The group Occupy the Farm has been escalating their attempts to stop construction on the site of historic farmland in Albany. This year alone, the group removed surveying stakes from the land, disrupted the grand opening week of a Sprouts supermarket in Oakland, locked-down to construction machinery, and even sat in meditation to halt construction. Five activists had been arrested at those previous actions, but no charges were brought against them in court.

On April 23, celebrating Earth Day and the fourth anniversary of the original occupation, about 30 farm defenders occupied two acres on the south side of the Gill Tract. The group made three demands: 1) stop the development, 2) preserve the land for sustainable agriculture, and 3) create a community process for design & stewardship of gill tract.

Occupy the Farm didn't reach the number of occupiers they had hoped for to effectively defend the land and decided to end the occupation the following night. A massive police presence moved in on April 25 and contractors began cutting down the trees along the creek. Farmers are re-grouping to plan their next steps.

Read More | Occupy the Farm photos

Previous Related Indybay Features: Farm Defenders Halt Construction at Gill Tract for Second Time This Year | Hundreds of Farmers Occupy UC Berkeley's Gill Tract in Albany