Events – Page 2 – Flows to Bay

Join us for a FREE rain barrel workshop sponsored by Flows To Bay, the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program.

The workshop will be on Saturday, November 2, 2019 from 9am – 1pm at Tierra Linda Middle School, San Carlos. Learn the skills needed to install your own rain barrel system at home! All ages are welcome to participate in the learning and the FUN!

The workshop will feature:

Discussion of the San Mateo County rain barrel rebate program sponsored by Flows To Bay and the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency
Hands-on instruction and installation of a daisy-chained two-barrel system AND drip irrigation system
Smoothies made by a Machine Bike Blender (by Rock the Bike) and other light refreshments
PRIZE DRAWING: One lucky attendee will take home a FREE 50 gallon rain barrel described below that we will be installing and described below!

REGISTER ONLINE HERE! Only 30 spots available!

Space is limited. Email info@flowstobay.org with questions.

Why should I install a rain barrel?

Rain barrels are one of the best ways to save money and water.
Rain barrels protect local creeks, the San Francisco Bay, and the Ocean by reducing urban runoff that transports litter, motor oil, copper and other pollutants from entering storm drains
Rain barrels can also moderate flooding during the rainy winter season, decrease land erosion, and also reduce the amount of moisture that reaches your home’s foundation.
San Mateo County has a rebate program that provides a rebate of up to $100!
1,000 square feet of roof surface can capture 625 gallons of water for every 1 inch of rainfall, that’s over 11,000 gallons from one home per year!
Learn more about the benefits of rain barrels and how rain barrels help prevent stormwater pollution here.

Join us for a FREE rain barrel workshop sponsored by Flows To Bay, the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program.

The workshop will be on Saturday, October 12, 2019 from 10am – 12pm at the Half Moon Bay Library, Community Room A. The workshop will focus on:

Discussion of the San Mateo County rain barrel rebate program sponsored by Flows To Bay and the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency
The “why” and “how” of rainwater harvesting
Overview of different rain barrel types and approaches to installation
PRIZE DRAWING: One lucky attendee will take home a FREE 50 gallon rain barrel described below!

REGISTER ONLINE HERE!

Space is limited. Email info@flowstobay.org with questions.

Why should I install a rain barrel?

Rain barrels are one of the best ways to save money and water.
Rain barrels protect local creeks, the San Francisco Bay, and the Ocean by reducing urban runoff that transports litter, motor oil, copper and other pollutants from entering storm drains
Rain barrels can also moderate flooding during the rainy winter season, decrease land erosion, and also reduce the amount of moisture that reaches your home’s foundation.
San Mateo County has a rebate program that provides a rebate of up to $100!
1,000 square feet of roof surface can capture 625 gallons of water for every 1 inch of rainfall, that’s over 11,000 gallons from one home per year!
Learn more about the benefits of rain barrels and how rain barrels help prevent stormwater pollution here.

Exclusive discount with Hassett Hardware for a 50 gallon rain barrel

Flows To Bay has partnered with Hassett Hardware to provide residents of San Mateo County an exclusive 20% discount off the purchase of their 50 gallon EarthMinded RainStation Terra Cotta Rain Barrel (pictured below). Originally $99.99 + tax, the exclusive 20% discount brings the price down to $79.99 + tax.

The Earth Minded Rain Station rain barrel is a complete rainwater harvesting system that includes the patented Flexi Fit diverter for easy installation and to help prevent overflow and flooding. RainStation rain barrels feature a reversible planter top lid that can be used to grow annuals or herbs on top of the barrel making it both functional and decorative.

A convenient size for decks, patios and balconies
Sealed system resists mosquitoes, insects and algae growth
Diverter is easy to install and winterize
Spigot and drain with standard garden hose connection
Dimensions: 39.5” Height x 23.5” Diameter

Click here for a PDF of instructions for how to take advantage of this discount.

Come one! Come all! Coastal Cleanup Day (CCD) is nearly upon us, and if you haven’t participated previously, you’ll definitely want to mark this Saturday, September 21 on your calendar!

This family-friendly cleanup is the largest volunteer event in California. By leveraging the power of collective, state-wide participation, CCD aims to bring awareness to human impacts on the marine environment and the cascading effects that litter and pollution have on our aquatic ecosystems. Last year in California alone, 66,535 volunteers removed 839,632 pounds of garbage from our beautiful beaches! This year, we’re looking to beat those numbers but we need your help to get these top 10 polluters off the beach.

