The Straus family legacy

March 22, 2023

Few families have had as great an impact on our modern coastal lands as the Straus family. Ellen and Bill Straus fled Nazi Europe during WWII and settled in Marshall, on the Tomales Bay, to begin a life of ranching. Along the way, Ellen and Bill were at the heart of the effort to save West Marin’s open space from turning into yet another sprawling suburb. In 1980, Ellen and a friend co-founded the Marin Agricultural Land Trust, which has become a model for communities around the country that also want to stem subdivision and encourage a healthy relationship with their agricultural roots.

More stories like this:

On Ranch Roping (and the Art of Looking Like an Idiot)

August 20, 2026

On ranch roping, California’s vaquero roots, and the value of being bad at something.

Read More

How Grazing Reduces California Wildfire Risk – What the Science Says

August 19, 2026

In one year, California’s livestock ate 11.6 billion pounds of wildfire fuel. The science on grazing and fire is striking.

Read More

How to Prepare Your Ranch for El Niño and a Wet Winter

August 11, 2026

A record-strength El Niño is on track for this winter. Here’s what forecasters are seeing, what to do before the rains, and how MALT can help. The short version: a strong El Niño is building, and this fall is the time to get your ranch ready. It may bring a hard, wet winter. It may…

Read More