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:

a few cows stand at Parks Home Ranch

Winter Events in Marin County

January 26, 2026

Enjoy our winter roundup of farm visits, walks, markets, nature talks, and volunteer opportunities.

Read More

Reviving the Truttman Ranch, Protecting Public Grasslands

January 7, 2026

When Levi McIsaac shakes your hand, you feel it—the confidence that comes from knowing exactly who you are and where you fit. Fifth-generation Marin County rancher. National Park Service (NPS) road crew worker. Someone who understands that his family’s future is inseparable from the health of the landscape they steward. That confidence matters now more…

Read More

A group of hikers on MALT-protected land

2025: A Year in Pictures

December 5, 2025

From historic land protection to community resilience, these moments tell the story of our collective work to sustain Marin’s agricultural heritage.

Read More