Cleanups are held all over San Mateo County: beaches, creeks, waterways, parks, and neighborhoods. Families are encouraged to bring their children, as this family-friendly event is a great opportunity to learn about litter and how to prevent pollution from ending up in our local waterways.

When: All Coastal Cleanup Day events are on Saturday, September 21st from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (unless otherwise noted).

Where: Over 40 sites throughout San Mateo County!

How to Volunteer: Volunteers should pre-register by selecting a site and RSVPing directly with the site captain. You can use this link to find a volunteer location and your captain’s contact information. You can also register on the day of the cleanup. If you are a large group, please contact the site captain first.

Prepare for the event:

Waiver Forms – Every participant is required to sign a waiver form. Waivers will be provided at your site by the site captain the day of the event, but to make your check-in faster, you may print, sign and bring the following waiver with you. All volunteers under the age of 18 must have the waiver form signed by a parent or legal guardian before participating in a cleanup. English and Spanish waivers.
Bring/Wear – If you can, consider carpooling, biking, or taking public transit to your location and bring your own buckets, gloves, and reusable water bottle to help reduce our overall footprint during the event! Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes and bring sunscreen and/or a hat.
Day Of – Check-in at your site location’s sign-in table to receive direction from a site captain. Listen to the safety orientation, have fun and be safe!

San Mateo County’s Coastal Cleanup Day is organized in conjunction with the California Coastal Commission, the Ocean Conservancy, and many statewide and local partners.

For more information, visit San Mateo County Health.

Flows To Bay is hosting a photo contest to highlight some of San Mateo County residents’ most innovative and effective water-wise solutions to capture or filter water at home.

We’d love for you to submit a photo of what you’ve dreamed up—this can include pictures of rain barrels, rain gardens, lawn replacements, and even sketches of future projects (to name a few).

HOW DO I ENTER?

It’s easy! All you’ve got to do is snap a pic and submit!

Visit this link to upload your image via Facebook and answer a few quick questions, or email your submissions to web@flowstobay.org with your name, city of residence, and subject line “Photo Contest.” Think your project doesn’t have what it takes? Think again! We’re looking for a range of examples from the elegant and simple, to the crazy and complex. SHOW US WHAT YOU’VE GOT SAN MATEO COUNTY!

CONTEST RULES

No purchase necessary. Winners must reside within San Mateo County, but anyone is welcome to submit. Photos must be submitted by 11:59PM on Friday, February 15, 2019. Flows To Bay judges will review all contest entries and select one first place and two runners up. Winners will be contacted via email by end of day on February 22.

WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?

While everyone will get bragging rights, first place will be awarded a $30 Amazon gift card, and a $10 Starbucks gift card will each go to the runners up.

Enter Your Photo Today!

Flows To Bay, the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program, has a mission of educating residents about the ways in which we can collectively reduce stormwater pollution to protect our waterways, our communities, and the people and wildlife who live in them. Owning maintaining, and using a rain barrel is just one way residents can do this. Read on for a recap of our recent rain barrel workshop in the beautiful new public library in Half Moon Bay. Like all Flows to Bay events, this workshop was free of charge and a great chance for residents to learn more and get serious about rain barrel ownership. If you have questions, or want more support after reading the blog, feel free to email us at info@flowstobay.org.

BRAVING THE RAIN

The December 1st Flows To Bay Rain Barrel Workshop kicked off just as a heavy rainstorm passed through the area. The timing couldn’t have been better to capture the potential of rainwater harvesting. Though admittedly a little wet, with water-soaked shoes, umbrellas, and rain jackets in tow, workshop attendees poured into the Half Moon Bay Library ready and willing to learn everything on tap at this “nuts-and-bolts” workshop. The remnants of nearly 24 hours of steady rain served as the perfect backdrop for the conversation that day.

The workshop began with a discussion of the Rain Barrel Rebate Program available to all residents of San Mateo County. Did you know that this program provides County residents with up to a $100 in rebates courtesy of the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program together with various participating agencies? Keeping in mind that the cost of a 50-gallon rain barrel starts at roughly $80, this rebate has the potential to cover most, if not all, of the purchase cost! To get more information and apply for the rain barrel rebate, visit the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency site.

FREE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTATION, YOU ASK?

Brittani Bohlke then introduced the San Mateo County Resource Conservation District (RCD). As a water resource specialist with the RCD, Brittani helps local landowners manage their natural resources (i.e. water, wildlife, agriculture, farms and ranches), and provides free non-regulatory assistance to County residents.

