Open Field Farm: Past, Present, & Future

The Story of Open Field Farm

The history of the farm of which we know goes back 100 years. We acknowledge that this land is much, much older than that and has passed through several eras of stewardship, from harvest grounds of the Coast Miwok, to the Mexican land grant in the 1830s, to the complex changes that came with the California gold rush. We are humbled and grateful to play a small role in the long, continually unfolding story of this special spot.

In July 2012, we (Seth and Sarah James) purchased the ranch and began to create a new farm on the solid foundation that was left by the previous owners. It was historically operated as a dairy and chicken ranch in the first half of the 20th century. In the 1940s, the dairy herd was enlarged and the chickens were sold. The farm remained a dairy until the early 2000s when the farmer retired and leased the land to a local organic dairy farmer for silage and grazing. The grassland had been well maintained. The old farm buildings and much of the other infrastructure were in need of repair. With the help of many talented and thoughtful local tradesmen, we have replaced many of the old water lines, updated the electrical, and repaired some of the old barns. We also cleared away blackberry bushes from the sides of buildings and hauled away dumpster loads of debris. We have completed the initial repairs that were necessary to our farming operation and are continuing to repair the old barns and the farmyard so that they are useful to us and the larger community.

Since 2012, our CSA has grown to over 100 members. We now have 12 full time employees who all live on the farm, about 150 cows, dozens of sheep, hundreds of laying hens, and 14 acres in vegetable production. We have added three high tunnels for season extension, renovated the big barn for equipment storage and events, planted berry bushes, and are currently working with Point Blue Conservation Science on ecosystem restoration. We feel that the farm comes alive the more people utilize the space and appreciate when our members come to hike, swim, and host events here. We especially love when the farm is a source of nature connection for children, and there are kids camps and field trips here throughout the year!

While we are the legal land owners, land ownership is a topic of constant reflection for us and we do not feel that this land is “ours.” We feel deeply connected to it and hope that it is a source of connection for many others- our crew, our members, and our wider community. We take our responsibility as the current stewards of this land seriously and aim to honor its original caretakers through our farming practices. As well, we hold the intention of continually improving the health of the farm ecosystem for the benefit of the land itself as well as future generations of stewards and inhabitants.