Point Reyes Light - February 20, 2003
Pt. Reyes workshop set on profitable niche farms
By Andrew Pridgen
Just off Tomales-Petaluma Road in Two Rock, a former marketing expert from Santa Rosa, Deborah Walton, is part of a trend which may soon spread throughout West Marin’s agricultural lands.
How it works will be explained at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Dance Palace during a UC Extension Service workshop titled "Small Animal Ag Opportunities."
The workshop will be geared not only to longtime ranchers in West Marin, but also to the new generation of "estate ranchers" who are finding viable ways to make a profit in agriculture, said UC spokesman Steve Quirt this week.
"Really it’s diversification that we’re teaching," Quirt said. "We’re trying to get ranchers out here to think of ways of doing things that seem new, but actually what may be happening is bringing back traditions that are hundreds of years old."
Quirt said that in recent conversations, longtime beef rancher Boyd Stewart, 99, of Olema told him about growing up in ranching and about ranchers who wouldn’t have survived without diversifying.
Babydoll sheep
In Two Rock, Walton’s Canvas Ranch has become profitable by raising Old English Babydoll Southdown sheep, which are an ancient breed and a much-smaller version of south-down sheep, the ones commonly raised for meat and fleece.
Babydoll sheep in contrast stand only 24 inches tall and are raised for their ability to graze in organic orchards and vineyards without damaging crops.
"They don’t reach the canopy of grapes or fruit on trees," Walton explained. "They are like little lawnmowers, and when they’re not working, they take care of my property as well. Not to mention the fact that they look adorable."
Weeding vineyards
Adorable or not, Walton’s tiny sheep are producing a good income. She currently has the flock under a grazing contract with Yorkville Cellars in Mendocino and is negotiating with Fetzer Vineyards.
However, Walton’s operation does not stop with these sheep with Teddy bear faces. She also raises cashmere goats, grows vegetables, and fruits, and is starting to raise edible flowers, all on about 28 acres.
"Today many people who want to ranch aren’t fourth-generation dairy farmers," Walton told The Light. "I started with nothing, did some research, and said, ‘Yeah, I can do that.’" She added that a produce customer was the person who suggested she try raising edible flowers. "It may be a throwback to the past," Walton said, "but it may be a way for people like me to make it work."
UC’s Quirt said ranchers of all sizes could learn from Walton’s operation, but it may be a tough sell convincing some of them. "I can’t imagine some ranchers around here going down to the grange and talking about their baby doll sheep," Quirt chuckled.
Niche ranching can work
"We’re trying to encourage both people who’ve been here for generations – and people who want to move here and make something work – is that it can happen. It just takes a lot of work and a bit of creativity."
In West Marin county, many estate ranchers may have to rely on diversified small agriculture in order to get county permission to build on their land.
"Because of [the price of] the land, people who can come out here [now] are in their 50s and older," Walton said. Currently helping her at Canvas Ranch are a couple from Sonoma State who plan to soon leave for the Peace Corps. "It’s good to see them encouraged, but the reality is right now they can’t afford to own land out here," she said. "The next challenge is how to get around that."