations
to the entire Lynch Canyon team of volunteers, County Parks and Solano Land
Trust staff for your ongoing success story!
To see the full report, please go to: http://www.solanocounty.com/depts/county_admin/special_reports/all_reports.asp
Got Furlough Fridays?
Join us every third Friday for land restoration
Solano Land Trust has
several sites where we are working to plant native trees, shrubs, and grasses. Regularly scheduled
restoration workdays for volunteers are the third Friday of each month. We would also love to have volunteers join staff on weekday ranch projects or to work
independently on projects at Lynch Canyon. These Friday restoration
activities are in addition to our regular Saturday workdays.
If you are interested in participating or just want more
information contact Sue at Solano Land Trust, (707) 432-0150 x 207 or sue@solanolandtrust.org. These projects are great team-building activities for groups or
organizations. We’ll supply all the equipment; you need your own boots and gloves. Thank you.
The Poetry of Place
Kids writing on the land
Solano Land Trust partners with Solano Resource Conservation
District for environmental education activities on our properties. Monica Cook,
a Crystal Middle School student in Linnea Detterman’s class, was inspired to write this
poem on a field trip to Rush Ranch on November 17, 2009.
The Suisun Marsh
The river shining blue,
As the waves move,
As you hear stillness,
When you keep quiet,
When you see the plants,
Or even the animals
Just enjoy the sight.
As you know nature,
Is the best part of life,
There are tons of places to go,
But if you really love plants
Even animals are clues
This is the best place to go,
The Suisun Marsh.
Sightings
Here's what visitors are seeing on our properties
(Go to www.solanolandtrust.org for days/hours that our properties are open to the public.)
King-Swett Ranches
° In mid-February, James Walsh counted 425 western meadowlarks at King Ranch, in addition to a prairie falcon, "the usual" red-tailed hawks, and a great number of western bluebirds.
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Lynch Canyon
 ° Solano Land Trust staff were spotted doing restoration work at Lynch Canyon. All staff, including Executive Director Nicole Byrd, were planting native trees and shrubs and installing protective fencing as part of a staff team-building day. Contact us to plan your business team-building project today!
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° Mary Beth Crittendon saw a ferruginous hawk, golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, kestrels, and harriers.
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° Staff accidentally disturbed four sleepy barn owls along the South Fork Lynch Creek riparian area.
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Rush Ranch
° Professor Christine Whitcraft visited on a day then the "landscape looked like a child's painting with white puffy clouds, bright blue sky, and green grass." The tides were high and she saw a Suisun shrew.
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° Ken Poerner noted that two burrowing owls had taken up residence next to Grizzly Island Road before the first pond fence gate.
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° Teri Engbring & Maggie Ingalls saw three kites and a Black and Say's phoebes off South Pasture trail, and Northern harriers near the road north of the stallion barn. They also saw three red-tailed hawks, an American kestrel, and two gorgeous Ferruginous hawks being harassed by a pair of common ravens who wanted their lunch.
Jepson Prairie
 ° Doug Wirtz saw a great-horned owl in the eucalyptus tree near the parking lot. a
° Wirtz photographed his first Delta green ground beetle of the season and a single golden violet.
Solano Land Trust has been protecting
working farms and natural areas in Solano County since 1986.
Solano Land Trust
1001 Texas Street, Suite C
Fairfield, CA 94533
(707) 432-0151 x 209
To comment on E-Vistas or to be added to our mailing list
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Saturday, May 8, 2010
4:30 to 8 p.m.
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Join host Russ Lester at Dixon Ridge Farms in Winters for a "locavore" feast to benefit Solano Land Trust. Dine by candlelight in a beautiful walnut orchard while enjoying a four-course, locally-sourced meal prepared by San Francisco Executive Chef Lauren Kiino. Live music & carriage rides.
For more information call Development Director Greg Peterson at (707) 432-0150 x 205 or greg@solanolandtrust.org
Jepson
Prairie
Docent-led
Tours
Mar.
13 - May 9, 2010
(Saturdays & Sundays)
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
King-Swett Ranches
Docent-led Hikes
Mar. 6, 2010, 9 a.m.
Apr. 3, 2010, 9 a.m.
Lynch Canyon
Docent-led Hikes
Feb. 27, 2010, 9 a.m.
Mar. 7, 2010, 9 a.m.
Mar. 20, 2010, 9 a.m.
Mar. 27, 2010, 9 a.m.
Rush Ranch
Mar. 20, 2010 Guided walk (9 a.m.)
Blacksmith demo (10 a.m.)
Wagon rides (11 a.m.)
Rush Ranch
Raptor ID Workshop
& Tour
Feb. 28, 2010, 12 p.m.
Mar. 21, 2010, 10 a.m.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
SAVE THE DATES!
Rush Ranch
Annual Open
House
Saturday,
April 24, 2010
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Join Rush Ranch
Educational Council and
Solano Land Trust for our family day at the ranch. New this year:
Ranch life art station for kids!
Second Annual Lynch Canyon
Kite Festival
May 2, 2010, 12 a.m.
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Explore Lynch Canyon:
Celebrate with
Solano County Parks & Solano Land Trust
May 15, 2010
Lynch Canyon
Third Annual Trail Run &
Community Hike
Saturday,
June 5, 2010
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For group, corporate or
individual sponsorship opportunities call Greg at (707) 432-0150 ext. 205
Find out more information about events at:
ATTENTION
VOLUNTEERS!
Have some fun and become part of our team!
Volunteers are the heart and soul of Solano Land Trust's programs. Join us for workdays on the land or at a special event. Learn more at
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