Saving
Ag Land
/Friends
of the Farm

 

The latest report of the Dalidio Farm is that the SLO City Council voted 3-2 against acceptance of the EIR Report. The Dalidios will now move their development plans to the County for possible approval. Meanwhile an organization calling itself Friends of the Farm has formed with the goal of preserving the 160 acres of prime farmland between Highway 101 and Madonna Road in San Luis Obispo. The following is their press release.

Friends of the Farm will be an activist organization promoting preservation of this world-class farmland with its adjacent habitat areas, which are home to threatened and endangered species as well as other species of interest.

            Once Friends has rallied sufficient public opinion behind the preservation idea, it intends to partner with experienced land conservation organizations and enter into negotiations to reach a conservation arrangement with the land's owners. Ultimate preservation could take many forms, up to and including purchase of development rights or outright purchase of the land.

            This stunningly beautiful and bountiful farmland is the first view travelers from the south have as they approach central San Luis Obispo. This open expanse of land, with its working agricultural operation, is a characteristic defining feature of San Luis Obispo's distinctive image. This image makes our city uniquely different from mall-lined freeway approaches to cities north and south along Highway 101.

            An agricultural image for our region, as contrasted with commercial sprawl, is one of the things that makes San Luis Obispo attractive to residents and tourists alike.

            "The preservation of this land is doable! Even at this late date," says Friends of the Farm spokesperson Richard Schmidt. "Other high-profile local land conservation projects also began with desperate fights against developers' plans for their property and ended with conservation success. Because property owners ultimately realized conservation was a great deal for their own pocketbooks, today we have local success stories like the East-West Ranch in Cambria and the Cayucos Bluffs. We want to add the Dalidio Farm to this list of successful projects.

            Friends of the Farm believes this preservation project is one of the greatest challenges we face as San Luis Obsipo continues to grow. "What will be our legacy to future generations?" asks Schmidt. "Will it be commercial sprawl, built to satisfy the perceived needs of a passing moment in human history? Or will it be to preserve this incredible natural gift - fantastically rich soil in a rich growing climate that can provide food for people, a home for wild creatures, and green vistas that enrich the human spirit?"

Background Information on the Resources of this Land

The 160 acres between Highway 101 and Madonna Road are asset-rich in ways many citizens may not realize. Here is a preliminary inventory of the land's assets: 1. Prime Soil - the best farm soil in the world for growing crops. (Source: US Soil Conservation Service ag soils maps for Coastal SLO County.) 2. A 12-month growing climate, which makes these fine soils among the most productive in the world. 3. Abundant underground water supply. 4. Marvelous riparian habitat along Prefumo Creek, providing a home for riparian species of plants and animals, including threatened and endangered species. 5. Readily restorable riparian habitat along a secondary stream. 6. Nesting areas for blue herons and hawks, a rare resource within an urban place. 7. A buzzard roost. 8. A Monarch butterfly roost. Development is contributing to the decline of this beautiful and once-plentiful species through removal or degradation of its winter roosting areas. 9. Restorable habitat areas to increase habitat available for threatened and endangered species. 10. Historic ranch buildings 11. A viewshed of incredible importance to our community's character.

            It is the goal of Friends of the Farm to preserve these resources - to pass them along intact to future generations.

            Friends of the Farm is seeking comunity support at two levels at this time: level 1 being people willing to lend their name to our effort, level 2 being people willing to also lend their energy and time as volunteers. Please contact us if you can help at either level.

Contact: Richard Schmidt 544-4247 or Richard Kranzdorf 543-5578

Friends of the Farm e-mail: friendsoffarm@yahoo.com