Archive for Agriculture
Battling Invasive Plants at Gregerson
By Meghan Scanlon, Conservation Project Manager
In 2008, POST documented a dense 41-acre French broom (Genista monspessulana) infestation on Gregerson, a 203-acre property above the coastside community of El Granada that POST acquired in November 2007.
Gregerson was historically grazed, but by the mid-1980s the then-fallow fields had been infested by a “broom forest.” The previous owners disced and planted it with oats for several years, but stopped doing so in late 2004. Since that time, broom reemerged and migrated into surrounding scrub habitat. The below map identifies the boundaries of the broom population as of April 2008.
Map of initial work.
The broom was encroaching on a population of endemic Montara Mountain blue bush lupine (Lupinus eximus). POST knew that if left untreated, French broom would likely come to dominate the entire area, forming a monoculture that would make it all but impossible for the Montara Mountain blue bush lupine and other native species to survive.
POST took immediate action, treating 35 acres of infestation before plants went to seed in March 2008. In 2009, POST worked to complete initial treatment of the entire infestation, and to re-treat the areas treated in 2008.
Hard at work.
With continued treatments in March 2009 and April 2010, POST effectively eliminated all mature French broom on the property, as well as new sprouts that had emerged after the initial 2008 treatment. The following map identifies the areas that contained broom seedlings as of June 2010. Note how the population has been substantially reduced!
Progress!
Ongoing follow-up treatment, which entails primarily spraying or pulling new seedlings by our dedicated volunteers, will be required for several years, due to this plant’s persistent seedbank.
Thanks to this effective treatment and scheduled follow-up monitoring and treatment, the Montara Mountain blue bush lupine, other Montara Mountain endemics, and other native plants will be able to thrive in this unique natural community.
Fresh Strawberries at Blue House Farm
By Kelsey Grousbeck, Intern
Recently a handful of Skyline donors and their kids bundled up to pick strawberries at Blue House Farm on the Coastside. Ned Conwell, one of the farm’s co-founders, taught us about the history of Blue House Farm, which began as a plot of land on Cloverdale Coastal Ranches and developed into a three-acre farm with over 100 varieties of produce.
Blue House Farms (c) Ann Duwe
Ned also showed us some of the techniques certified organic farmers use for eco-friendly pest control and to maintain soil fertility. Some of these techniques, such as using the parasitoid wasp that lays its eggs inside some agricultural pests, were a bit more creepy crawly than others. To finish the tour, Ned showed us the old-growth lumber barn containing the creative produce washing bathtub and lettuce-drying Maytag dryer, then let us run wild with their flock of chickens to warm up a little.
In the chicken pen with Ned (c) Kelsey Grousbeck
After Ned’s tour, POST donors eagerly made their way to the strawberry patch, where they got to work picking that week’s strawberry crop, each taking home enough strawberries to be used for everything from preserves to a tasty summer salad.
POST donors picking and enjoying strawberries! (c) Kelsey Grousbeck
Ned and his business partner Ryan Casey have been leasing the land for Blue House Farm from POST for the past five years. In that time, their success has come from operating as a CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture farm. With this program, members pay an annual fee to have a weekly box delivered with a selection of that season’s produce, as well as flowers and eggs if requested. POST’s office in Palo Alto is one of the drop-off sites for these boxes, and many POST donors and staff have participated in the CSA program at Blue House Farm over the years.
Strawberry Bounty (c) Kelsey Grousbeck
In addition to informing people about the CSA program, they have been running Blue House Farm as an educational farm, offering tours to school groups and explaining how to operate an organic and sustainability-oriented farm. Part of the reason they founded Blue House Farm together was, as Ned said, because he and Ryan “share a similar dream of combining farming with environmental education” (Landscapes Fall 2008). For more information about Blue House Farm and their CSA program, please visit http://www.bluehousefarm.org
A Walkabout on the Coast, Part 3
By Megan Hansen, Communications AssociatePart 3 – Cowell-Purisima
There is a feat of engineering and grace in the making at Cowell-Purisima, south on Highway 1 from Wavecrest. Tim Duff, project manager with the California Coastal Conservancy gives me a tour of the coastal-trail-in-progress. It’s clear that Tim is proud of the work: “I know I’m fortunate to call this my office, and I’m excited to be one of the first people to walk down the completed trail,” says Tim.
Cowell-Purisima Trail Construction (c) Chris Detwiller
Riding across the newly packed trail, the contrast between the hefty machinery used to create this 3-mile trail and the peaceful lushness of farmer John Giusti’s artichoke fields is striking.
Part way along the new trail segment, I find myself looking back at the lookout above Cowell Ranch Beach, the telescope glinting in the sunlight, Pillar Point still visible in the distance. At that moment, the importance of this project becomes clear. What was once an out-and-back trail will now continue curving gracefully along the coast, and I can easily picture the future trails that will rise up to meet it.
Cowell Ranch Beach (c) Robert Buelteman
This project was put on hold by the state bond freeze, but is back on track now that the freeze has been lifted. We will let you know as soon as it is open to the public. In the meantime, you can visit Cowell Ranch Beach on Saturday and Sunday, from 8AM to sunset. Beginning on May 1, Cowell Ranch Beach will be open 7 days a week.
If you missed them, here are Part 1 and Part 2 in the series. Check back for the final part, a stroll down Mel’s Lane.
POST
Jeff Powers
Paul Ringgold
Meghan Scanlon
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