In fact, if you happen to have a bit of agricultural land or more landscape than you know what to do with, you can sign up for a free site visit from the RCD to get helpful tips on sustainable land management. Just give them a call at (650) 712-7765, and a specialist like Brittani will come to your home and help you brainstorm achievable ideas and projects that you can implement at home related to sustainable landscaping, stormwater management, rainwater harvesting, and more. Flows To Bay works with the RCD to spread stormwater pollution awareness from the coastside to the bayside of San Mateo County, and their service is an integral part of that work.

THE MAIN EVENT

The rainwater harvesting presentation was given by Chris Corvetti, an uber sharp rain barrel installation specialist, who also consults with Grassroots Ecology. Chris explained the perks of rainwater harvesting, which include both environmental and personal benefits, such as:

Saving money on your water bill
Reducing polluted stormwater runoff from getting into our Bay and ocean
Improving the water quality of our streams and creeks
Decreasing land erosion
Reducing moisture around your home’s foundation
Increasing infiltration and groundwater storage

Chris also provided lots of interesting factoids. Did you know that rainwater is healthier for plants than tap water? The chlorine and other byproducts added to make tap water safe to drink may actually stunt plant growth. We also learned that a half inch of rainfall on a 1000-square foot roof has the potential of harvesting 310 gallons of rainwater! Taking into account that the annual rainfall average in San Mateo County is 21 inches, the same size roof has vast water harvesting potential (13,020 gallons, to be exact). And did you know that rain barrels must be opaque because sunlight would activate the growth of bacteria, which would then render the rainwater unusable (and fairly stinky, at that)?

The workshop ended with the much anticipated raffle giveaway of a 50-gallon rain barrel from our partners at Hassett Hardware, and two $25 gift cards to their store. The lucky winners of the barrel were San Mateo County residents, Lynn and Marcello Altwer (pictured below).

Flows To Bay is grateful to Half Moon Bay Library for hosting our workshop. A special thank you to our presenters, Chris and Brittani (left and right, respectively), who provided quality educational information about stormwater pollution prevention and water harvesting to a fun group of San Mateo County residents!

Interested in receiving the rain barrel information discussed in the workshop? Have additional questions about the rain barrel rebate program? Curious how you can prevent stormwater pollution in your neighborhood? Please email us as info@flowstobay.org and we’ll be happy to help! And be sure to check our calendar for more events you can attend—we’ll see you out there!

Coastal Cleanup Day (CCD) is an annual waterway and land cleanup held on the third Saturday of September. It’s California’s largest volunteer event and brings community awareness to cleaning up and protecting our marine environment. In 2017, volunteers in San Mateo County cleaned up a total of 28,706 pound of trash, and this year we’re looking to do even more!

San Mateo County coordinates CCD in conjunction with the California Coastal Commission, Ocean Conservancy, and many statewide and local partners.

Cleanups are held all over San Mateo County at beaches, creeks, waterways, parks and neighborhoods. This family-friendly event is a great opportunity to educate residents about litter and how to stop it from ending up in our local streets and waterways.

How Do I Volunteer?

Volunteers can pre-register at this link: http://www.smchealth.org/ccd or register at sites the day of the cleanup. If you are a large group, please contact the site captain first.

Where: Over 30 sites throughout the Peninsula, see list of sites at this link: http://www.smchealth.org/ccd.

When: Saturday, September 15th, 2018 9am-12pm (unless otherwise noted)

Prepare for the event:

Waiver Forms – Every participant is required to sign a waiver form. To make your check in faster, print, sign and bring the waiver form with you on the day of the event. All volunteers under the age of 18 must have the waiver form signed by a parent or legal guardian before participating in a cleanup.
Bring/Wear – Your own buckets, gloves, and reusable water bottle. Help reduce our overall footprint during the event! Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes and bring sunscreen or a hat.
Day Of – Listen to the safety orientation, have fun and be safe!

As the celebrations get underway in San Mateo County for Independence Day, let’s remember to add some green to our red, white, and blue. Here are a few ways to make sure we keep our festivities fun while preventing stormwater pollution.

1. Ditch the Disposable Party Ware

Sure they’re popular and may seem easier, but disposable plates, cups, utensils and straws add to landfills and can even find themselves in our waterways if they’re not properly disposed. Show your pride in America the Beautiful and our county and use tableware that can just be washed and reused for your July Fourth get-together. Looking to get out of doing dishes? Try a “bring your own plate” theme or encourage folks to bring reusable containers to bring home leftovers. A similar concept works for glassware. Instead of charging a cocktail fee, a party-goer’s ticket is his or her own glass or reusable cup.

