Thank You For Coming Out To See Us

Thank you to the many community members who stopped by our tables this morning to learn and share support for the upcoming coastal trail extension. A wonderful turnout of people stopping by on bikes, with dogs, and out for a hike with cameras, binoculars and/or family and friends. We are looking forward to making this an even more pleasurable space for many people to enjoy- while curbing erosion and rehabilitating the bluff top.

Donate to support this project, as well as all of the critical land preservation, protection, and stewardship done by the Coastside Land Trust.

Rebuilding Coastal Prairies With Grey Hayes - Community Webinar Recording

The Coastside Land Trust welcomes Grey Hayes to talk about the many facets of the coastal prairie - including an in depth talk about what lives within it, and why we should care. He also explores the history, current restoration and conservation efforts, and the concept of re-indigenation from the perspective of a restoration ecologist.

Grey Hayes has worked in land stewardship with UC Natural Reserves, large-scale monitoring and strategic planning with The Nature Conservancy, professional education with the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, and has taught at UC Santa Cruz. He has served as an advisor for the Sierra Club and the California Native Plant Society, and is a recognized Fellow by the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation.

Check out Grey’s blog and sign up for his newsletter at www.greyhayes.net.

You can also check out the California Native Grasslands Association to learn more about our California grasslands, how they are being researched and conserved, and how you can get involved.

Please donate to support the Coastside Land Trust free webinar programs and the protection and stewardship of our critical shared open spaces.

Junior Land Stewards join Together Bay Area biodiversity discussion

Junior Land Stewards (JLS) program manager, Haley Peterson joins the TOGETHER Bay Area “Together Tuesdays” discussion on Urban Biodiversity. She shares how JLS students of Cabrillo Unified school district encourage biodiversity through their endemic plant restoration work, while also connecting and learning about the natural world (through nature journaling, field trips, and in- class studies). This discussion is a great way to hear a bit more about the important work the Junior Land Stewards are doing, as well as other groups within the Bay Area .

Donate to support the Coastside Land Trust and the protection and stewardship of our shared open spaces.

Coastal Trail Informational Event

*CLT staff and board members will be posted at the starred locations.

Upcoming Community Webinar- Rebuilding Coastal Prairies

Join the Coastside Land Trust as we examine the many facets of the coastal prairie. Presenter, Grey Hayes will share an in-depth presentation on what lives within the coastal prairie, and why we should care about it. We will also explore the history of our coastal prairie, and the current restoration and conservation efforts.

Wetland Plants Along the San Mateo Coast -Webinar Recording

Enjoy the recording of our free community webinar, in which local botanist and author, Toni Corelli, explores our local wetland plants. The wetlands west of Highway 1 include seasonal freshwater wetlands, saltwater and brackish marshes, riparian (creek, stream, and river) wetlands, wet gullies, ditches and ponds. The watersheds that surround us drain down from the surrounding Santa Cruz Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Much of our coastline sits on a mostly flat coastal bluff, where freshwater settles- replenishing the groundwater and draining to the ocean. This leads to a diverse wetland habitat that supports many plants and animals that live along the San Mateo Coast.

Please check out these resources provided by Toni Corelli:

Wetland Indicator Species List

Webinar references

If you would like to purchase Plants and Plant Communities of the San Mateo Coast, by Avis Boutell, Toni Corelli, and Nancy Frost please email us at info@coastsidelandtrust.org or give us a call at our office.

Photographs by Toni Corelli

Donate to support the Coastside Land Trust free webinar programs and the protection and stewardship of our shared open spaces.

Wetland Plants Along the San Mateo Coast -with Toni Corelli- Free Community Webinar

Saturday, August 6, 2022
10:00 am PDT
Coastside Land Trust Webinar

Join local botanist and author, Toni Corelli, as she explores our local wetland plants. The wetlands west of Highway 1 include seasonal freshwater wetlands, saltwater and brackish marshes, riparian (creek, stream, and river) wetlands, wet gullies, ditches, and ponds. The watersheds that surround us drain down from the surrounding Santa Cruz Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Much of our coastline sits on a mostly flat coastal bluff, where freshwater settles- replenishing the groundwater and draining to the ocean. This leads to a diverse wetland habitat that supports many plants and animals that live along the San Mateo Coast.

