Within our robust agriculture community are individuals whose innovations have profoundly affected local food production, influenced national practices and drawn international attention to our region. On Saturday, Nov. 5, the Bolinas Museum will present a free panel discussion featuring some of these visionaries, titled “Agricultural Innovators: Rocking the Bay and Beyond.” Panelists Warren Weber, a leader of California’s certified organic movement; Albert Straus, a leader in the national organic dairy movement; Phyllis Faber, co-founder of Marin Agricultural Land Trust; Sue Conley, co-founder of Cowgirl Creamery; and special guest Steve Kinsey, retiring Marin County supervisor, will be joined by Robin Carpenter—a writer, KWMR programmer and director of the Marin Literacy Program who will moderate this vibrant discussion.
These innovators opened doors for others by modeling financially and ecologically sustainable practices and cultivating public appreciation for organic and locally produced food. They bring attention to the irreplaceable value of small family food producers and the need to protect the integrity of the organic label, which is threatened by big industry and chemical and G.M.O. contamination. They have provided the means to protect small family farms, ranches and agricultural lands and have served generously as mentors to others with their hard-won wisdom.
Along with many of the producers in the county, they serve on boards and committees and support organizations and attend meetings, some internationally. Rather than compete with one another, they share a strong ethic of raising up and supporting each other. There are so many outstanding people whose vision, tenacity and activism have contributed to the survival, success and richness of our small-producer-based agricultural region. It is a community made up of people throughout the Bay Area, vigorous support organizations, educators and hundreds of people whose jobs serve the agriculturalists, along with caring consumers.
This Great Minds conversation comes at a significant time of changes among the panel of innovators. Mr. Weber is retiring and selling his world-famous Star Route Farm in Bolinas, Marin Organic has accomplished its goals and closed its doors, and Ms. Faber is an activist for a growing number of concerns. Mr. Straus is relocating his creamery, Cowgirl Creamery has been acquired by a supportive Swiss company, and Supervisor Kinsey is retiring after more than 20 years as a proactive county supervisor. New people are stepping in to preserve what has been accomplished and create innovations of their own. Join us to learn why and how these innovators’ ideas have rippled out from this small, special piece of earth to influence so many.
The conversation starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25 at the Bolinas Community Center. Seating (and parking) is limited, and admission is a suggested donation of $10 at the door. Afterwards we will make a special toast to these great minds and the great network of people who contribute to the success of Marin’s food production. We will raise glasses of local Point Reyes Vineyard champagne and enjoy tasty delicacies made by Margaret Grade and Daniel De Long of Sir & Star. The Bolinas Museum opens at noon that day for viewing the BOUNTY! exhibitions, curated by Elia Haworth and Sandy Dierks: “Bounty: Fine Food Production in Coastal Marin from 1834 to the 21st Century,” “Lexicon of Sustainability: Visionary Principles,” “Art Rogers: Faces of the Land,” and a history room display of photographs by M.B. Boissevain.
Elia Haworth is Curator of Coastal Marin Art & History for the museum.