Quarterly News & Events June 2023
San Mateo and San Francisco Counties
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Building Equity in the Silicon Valley
Food System by Lucy Diekmann & Laura Vollmer
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On May 16th, the South Bay Food Justice Collaborative hosted the final event in a five-part series, Building Equity in the Silicon Valley Food System. The webinar series explored the historical origin of disparities in farming and food security in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties and strategies for promoting food justice and food sovereignty. Topics included housing and land access, food culture and power, farmworker and labor issues, and community-led approaches to food work. READ MORE...
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Our very own Igor Lacan, Urban Forestry Advisor, was honored with the “Award of Merit” by the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture, at the Annual Conference on May 9th. This is highest award category of the Western Chapter, intended to “recognize outstanding, meritorious service in advancing the principles, ideals and practices of progressive arboriculture.” Igor states, "I am grateful and humbled for this recognition from my colleagues in the arboricultural profession. I plan to continue to provide research and outreach, to help the urban tree managers make the best-informed, science-based decisions for the benefit of the city trees and the city residents.
Please join us in congratulating Igor on this distinguished, well-deserved achievement!
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Come see 4-H in action at the
June 3- 11, 2023!
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4-Hers will be exhibiting their crafts, projects, and animals at the San Mateo County Fair. See what our youth have been working on all year! Visit the barn, watch a pig judging contest, check out all the cooking entries. The 4-H Cake Booth features homemade cakes & baked goods where delicious goodies are available for purchase in support of 4-H!. You can also venture a guess on the weight of the ‘pen pride’ pigs and win prizes! |
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The 4-H Experience
(formerly known as "Life Skills Day")
San Mateo’s incredibly talented 4-H'ers came together on April 29th to exhibit artwork, crafts, sewing and cooking projects. The Fashion Revue showcased stuffed animals, evening gowns and even costumes all sewn by 4-H'ers. Artwork ranged from ceramics to photographs. ‘Favorite Foods’ included homemade waffles, bread, and banana muffins.
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Animal Field Day and Open House
Pacifica 4-H Farm hosted this year’s Animal Field Day and Open House on May 13th. 4-H families and many community members toured the farm learning about everything from biosecurity, to how to sheer a sheep, and how to compost. The baby bunnies stole everyone’s hearts!
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Elkus takes the Ranch on the Road!
This spring, with the the Elkus Ranch closure, bridge repair, and program cancellations, Lead Community Educator, Beth Loof, filled the gap by taking the ranch tour on the road with an in-class program! Visiting three local schools, a total of nine classrooms, and over 200 kids, participants learned about fiber, from "sheep to shawl", the difference between predator and prey, and explored the botanical world of plant parts. Lessons included hands-on activities to card wool and make a bracelet, smell and taste edible plant parts, and sow a pea seed to take home to grow. |
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Elkus Bridge Nears Completion!
After 5 very long months, the Elkus Ranch bridge is finally complete. For those who were unaware, we lost our bridge and water system during the torrential New Year’s weekend storms. With the use of a rented manlift, we transported staff and livestock feed over the creek during these past months, hauling enough water to our treatment system for our animals and some plants but little more. It has been quite a process jumping through all the hoops, securing permits, and getting contracts signed to get this new bridge built. We have missed our visitors and programs and look forward to welcoming everyone back! The water pumping system is next...
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Elkus will be resuming regular operations in June with summer day camp and our annual public event "Sheep to Shawl", a great opportunity to visit the ranch, see sheep sheering in action, and tour the grounds. We hope to see you there!
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Master Food Preservers Graduate a New Class of Volunteers! |
We are so excited to welcome eight new MFP volunteers to our program! These volunteers began their journey in January with biweekly online classes, many hours in the kitchen learning preserving techniques from their MFP mentors, and concluding with a final presentation and graduation celebration on May 27. Our program now has 27 active volunteers who are ready to answer all your food preservation questions, lead in-person and online workshops, and provide UC research-based information about home food safety and preservation to the public. If you have a food safety or preservation question or would like a Master Food Preserver to speak to your group, please contact us at: smsfpreservers@ucanr.edu
(June 3-11) where we will be supporting the Culinary Arts division by judging the various food contests. Come join us and find out who the blue-ribbon winners are!
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Gardening Classes at San Mateo County Libraries |
The arrival of spring meant warmer and longer days – conducive to venturing outdoors again. It was time to plan a summer vegetable garden, start seedlings, prepare the soil for planting and take care of general landscaping tasks. To inspire and educate home gardeners, UC Master Gardeners led free classes and workshops at local libraries throughout San Mateo County in collaboration with the Peninsula Library System. Enthusiastic attendees learned how to plant native and pollinator gardens, grow herbs and edible flowers, care for succulents, and grow vegetables in containers and garden beds. During the summer, Master Gardeners will continue to offer seasonal classes and staff information tables for home gardeners.
(Pictured above rt.: MG Melissa Mason giving a Native Plant presentation at a San Mateo County library)
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Come see our UCCE programs in action!! Check out the many 4-H activities and animals along with our Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver exhibits & displays at the San Mateo County Fair!
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Located on-site at UC Elkus Ranch
1500 Purisima Creek Road
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
650-726-9059
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Master Gardener Helpline:
Open for in-person, walk-in visits per below. See our website for more details or submit any questions via the following:
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Monday: 10am-1pm | HMB
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Tuesday: 10:30am-1:30pm | SF
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Thursday: 1pm-4pm | RWC
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ANR NONDISCRIMINATION AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY STATEMENT FOR UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
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.
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