Our presenter, Toni Corelli, is a botanist and author of several books on the local flora of San Mateo and Santa Clara County. The San Mateo coast runs along the Pacific Ocean for over 60 miles and has acres of public land with over 25 parks and state beaches. For the last 20 years Toni and two California State Park volunteers have surveyed these public lands. They have identified over 700 different species of plants that occur along the San Mateo coast.

Thank You To Our Volunteers

Thank you to the volunteers who made for another successful Wavecrest work day on Saturday. A big shout out to Sara Polgar for organizing this event, to many members of our excellent CLT board, and the dedicated volunteers who came out to tend to our shared open spaces.

Donate to help provide essential funding to preserve the urban open space of the San Mateo County coast for now and for generations to come.

Wavecrest Workday This Saturday

Photograph by Barbara Dye

Don't forget to join us on the coastal prairie THIS SATURDAY for our next habitat restoration workday at Wavecrest Open Space. Meet at the Smith Field ballpark at 10:00 am at the west end of Wavecrest Road in Half Moon Bay. Wear layers, sturdy shoes, and sun protection. All ages welcome and encouraged. Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

[Directions to Wavecrest Road]

Envirotokens at New Leaf Community Market

Thanks to the New Leaf Community Market's Envirotoken program, every time customers reuse a bag at New Leaf Community market they can receive a token worth 10¢ a bag to give to local, non-profit groups. New Leaf’s Envirotoken program is a great way to care for our environment while supporting the Coastside Land Trust. These funds will be well used in the preservation, protection, and stewardship of the local open space environment here on the coast! Please don’t forget to bring your reusable bags next time you shop at New Leaf.

Introduction To Fog Belt Birding; From Ocean to Redwoods Recording

Alvaro Jaramillo, International bird guide, returns to the Coastside Land Trust community webinar series by popular demand, exploring the rich diversity of birds that inhabit and pass through the San Mateo coast- from the shores and coastal prairie to the foothills and the forest. Alvaro's presentations are accessible and greatly enjoyed by ornithologists and beginning birders alike.

If you left the webinar with an unanswered question, Alvaro has kindly taken the time to answer them below:

ALVARO’S RESPONSES TO REMAINING Q AND A

To learn more about Alvaro Jaramillo and his tours, research, and other work, check out: Alvaro’s Adventures and Birding Your Best Life.

Alvaro is also an author of several local and international bird guides including American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of California- available for order at your favorite local book retailer.

Photographs by Alvaro Jaramillo

Donate to support the Coastside Land Trust free webinar programs and the protection and stewardship of our shared open spaces.

Running Of The Goats Tomorrow At 8 AM

The restoration herd will be moving to their new grazing spot, along the historic Ocean Shore Railroad Right-Of- Way, tomorrow morning at 8 AM.

This large herd of over 200 sheep and goats comes from Star Creek Land Stewards, and works with the Coastside Land Trust and the City of Half Moon Bay as a part of a planned grazing project. These sheep and goats are effective at eating fire fuel, aerating the soil, fertilizing the ground, and encouraging the growth of native plant species. This results in a reduction in wildfire danger, improved soil fertility, and an increase in the diversity of native perennial grasses. This process is also good for the environment, as it doesn't require petroleum products or chemicals of any kind.

Within this planned grazing project the goats and sheep work together- each serving it’s beneficial role, as grazers (sheep) and browsers (goats). As grazers, sheep are herbivores that feed on lower lying plants, such as grass and other ground level vegetation. As browsers, goats enjoy roughage. Goats like to eat at chin level and will eat the leaves and twigs off of shrubs and trees before they’ll turn to grass, which they will also do, but with less consistency than sheep. Goats are also likely to take a chance on eating a plant they don't know, and their guts can tolerate a wide variety of plant species.

Stop by the intersection of Railroad Ave & Poplar St in Half Moon Bay and watch these fuzzy restoration workers run to work!!

Great Work And Many Thanks!

Great work and many thanks to all who participated in the Wavecrest work day yesterday. The Junior Land Stewards plots are looking great, and have been sheet mulched to prevent future weeds, and to retain critical moisture during these dry months. It was a beautiful day, with a mixture of familiar and new faces, including a trio of young girls (one birthday girl in a rainbow tutu who turned three). If you missed out this time, please plan to join us on July 16, as we return to Wavecrest to do more good work.

