I hope everyone’s 2010 has gotten off to a great start!  We have much to celebrate going into the year and look forward to an exciting new decade of growth for the farm and programming. We have big plans and aspirations and invite you all to join us at the ranch and in the region in our efforts to build an educational center and sustainable food system coastal corridor.

But first, let’s take a quick look back at this last year:

• We made progress in our mission of modeling, supporting and inspiring healthy relationships between people, food and farming.
• We hosted over 750 first-time youth visitors, and more than 400 adults, including nearly 50 aspiring farmers and interns.
• We received 47 applications from people wanting to participate in our farm apprenticeship program.
• We engaged an average of 150 people each month in our open farm/volunteer days, potluck and barn dances.
• We were honored to be a finalist of the Agape Foundation’s Rising Peacemaker award.
• We have collaborated in regional advocacy efforts, such as co-hosting last months workshop and mixer with California Farmlink

And we took several measures to enhance our ability to serve our constituents …

• We hired new staff members: gifted Youth Coordinator Mary Ann Brooks, and stellar Operations Manager, Pei-Yee Woo;
• We received our designation as an independent 501c3 organization, enabling us to be more effective in raising funds for both capital improvements and for programming;
• We introduced newcomers to Pie Ranch at two successful events, a special film screening at the beloved Red Vic movie house, and at the enchanting Dinner with Adelaide, and substantially grew our supporting community;

Now, we are announcing some changes that will enable us to be even more successful going forward…

This month, Co-Founder Karen Heisler will begin to serve Pie Ranch in a new way as co-chair of a campaign to raise funds for the acquisition and restoration of the historic farmstead (the “lower slice”) and will step out of her staff role as Co-Director.  No words can adequately express our profound gratitude for Karen’s contributions in getting us to this stage of our educational farm and social change work, and for being willing to channel her energies into helping draw attention to and raise the resources for the land and buildings that Pie Ranch will continue to thrive on and within.

I will continue to direct Pie Ranch with the deep involvement of all staff, board and the growing community of our supporters and partners. Nancy Vail will continue to enrich the lives of youth and apprentices as Farm Programs Director. In the coming months, we will be adding an Administrative Assistant and a Development Manager to help support our mission. With these changes, Pie Ranch is emerging from its founding stage, engaging specialized staff and adopting more focus.

So please continue to join us in advancing our efforts to inspire change in the way food makes its way from seed to table. Call or email Nancy, Pei-Yee, Mary Ann or myself anytime with your questions, comments, suggestions, or interest in learning more about our work and goals. We are here to serve the vision of wise stewardship of local agricultural land for a healthier local food system. In the next ten years, in 2020, may we all look back on this decade as the one where major shifts took place and right relationships to food and farming have been restored. We want it to be the norm, that at every meal we sit down to eat we can identify the lands and people responsible for our nourishment and know that they are both taken care of in return with care and respect. What deeply satisfying meals they will be! With all of us working together, I can see such a future.

Adalante juntos,

Jered