I've always had a thing for the Straus Family Creamery. I'm not quite sure if it's the Straus homemade organic coffee ice cream or the fact that Albert Straus uses cow patties to power his farm.

That, to me, is a perfect man.

In 1994, Straus became the first certified organic creamery and dairy west of the Mississippi River. There are now 52 certified organic farms in Marin County and an awe-inspiring documentary titled Hidden Bounty of Marin that pays homage to the determined and bold farmers who tirelessly respond to the cycles of nature and the needs of their land, 365 days a year, to bring us fresh, locally grown food.

Produced by Rick Tucker and directed by UC agricultural experts Ellie Rilla and Steve Quirt, the film follows a day in the life of nine local farm families, capturing their commitment to the land they steward and the watershed they protect. "Ellie Rilla and Steve Quirt knew the issues and the players, and had the requisite writing skills," says Tucker. "We, at modest and humble Novato Public Access TV, provided the expertise to realize their vision."

Not only was Hidden Bounty of Marin awarded a Blue Ribbon for best documentary at the International Film Festival that will run at the Marin County Fair next week, but it was selected as the nations' best public-access produced documentary and was nominated for a Northern California Emmy in photography. Uh-oh, sounds like Marin County's Dave Fix, the film's director of photography, is gonna be demanding room temperature Evian and his own motor home any day now...

"The best part of my job is shooting interesting people doing unusual things," says Fix. "I was in heaven riding a boat out to Hog Island's oyster beds and wading around in hip boots in knee-deep water filming the oystermen at work. The most jaw-dropping segment was filming the Guinness Book of World Records sheep shearer, Shane Harvey, denude sheep with mesmerizing speed and ease."

The film is narrated by Peter Coyote and reveals the passionate work of Marin County's cattle ranchers, oyster farmers, cheese makers and vegetable producers. "Agriculture is really about the community. We're just the farmers," says Star Route Farms owner Warren Weber, often referred to as the grandfather of organic farming in California. "We are stewards serving the needs of plants trying to grow to become food for the tables where people eat."

These family farmers depend on the local community to remain economically healthy. Shopping at farmers markets is a great way to meet them. Marin Organic (www.marinorganic.org) and Marin Agricultural Land Trust (www.malt.org) have a variety of farm tours throughout the year. Or, join the Marin Organic Glean Team. Every Monday from 4 to 6pm, volunteers harvest extra crops from the fields to be donated to local schools, camps and food banks. This is a fantastic opportunity to get those teens off the couch, away from a screen and actually doing something...helpful. Imagine that!

"If you don't have local agriculture you lose a community that has been going on for 150 years," says Sally Gale of Chileno Valley Ranch.

"We're appreciative of local customers who support us and our family farms. Without them we can't survive."

After you see the film, get yourself over to the San Francisco Ferry Building. Order the clam chowder at Hog Island Oyster Company. It's an entire meal in a bowl. The first time I tried it, I called my dad in Manhattan to tell him I'd found nirvana. There I was, sitting alone on the wharf at sunset, waiting for the ferry, tearing up over clams...

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COMING SOON
Hidden Bounty of Marin can be seen at the Marin County Fair's 39th Annual International Festival of Short Film and Video daily, at 5:30 and 7:30pm, July 1 to 5, in the Showcase Theatre. Free with admission. www.marinfair.org or www.growninmarin.org.

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