VIDEO: Pie Ranch Honored With 2012 Sustainable San Mateo County Award

Pescadero's Pie Ranch, a sustainable organic farm south of Half Moon Bay, was honored in March with a 2012 Sustainable San Mateo County award for their work in food systems education and leadership development with Bay Area youth.

The 14-acre farm, which was certified organic on May 11 by California Certified Organic Farmers, was founded in 2002 by Nancy Vail, Jered Lawson and Karen Heisler. Students at Pescadero High School, Oceana High School in Pacifica and Mission High School in San Francisco participate in educational programs which include culinary arts and sustainable farming.

Produce is sold on site at the Pie Ranch farm stand, and a Community Supported Eggriculture egg share program is also in operation. On the third Saturday of each month, the community volunteers congregate for a day's worth of work, potluck dinner and evening barn dance.

Other honorees recognized at the ceremony held at the South San Francisco Conference Center were from Redwood City and San Mateo.

St. Francis Center, a social service organization in Redwood City which aims to provide in-need families with resources such as housing, job skills training and a community garden, was given an award along with clean energy company Solar City and Alane O’Rielly Weber, a master composter who teaches a 16-week course for those seeking to become master composters themselves. Both are based in San Mateo.

"The Sustainability and Green Building awards honor the individuals, organizations and companies leadering in the mission to make San Mateo County a better place to live," said , Executive Director of Sustainable San Mateo County.

"The winners' achievements are truly an inspiration and proof that we can all make a difference," she said.