Thank you to Barbara Dye and Sara Polgar for all these great photos.

Thank you so MULCH!

Great thanks to Todd Seeley and the City of Half Moon Bay public works department, and also the Half Moon Bay Soil Farm for providing and delivering mulch to the Junior Land Stewards garden plots in preparation for our Wavecrest work day next Saturday, May 21. This was no small feat, and we thank you all for this good work.

Don’t forget to join us on the coastal prairie for a habitat restoration workday at Wavecrest Open Space on Saturday, May 21 from 10:00am- 12:00pm PDT. We are excited to be back in person and tending the earth together again. We have missed seeing our dedicated supporters (old and new) in person. 

We'll be removing invasive plants around the Junior Land Stewards plots, and some additional spots. Meet at the Smith Field ballparks at the end of Wavecrest Road in Half Moon Bay. Wear layers, sturdy shoes, and sun protection. All ages welcome and encouraged. Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Directions to Wavecrest Restoration Work Day Meetup

Many Thanks To Our Generous Donors From Coastside Gives

Thank you to so many of you for your generosity and continued support. We have met our match to fund our Junior Land Stewards Program for academic year 2022-23. The Junior Land Stewards Program connects the students of the Cabrillo Unified School District with their local open spaces, and guides them in developing the environmental literacy skills and desire to become lifelong stewards of open space. We thank you for your generous donations that will support our next generation of land stewards, as well as the preservation and protection of our coastal open spaces.

If you would still like to make a donation, please click the link below. Thank you.

Today is the Day- Coastside Gives

Today is the day! Help the Coastside Land Trust meet our $50,000 goal to fully fund our Junior Land Stewards Program for academic year 2022-23. We are fortunate to have received a 50% match of $25,000 from dedicated supporters. Please help us reach this match and meet our goal. The Junior Land Stewards Program connects the students of the Cabrillo Unified School District with their local open spaces, and guides them in developing the environmental literacy skills and desire to become lifelong stewards of open space.

Please help Coastside Land Trust fund this program by donating at Coastside Gives to fund this program and help preserve the lands you love with double impact.

Celebrating our new official Junior Land Stewards

The Junior Land Stewards Program has wrapped up for this school year and these remarkable students accomplished so much. Take a look at all of the work they've done and discover how much they've bloomed. Thank you to everyone who supported this incredible program, we can't wait to meet our new group of Junior Land Stewards next year!

Donate to support the Junior Land Stewards and the critical protection and stewardship of our shared open spaces

Celebrating the earth with Jo Chamberlain

Last Wednesday Jo Chamberlain, Executive Director here at the Coastside Land Trust, visited the Sea Crest school to share in the celebration of their Coast Week. Jo shared a story, and joined students as they created chalk art to show what they love about the nature on the coast around them. The Junior Kindergarten students illustrated a book featuring the flowers they had drawn from their nature study in Marine Science to thank Jo for all of the ways she continues to help protect our coast.

Coastside Land Trust Demonstration Garden

If you are in town and looking for a bit of an education on some of our local plants, come check out the Coastside Land Trust demonstration garden. It is located outside our office at 788 Main Street. Here you will see some some Blue Eyed Grass Sisyrinchium bellum, California Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum, and Sea Thrift Armeria maritima - to name a few. Please don’t mind the California Poppy Eschscholzia californica trying to steal the show. It IS beautiful, so can you blame it?

Donate to support the Coastside Land Trust and the critical protection and stewardship of our shared open spaces.

The Coastside Land Trust welcomes Sara Polgar back to the board of directors

We are excited to announce that Sara Polgar rejoined the Coastside Land Trust board of directors in March. Sara lives on the coast with her husband Ayad and son Emil. She also works on the coastside on erosion and sediment management, climate adaptation and habitat restoration projects for the San Mateo Resource Conservation District. Previously, Sara served as a Half Moon Bay Planning Commissioner and was a coastal planner with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. Sara holds a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in biology and a master’s degree in Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Sara brings with her a passion for protecting and caring for our open spaces and for helping people to enjoy and connect with these special places. She has a deep commitment to the Coastside Land Trust and has been integral to the organization in many capacities since she joined our forces in 2011. We are all grateful for the leadership and vision that Sara brings to the Coastside Land Trust and to the community.