OTTO TELLER

A Conservation Legend, 1908-1998

"Otto told many of us that his purpose in creating The Teller is to demonstrate what can be accomplished privately to protect fish and wildlife."

Otto Teller came from a farming background. He was born on a farm and vineyard near Cleveland, Ohio in 1908. He graduated from UC-Berkeley and served in the Army Air Corps in the Second World War. In 1947, he returned to California and his farming roots. From the start, he refused to join neighboring farmers who embraced new chemical practices sweeping the farming industry. "I didn't need all those chemical fertilizers and herbicides and pesticides," he said, years later. He focused on organic, sustainable practices and wildlife friendly agriculture long before others were drawn to this movement.

By the 1970's, Teller was a full fledged conservationist, bringing not only such "radical" organizations as the Farallones Institute onto the farm to direct the farming operations, but also playing a pivotal role in the founding of Trout Unlimited, serving on the board of Ducks Unlimited, and contributing to conservation efforts around the country, both large and small.

Teller funded many small innovators in the field of "appropriate technology," such as solar energy and wind power, and was himself constantly experimenting with such technologies, bringing solar hot water, composting toilets, and other new ideas to the farm. In keeping with his zeal for conservationist ideals, Teller became interested in the idea of farmland preservation and seized on the conservation easement as a tool for assuring that not all land would be converted into duplexes. To that end, he helped found the Sonoma Land Trust, and donated an Oak Hill Farm conservation to the trust. Under this easement agreement, no new building or activity that would change the complexion of the 700-acre Oak Hill Farm property will be allowed. The Sonoma Land Trust actively monitors compliance with the agreement.

When Otto purchased The Teller properties, much of the land had been under agricultural production and had been intensively grazed and tilled for crops.

Otto sought to continue the agricultural heritage, however he aimed to implement sustainable farming practices that would restore the land and water, and emphasize wildlife friendly practices. Today The Teller continues to implement and expand this approach, and follow its mission guiding principle that states: "We recognize and draw inspiration from Otto Teller's values and beliefs that include the utilization of organic farming practices and restoration of native plant communities where possible and financially affordable."

Otto Teller was also a passionate fisherman and duck hunter, and over the years he observed the decline and destruction of habitats and watersheds in his travels around the world. An activist at heart, during the 1960's he dedicated his considerable energies and resources toward the protection of endangered habitats and spent the rest of his life working for the cause of conservation.