Equity Building Program Manager  Dwayne Martin grew up in northern Maine, where he spent his high school vacation breaks working on potato farms.  After college, he managed projects at the Portland Public Market - an indoor food market designed to showcase local agriculture.  He later ran the capital raising department for Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative and a pioneer in fair trade coffee.  Most recently, Dwayne was an Associate at Slow Money, a national nonprofit developing new financial products and services that connect investors to local economies. Dwayne has a BA from Middlebury College and MBA from Oxford University, where he was chair of the business school's venture fund. 

North Coast Regional Coordinator - Mayacamas Olds comes to us with 15 years of farming (business & management), Spanish language skills, and as she says, "I know what it takes physically and economically to get the job done and the product to market." She has a BS from University of California Davis.

Innovative partnership opportunity!

The Van Hook Family, who owns the old Henry Ribbs Ranch in Guinda, CA is offering an opportunity to partner in their 219 acre operation. The property is in the north Capay Valley (near Full Belly Farm) and suitable for row crops or livestock.  There are two houses, a large historic barn and other outbuildings.

The Van Hook's intend to continue living there. Infrastructure improvements, including significant investment in the irrigation systems, will be required.

Their vision for the site is to celebrate the multicultural heritage of the community and to provide a vehicle to showplace those successes achieved. A farmer could have the role of directing this project, which would involve a multi-cultural educational center serving as a model of sustainable farming and ranching, and a farm incubator program. Clarence Van Hook's role would be to help develop and support the vision of the center.  He is open to a modification of this vision or introduction of other innovative cultural and agricultural projects.

Van Hook is open to several options to structure shared ownership of the property. He's not interested in being involved in day to day management of agricultural production, but is passionate about the future of this property.

Contact: Mary Junqueiro: mary@californiafarmlink.org  or Liya Schwartzman at 530-756-8518 x 32

Want to own a successful Sonoma County

artisan goat cheese business?

Bodega Artisan Cheese (formerly Bodega Goat Cheese), a very successful farm business and brand, is available for purchase. Aspiring cheesemaker/rancher preferred.

Developed over 26 years, the business incorporates sustainable practices (rainwater catchment, permaculture principles), and has a fully licensed Grade A dairy. The owner, Patty Karlin says, "Like other artisan and truly terroir products, our cheese has unique flavor, quality, and integrity. We've been leaders in fresh cheeses, and have now added two aged cheeses."  At its peak, the operation has had 50 goats on the milk line and 50 additional goats as replacement stock.

Karlin says, "I'm open to several business models for the smooth transfer of this business to an aspiring cheese maker and have been working with Farm Link towards that end." These models could include outright purchase, rental or a transition period allowing the new farmer to get more familiar with the operation. Regardless of the model, Ms. Karlin is prepared to mentor or consult with a new farmer to develop their skills.

Specific opportunities include:

·         Purchasing the property and business together as a package, (asking price is being finalized).

·         Farmer could purchase the cheese business, which would include the brand, recipes, customer list (including wholesale outlets), and more. The price for the business is $90,000. (The price for the business would be discounted if purchased with the land and buildings.)

·         Beginning farmer and goat herder could manage the herd of approximately 30 French Alpine goats.

·         Beginning cheese maker could rent the cheese making facilities (as several cheesemakers are doing now).

·         Karlin would consider some seller financing.

Buildings on the property include a 1200 sq. ft house, a 2400 sq. ft barn, two smaller barns, office and other structures. Plus a small office/studio/farm products processing (i.e. soap making) available in town of Bodega, next to her dairy. There is space for gardening adjacent to building - rent for studio is $200/mo.

Permaculture features on the farm, including rain water catchment could allow new owner to raise his/her own animal feed.

Bodega Artisan Cheeses have been showcased at Slow Food events, Sonoma County gourmet events and in fine restaurants, stores and farmer's markets. Over the years they've been featured in Fine Cooking Magazine, Saveur Magazine, Sonoma County Business Magazine, West County Gazette, and the Bodega Bay Navigator as well as being included in several books on artisan cheeses in U.S.

Contact: Patty Karlin at 707-876-3483 evenings

Beautiful property FOR SALE -

ID # 1260 Sonoma County

Half interest in 62 acre farm in Healdsburg area. The 31 acres include seven prime acres bottomland, with small orchard (180 heritage apple, pear, plum, peach trees). House on a hill- 2100 SF, 1200 SF barn/cold storage, or shop, chicken coop, two wells (low flow end of summer), 1.5 ac foot pond, intermittent stream, wooded hill with great view. Successful crops grown on this land include wine grapes, fruit trees (especially pears), vegetables, raspberries, sugar pumpkins, tomatoes, and flower seeds. Soil is clay loam bottom land. The property also boasts a heritage tree. 

Contact: Mayacamas Olds, North Coast Regional Coordinator at 707/829-1691.

For Sale: Three acre organically registered small farm

southwest of Santa Rosa

2.5 acres in row crops, with a vineyard on 1/4 acre, and 50 fruit and nut trees (various varieties). The property has two 3 bdrm/2 ba houses, 1350 & 1200 sq ft with new furnaces and floors.  There is a working 90'x 45' barn with concrete floor, six-door refrigerator, stainless steel counter, sink, 12'x12'cold storage, and gas and electric.  The property includes a 30'x20' greenhouse and chicken house with water and electric.  The well gets 32gpm at 270'.  There is water storage capacity on site and irrigation throughout.

Asking price is $600,000.

Contact Don @ (707) 585-9444

Visit www.donaldrosenberg.com for more information

Central Coast:

In mid-November, farmers from the Central Coast and bay area took a day to explore five farming opportunities along the San Mateo County coast.  FarmLink's Reggie Knox and Eric Winders met with ten fairly experienced farmers interested in coastal farming.  This gorgeous stretch of coastline offers some fertile ground.  They spent the day visiting properties in Pescadero and San Gregorio areas.   The farms included historic agricultural land ranging from an old lavender operation to a multi-purpose incubator farm/ranch.  It seems a lease is already in the works with a beginning farmer from Pescadero for one of those properties.