Welcome to our home!

Please take a few minutes to look through this binder, as it contains lots of useful information about the house and grounds.

Over the past six years, our wonderful community of friends, neighbors and many craftspeople have helped us revitalize the ranch, including rebuilding our beautiful, memory-filled 150-year-old hay barn - please feel free to go in and check it out (there’s some cool old farm photos in there, too)!

While you’re here, be sure to enjoy the star-filled skies, magnificent sunsets across the bay and also learn about a handful of activists who saved from development, captured in the documentary, “Rebels with a Cause” (there’s a DVD in the TV room).

Whether you’ve come to celebrate, retreat or escape, we hope you have a wonderful stay, and please don’t hesitate to let us

know if there’s anything you need.

Michael, Vivien & Miriam Straus (siblings) October, 2020

The Important Stuff

Parking​ -​ P​ lease keep the driveways clear (and don’t block the gates to the fields), super important because farm vehicles need 24-hour access to the fields.

Shoeless House​ - Please remove your shoes (a farm is a dirty place, and it’s best kept outside).

No Smoking -​ The house and buildings are strictly non-smoking. Please smoke (or vape) away from the house, and toss your butts in the garbage can (which may seem obvious, but we’re always surprised to discover that many smokers mindlessly toss their butts all over the ranch).

Water​ - Please conserve our water (we don’t have our own spring, and purchasing water is quite expensive). We suggest: ● Turning off water​ while brushing teeth and washing dishes. ● Limit showers ​ to 5 minutes or less. Turn off water while lathering up. Mom used to stand outside the bathroom as we were taking showers, yelling, “Three minutes! You have three minutes!” And that was during the winter, when we had more water! In the summer, she’d switch to “One minute! You have one minute!” (Dare you try the Straus One Minute Shower Challenge?)

Toilets​ - Our on-site septic is delicate. Please don’t put any feminine hygiene products in the toilet; wrap them up and toss in the trash. If you know each other well, feel free to use the 1960s axiom, “If it’s yellow, it’s mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down.”

Heat ​ - The thermostat is located in the living room. We suggest 68-72 degrees during the daytime, and 60 degrees at night.

Cell Phones ​- As you’ve probably already (belatedly) discovered, there’s very limited service in our neighborhood. Enjoy the reprieve.

Land Line ​ - In the kitchen: (415) 663​-1194 (same as when we were kids, though at the time, it was a party line)! You can make unlimited local and domestic long distance calls.

Garden Lights ​ - The red switch is just outside the kitchen door.

The Dining Room Table ​ - The beautiful dining room was made by our friend and craftsman Darrel DeBoer, using old redwood planks from the hay barn. Please do not put hot pots or pans on it.

Kitchen ​- We hope the kitchen is well-stocked for all your needs, but please let us know if you need anything. Please use the cutting board rather than the wood counters, to chop, dice and prepare your foods. Extra paper towels, dish soap, etc. are in the cabinet under the kitchen sink.

Electrical Outages ​ - In case of a power outage, you’ll find flashlights in the laundry room closet, and plenty of candles throughout the house. Without electricity, the water pump doesn’t work, so while the toilets will flush, the showers won’t have any pressure.

Bonfires​ - We allow bonfires on a limited basis out behind the barn … if you’re interested, please ask for details.

BBQ​ - There is a BBQ out on the garden patio. If it’s out of propane, just let us know. We ask that you clean the grill and cover the BBQ after use.

Entertainment System​ - Amazon Prime and Netflix - yes. Local network and cable - nope! If there’s a Big Game, you’ll need to figure out how to stream it, or watch at the bar at nearby Nick’s Cove. Lots of DVDs with movies for old and young in the black case.

Medical Kit​ - Located in the cabinet by the laundry area.

Garbage, Recycling & Compost​ - Large cans for all three are located behind the house.

Beach Towels ​ - For outdoor use, instead of the white towels, we have beach towels in the cabinet near the downstairs bathroom.

Laundry ​- Feel free to use the washer and dryer, laundry detergent, etc. However, please don’t wash our white towels (we’ve had problems with stains). If you need more towels, just let us know. Poke around to find the ironing board, iron and steamer.

Extra Bedding​ - You’ll find bedding for the pull-out in the TV room cabinet, and extra pillows and blankets in the bedroom closets. There’s a twin folding mattress (& linens) in a bedroom closet, too.

Outdoor Games ​ -​ C​ orn hole. Giant Jenga. Croquet. Frisbees … lots of fun stuff in the shed behind the house.

Small Kids​ - Porta crib and high chair are in the closet under the staircase.

Exploring the Ranch ​- Definitely check out our newly-restored Hay Barn; but p​ lease - very important - don’t go into the fields without permission and/or one of us.

In Case of Emergency - ​Dial 911 from the kitchen phone. Our address: Straus Home Ranch, 22888 Highway 1, Marshall.

Bovine Emergency​ - Every now and then, the cows break out and wander onto the lawn (very Instagramable) and then onto the highway (very dangerous). If you spot any escapees, please let us know ASAP.

Suggestions?​ Is there something missing? Just let us know.

Contact Information ​- [email protected]

CHECK OUT

Check Out Time ​ - 11:00am, unless pre-​arranged for late checkout.