2. Use Large Water Containers
Plastic water bottles is one way to stay hydrated, but they create more waste Instead of individual plastic bottles, store water for your family or guests in large containers so they can re-fill their reusable water bottles or cups. If you must use plastic water bottles, be sure to have a clearly marked receptacle where your guests can place the empties for recycling.

3. Nix the fireworks
Instead of setting up your own fireworks display—which explodes a personal contribution of smoke and dangerous chemicals into the air and ultimately our water—attend a community display. Go a step further and ask your local firework coordinators to consider using biodegradable fireworks or the gunpowder-free fireworks that launches using compressed air.

Check out a list of different Fourth of July celebrations going on in San Mateo county here.

The Flows To Bay Eco-Day on Saturday, May 19th was a resounding success with its hands-on-activities and community engagement. Flows To Bay organized this event as a way for community members to put into practice new knowledge and passion from the Flows To Bay Challenge: In the Garden and the Community. The San Mateo county-wide event gave residents the opportunity to come together as a community to learn more about and to make a positive impact on our environment.

The Flows To Bay Eco-Day consisted of three events held by community partners throughout San Mateo County and was open to all residents.

The Pacifica Beach Coalition hosted a beach cleanup at Linda Mar State Beach in Pacifica. Despite chilly weather, there was a solid turn-out at the beach! Kids, teenagers and adults all braved the weather, picking up piles of small and large trash at one of Pacifica’s most popular and beloved beaches. According to this Daily Journal article, it is also the third most polluted beach in California.The ratings are based off of water-quality sampling that give the beaches a rating of A+ through F. If we are to change this, we all must continue to work together do our part in preventing litter pollution.

The Pacifica Beach Coalition is a volunteer-run non-profit that advocates for and practices responsible stewardship of our oceans, beaches, creeks, wildlife and native habitat. They hold events and programs for people of all ages to teach and help community members take care of the environment. You can learn more here.

Friends of Edgewood celebrated the beauty of the peninsula with a native plant nature walk at the Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve. With a small group attending, the nature walk was an intimate affair where the participants were led by docents on a 2.5-hour native wildflower journey. Between learning tricks for getting to know native plants and taking in vast views of oak woodlands and the Bay, this was a terrific chance to get outside and up close with nature.

The Friends of Edgewood is a volunteer-run public benefit corporation that works to allow community members to sustainably and thoughtfully enjoy the Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve in a multitude of ways. Some of the those include docent-led interpretive walks, habitat restoration, litter cleanups and running the Education Center. You can learn more here.

The Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) led an Integrating Edibles into your Existing Garden class at Redwood City Public Works. At the class, attendees learned about the benefits of having native and drought-tolerant plants in their homes and gardens. After the talk, they were able to get their hands dirty by planting and learning how to maintain the plants! One fun fact they learned about native plant maintenance? Since native plants are adapted to our cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers, they actually need to be watered less frequently when the temperature warms up in the summer!

BAWSCA was created to speak on the behalf of 24 cities and water districts and two private utilities that buy water from San Francisco Regional Water System. The agency’s goals are to have a reliable water supply, to provide high-quality water, and to supply it at a fair price. You can learn more here.

Overall, the Flows To Bay Eco-Day was a fun and learning-filled day! Residents of San Mateo County were able to get outside and get together to learn about different aspects of stormwater pollution prevention. From observing what’s often left behind on the beach to getting to know our open spaces and native plants to understanding why native plantings are so great, everyone was able to take away some knowledge of how they can change their behavior to help keep our water and land clean, safe and beautiful.

We have arrived at the final quarter for the FlowstoBay Challenge! In our last quarter, we are challenging you to take action in your garden and your community. Interested? Read on for great eco-friendly gardening tips and opportunities to get involved in exciting community events.

In the Garden

April showers bring May flowers, and the opportunity to revamp your garden with green products and gardening methods! Gardening is a great way to release stress, beautify your home, and to grow your own produce. Here are some tips to keep your garden eco-friendly and safe for your family and friends!

