San Mateo and San Francisco Counties
Quarterly News & Events
Greetings,
We at UC Cooperative Extension San Mateo/San Francisco and Elkus Ranch would like to keep you updated on your local Cooperative Extension program offerings! Learn more about recent and upcoming educational and public events brought to you by our Master Gardeners, Master Food Preservers, nutrition educators, and 4-H youth members and adult volunteers. If you have school-aged children at home, please talk to their teachers about planning a field trip to UC Elkus Ranch in Half Moon Bay where our staff and ranch animals deliver environmental education through hands on learning.
Introducing new UC Climate Stewards Initiative Statewide Academic Coordinator,
Sarah-Mae Nelson!
We are thrilled to welcome our new UC Climate Stewards Initiative Statewide Academic Coordinator , Sarah-Mae Nelson! Sarah-Mae is an educator, science communicator, and climate change communication specialist who draws on her background and interest in interpretation in informal science education centers. She has a M.S. in Climate Science and Policy from Scripps Oceanography, UC San Diego and a B.S. in Marine Biology from UC Santa Cruz. She was recognized by President Obama in 2015 as a Champion of Change in Climate Education and Literacy.

Sarah-Mae is based at UC Elkus Ranch and can be reached at  smanelson@ucanr.edu
Sarah-Mae Nelson
Program Happenings
Saturday, April 13 9am-1pm
Please join us for the 10 th  Annual UCCE Master Gardeners of San Mateo and San Francisco Counties Spring Garden Market. The Spring Garden Market is a plant sale and educational fair where we offer more than 5,000 vegetable plants, herb starts, and succulents to get your home garden started. You’ll discover a wide variety of heirloom tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, other vegetables and herbs that have been expertly selected and lovingly grown by us for you.

We’ve carefully chosen top-performing varieties for each microclimate, ensuring that you’ll have a productive and flourishing garden this year.
There will be educational tables to help you select the best plants for your garden, and we’ll provide tips on how best to plant, grow and care for your new seedlings. Don’t miss our other activities and features too, including our exhibit and sale of beautiful succulent arrangements.

Where : San Mateo Event Center, Sequoia Hall, 2495 South Delaware St. in San Mateo
Notes : Cash or check only. Please bring your own boxes. Admission and parking are free!
Photos courtesy of MG Bruce Goren

The Pacifica 4-H club held a service learning project this year to help out victims of the Butte County fires. Youth members sold food at County Presentation Day, and all of the money raised will go towards helping rebuild Butte County/Pine Ridge 4-H Clubs. Fifty members and volunteers of Butte County 4-H have lost their homes, and many items belonging to the club have been destroyed. With the kind help of donations from local businesses Safeway, Kizler Coffee, Sun Valley Market, Starbucks, and Mazzetti's and baked goods provided by members, Pacifica 4-H was able to raise over $330 to purchase lamb feeders, SD camera cards, and cake decorating kits to help their fellow 4-H members!
By Thomas S., 4-H Reporter
Elkus Ranch Selling Baby Goats to 4-H

Check out these kids who went to their new home! Sophia and Tessa are members of San Mateo/SF 4-H and are raising these  Boer goat kids  for their fair project. Elkus Ranch is breeding primarily Boer goat kids (as well as Boer/Nubian crosses) and also Suffolk/Hampshire lambs in the hopes of selling them to local 4-H club members for their projects. We are excited to have these two programs partner together under the UCCE umbrella. Contact us if you are interested in purchasing goats or lambs from a local educational ranch!

On Saturday March 2 at UC Elkus Ranch, the 6 th year of the Healthy Living Ambassadors Gardening Program began. This teens-as-teachers program, which is a partnership of the UC Calfresh and 4-H Youth Development programs, is a highlight of UCCE San Mateo/San Francisco Counties. Teens serve as garden and nutrition educators for elementary school youth, working with them in their school gardens throughout the spring.

Master Gardener volunteers have been collaborating with adult clients from Kainos Home and Training this year and have had the privilege to see the efforts of their work pay off. This program has enabled clients with a variety of abilities to work inclusively in different garden spaces. The benefits of this partnership are many: Kainos clients meet new people, learn how to garden, build confidence, work on social skills, and give back to their communities.
Did you know...
The Elkus Ranch Conference Center is available for group rentals!
Looking for a unique venue for your corporate retreat, special training, or club meeting? Consider the Elkus Ranch Conference Center for your next event! A full commercial kitchen is on-site and the location and price can't be beat!
Now taking reservations for 2019!
Other News / Events / Opportunities
Mark your calendars for Coastside Gives!
May 2, 2019
Join us for a 24-hour fundraising event for nonprofits on the coast! This is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. Help us reach our goal of $5000! Funds will support the UC Elkus Ranch animal care systems and educational infrastructure, both of which are central to our experiential learning programs for Bay Area youth. Mark your calendars today!
April 4 & 5 • 10am-2pm
Join us for Spring Preschool Days at UC Elkus Ranch! Preschoolers and their families can visit stations throughout the ranch that are specifically geared towards this age group.
*Reservations required
June 8 • 10am-2pm
Our flock of sheep will be sheared by Mr. Wool, a professional sheep shearer, and Elkus Ranch will be open to the public* for a day of fun on the farm!
*Reservations required
UC Elkus Ranch Veterinary Student Volunteer
This winter, Elkus Ranch had the pleasure of hosting a future veterinary student, Peter Siegler! Peter is working on his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) at the University of Melbourne and volunteered his time and knowledge to gain valuable hands-on animal experience. In addition to stall cleaning and daily ranch chores, he assisted with livestock handling, vaccinations, hoof trimmings, vet visits, and more. Thank you, Peter!

Elkus Ranch can use regular and one-time volunteers and volunteer groups to help with gardening and stall cleaning for our friendly livestock. Other special projects vary but can include painting, construction, trail maintenance and more. Help us keep our gardens productive and our animals happy and healthy!
As a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, UC Cooperative Extension and Elkus Ranch are always in need of monetary and in-kind donations. Check out the Elkus Ranch Wish List to see what else we need!
Thank you for reading, we hope to meet you in person soon!
UC Cooperative Extension Offices
San Mateo / San Francisco Counties
Located at Elkus Ranch
1500 Purisima Creek Road
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
650-726-9059
Email: cesanmateo@ucanr.edu

Nutrition Office:
300 Piedmont Ave.,
Building B, Rm 227
San Bruno, CA 94066
Master Gardener Helpline:
650-276-9030 / mgsmsf@ucanr.edu

Mondays - 9am to 4pm
Elkus Ranch Conference Center
1500 Purisima Creek Road, HMB
Thursdays - 9am to 4pm
Veteran's Memorial Senior Center
1455 Madison Ave., Redwood City
Wednesdays* - 10:30am to 2pm
*starting Oct. 24th, 2018 at the
San Francisco Botanical Garden Library
1199 9th Ave. San Francisco
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It is the policy of the University of California (UC) and the UC Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources not to engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities (Complete nondiscrimination policy statement can be found at  http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/215244.pdf )
 Inquiries regarding ANR’s nondiscrimination policies may be directed to UCANR, Affirmative Action Compliance & Title IX Officer, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2801 Second Street, Davis, CA 95618, (530) 750-1397.