Towels & Linens​ - Please place all towels in the hamper near the laundry machine. If you’ve used the pull-out bed in the den, please leave it unfolded. There’s no need to strip off the bed linens. Please do not wash towels or sheets.

Dishes ​ - Please wash all dishes (by hand or with the dishwasher) and return to their proper cabinets and drawers. (But if you’re running out the door and just started the dishwasher, no problem!). Oh, please turn off and clean the coffee machine, too.

Trash & Recycling ​- Please empty all trash, compost and recycling into the large bins located behind the house.

Straus Milk Bottles ​ - Please rinse and place on the kitchen counter - don’t recycle them, as they’ll be washed and reused.

BBQ ​- If you’ve used the BBQ, please make sure to clean the grill, turn off the gas valve underneath, wash and store utensils inside the BBQ, and place the cover back on.

Did You Forget Anything? ​ - Take a quick look in the bedrooms and elsewhere for errants socks, jewelry and phone chargers.

Kiosk Purchases ​ - If you’ve purchased from the kiosk, please pay with a check, cash or PayPal to ​[email protected].​

Post a Review? ​- If you enjoyed your stay, you can find review links at ​StrausHomeRanch.com/reviews​. We really appreciate it!!!

YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY FARM-TO-TABLE AWESOMENESS

This is not an exhaustive list (but it’ll give you a pretty good taste)!

Immediately next door: N​ ick’s Cove Restaurant​ - including BYO and hanging out on the public-access pier. Tuesday is ‘local’s night’.

In and near ‘downtown’ Marshall: H​ og Island Oyster Company​ ​( if you’ve made a reservation far in advance), ​Tony’s Seafood (​ managed by Hog Island) and … top local’s recommendation? The Marshall Store (ahh-MAZing BBQ oysters, and super chill vibe), and her sister company (literally), the ​ Oyster Company (​ sacks of oysters to-go … we’ve got shucking tools and gloves in the kitchen).

In the still-not-gentrified town of Tomales:​ The ​William Tell (​ Friday is local’s ‘evening, 5-8pm), the ​Bakery​ (as of 2020, managed by Shannon, the owner of The Marshall Store … did somebody say epic pizzas??);​ Piezzi Provisions (locally-made amazing cheeses, meats and gifts), K&J Take Away ​(esp. their sausage sandwiches), a farmstand with fresh produce, the ​Deli ​ and D​ iekmann’s​ (a 7-11 type convenience store).

In Pt. Reyes Station ​ (the Capital of West Marin): Bovine Bakery (yes, please), Palace Market (our local Whole Foods and … local buffalo milk gelato soft serve at deli counter!!), ​Station House Cafe​, O​ steria Stellina (whoa!) ​, S​ ide Street Kitchen,​ ​Cafe Reyes (great pizza) and … don’t miss the ​Old Western Saloon​ for a pint and some local flavor. While you’re in the ‘hood: The Pt. Reyes Farmer’s All Organic Market (Saturdays, in season), ​Cowgirl Creamery ​(old friends!), ​Heidrun Meadery ​ (artisan honey wines) and … well, that’ll get you started.

Inverness Park and Inverness (two separate villages): ​ ​IP Taproom a​ nd the adjacent IP Deli​ (great sandwiches and food for hiking), and ​Salt Water Depot a​ re all excellent.

Valley Ford, Freestone and surroundings:​ E​ stero Cafe​ for breakfast, O​ ysters Rockerfeller ​for dinner,​ Wild Flour Bakery ​the best brick oven bread anywhere!, and a lowkey bar called Casino in nearby Bodega.

Cheese!​ Many recommendations. The best local cheese can be found via The Cheese Trail … the authoritative guide (we’ve left you a map) to local, artisan cheeses (buying, touring), created by Vivien Straus. CheeseTrail.org.

DISCOVER WEST MARIN

Where do we start??

Hike ​ at the National Seashore or . Directly across the bay is the trailhead for Tomales Point at Pierce Point Ranch, a 4 ½ (relatively easy) hike (each direction) that takes you along the ridge, through herds of Tule Elk, to where the mouth of Tomales Bay meets the Pacific Ocean. Plus, if you ask Michael, he’ll direct you to a mysterious, ancient archeological site.

Visit ​ the newly-restored Point Reyes Lighthouse, the most western point of the continental U.S. mainland. Winter is perfect for whale watching.

Kayak ​ on Tomales Bay - Best in the mornings or evenings, when there’s no wind and the bay is as smooth as glass.

Take a guided walk ​ with the Marin Agricultural Land Trust.

Take a driving tour ​ of Marin County cheesemakers (or plan ahead and visit a farm. See CheeseTrail.org for suggestions.

Take a long walk o​ n the glorious Limantour Beach

Rent a horse​ on trails of Muir Beach or Point Reyes Seashore.

Walk the Earthquake Trail ​ at the Bear Valley Visitor Center, Olema.

Check out c​ harming downtown Point Reyes Station, including Coyuchi - the world’s pioneering organic bed linens brand.

Chill out​ in the garden, meditate on the big rock on our little beach across the street, watch the sunset, the amazing night skies (no light pollution) and use our yoga equipment.

So much to do! So little time!