Red Hill Ranch

Since traffic has become horrendous due to road construction on 101, I occasionally take the backroad to get to Petaluma after work. I have now happily discovered this farm stand and stop by to buy free-​range eggs. They also sell organic fruits and vegetables, as well as grass-​fed beef, which I still need to try. It’s worth a stop if you’re driving through this area.

We traveled to the Red Hill Ranch in Petaluma mainly to learn about MALT (Marin Agricultural Land Trust). Kitty Dolcini, the co-​owner of the farm and a MALT representative whose name passes me at this time were there to greet our enthusiastic group.
From Kitty we learned how she and her siblings inherited the 600 acre ranch after their dad had passed away. Five of her siblings wanted no part of the ranch, but Kitty and her brother Doug wanted to keep the ranch and carry out the family’s farming tradition. The Red Hill Ranch had operated as a dairy farm. With a net worth of $ 5 million at the time Kitty and Doug needed help to buy out the shares from their five non-​interested siblings.
That’s where MALT entered the picture. To make a very long story short MALT secured the dollars necessary to buy out the five siblings in exchange for the development rights to the property. Under the agreement with MALT the Dolcinis remain the owners of the land, but the land is protected for agricultural use only. The agreement is permanent and there is no opt out. Kitty now happily owns 3/​7ths of the property while her brother Doug owns the remaining 4/​7ths.
For the time, Kitty, who also owns a landscape design company, operates her share of the farm raising nearly 400 chickens in an open pasture for their incredibly fresh eggs. Several acres of her land are leased out to other farmers, and she also operates a company on the ranch cooking up farm fresh dinners to large groups. On weekends she has a farm stand on the property offering farm fresh eggs and an assortment of beautiful produce harvested by the other farms on the property.
Our group got a sampling of Kitty’s ranch dinner practice when she prepared lunch for us during our visit. With some fabulous rosemary-​infused lemon water to whet our appetite, our group sat down to amazing egg salad sandwiches served on fresh flaky croissants and multi-​grain bread and a crispy, fresh green salad drizzled in a vinaigrette dressing. The egg salad using Kitty’s super fresh farm eggs was incredible, and there were so many sandwiches left we got in on third and fourth servings. For dessert our group when gaga over four different flavors of rich, creamy ice cream from the nearby Straus Family Creamery served with edible flowers. Not usually one to partake in any ice cream action due to health reasons I sampled a bowl of the butter brittle ice cream and was so glad I did for it was outstanding.
After the amazing meal Kitty led us on a walking tour of her ranch teaching us some history about the family farm, the land and her chicken pasture. While the ranch is not certified organic Kitty does feed her chickens organic pellets and farm fresh produce. We witnessed the chickens going crazy over a clump of fresh lettuce tossed into the pasture.
When we noticed an occasional hawk soaring overhead we talked about the threat of predators to her chickens. Kitty estimates she’s lost about 100 chickens over the years to Red Tail Hawks and raccoons. She has plans to bring in two canine shepherds specifically trained to protect birds in the fall in hopes of losing fewer chickens.
We toured the old dairy barn which is primarily used for storage these days and looked out at some of the vintage farm machinery on the ranch. There is so much history on that land I’m glad Kitty and her brother made the decision to keep it. In 2018 the farm celebrates 100 years for the Dolcinis. Kitty said she doesn’t have specifics yet but she’s throwing a big party at that time to celebrate.