Eco-Friendly Pesticides:

Pests in the garden are a pain to deal with, so many people resort to harsh pesticides to ward off pests. While sometimes effective at handling pests, pesticides are a threat to your family’s safety and the environment. Commonly known pesticides, like Glyphosate (commonly found in Roundup), Atrazine, and Chlorpyrifos, are heavily used throughout large-scale agriculture and evenin households. However, the harsh chemicals in these products can cause birth defects, neurological damage, and other milder symptoms like headaches and nausea. These chemicals can also contaminate water sources that eventually flow to the bay, endangering marine wildlife and the safety of our oceans.

Fortunately, eco-friendly alternatives exist and are a great way to use natural solutions to keep your garden pesticide-free. You can even make some of these natural pesticides, like vinegar spray, at home and save yourself a trip to the local gardening store! Next time you’re shopping for pesticides, ask for the natural pest control alternatives and save your family and the environment from exposure to toxic chemicals. There are also great options for managing pests without spraying your plants, like watering and composting properly, planting native species that are pest tolerant, and more.

More Eco-Friendly Gardening Practices:

Aside from finding alternatives to chemical pest control, here are a few additional ways to “green up” your garden this spring.

Rain Barrels: Rain barrels capture water runoff from your roof and store it for later use on your gardens and lawns. Using rain barrels is a great way to help conserve water-use in your home and reduce overall water demand. These are also great for saving money on water bills and if you’re operating on a budget we even have a rain barrel rebate!
Rain Gardens: If you’re looking to transform a normal lawn into a beautiful garden, consider building a rain garden. Rain gardens are a depressed area in the landscape that can soak up water from your roof, driveway, or other areas around your home. They are great for reducing and filtering runoff from your property, preventing pollutants in runoff from reaching the bay!
Mulch: Using mulch or compost in your garden helps soil retain its moisture, fight weed growth, increase soil fertility, and keeps soil cooler, which can help your plants thrive. All you need to do is spread a thin layer of mulch over your soil and let the mulch work its magic!
Native Plants: When seeking new plants for your garden, native plants are the best way to go! Because these plants are already adapted to the local climate and soil conditions in our region, they require less water, fertilizer and pesticides to thrive in your garden. Not only are they less resource-intensive, but they’re also beautiful additions to your home that promote the existence of local flora like butterflies and other pollinators.

In the Community

Volunteering and giving back to the community can be fun for everyone, including the family, and really rewarding. Volunteer gardens, beach cleanups, habitat restoration, and advocacy movements are all great examples of community events you can get involved with. Fortunately, the springtime is filled with these events, where you can go outside, learn more about how to help our planet, and get your hands dirty for a good cause! Check out these local Earth Day events this month that you and your family can attend near you as part of the spring Flows to Bay Challenge:

College of San Mateo Earth Day: 4/18/18 9:30am-1:30pm, College Center Plaza, San Mateo: This event is focused on helping expose students to sustainable and green jobs. The featured exhibitors and student clubs will be focused on biodiversity, water, waste, energy and social justice issues.
Pacifica Beach Coalition Ecofest and Earth Day of Action: 4/21/18 9am-2:30pm, Pacifica: From 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM, there will be cleanups, gardening, and habitat restoration at locations around the city. From 11:00 AM to 2:30 AM, EcoFest will be held at Linda Mar State Beach to highlight and educate residents about our coastal environment.
Earth Day at the Shoreway Environmental Center: 4/21/18 10am-1pm, San Carlos: This Earth Day event is fun, family oriented event that includes a petting zoo, free food, recycling site tours, free compost, face painting, and much more.
Earth Day Clean-up at Coyote Point: 4/21/18 9:00am, Coyote Point Recreation Area, San Mateo: This event focuses on cleaning up San Mateo’s beaches and coastside parks. There will be volunteers out at 9 AM at the Beach Parking Area. Click here for more information!
Belmont Earth Day Celebration: 4/21/18 9:00am-12:00pm, Twin Pines Park, Belmont: This event will have environmental booths, informational displays, live music, and fun activities for children. There will also be e-waste drop-off and compost giveaways.
Tree Workshop & Giveaway: 4/21/18 9:00am-10:30am, Twin Pines Senior & Community Center, Belmont: Belmont’s contract city arborist and parks manager will lead this workshop. They will cover topics on how to select and properly care for trees, what a healthy tree should look like, and the Belmont Tree Ordinance.
Earth Day Taste and Talk: 4/18/18 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM, San Mateo Library – Oak Room, San Mateo: This event provides opportunities to join the discussion on transportation priorities, programs, and solutions for other issues in the community. Sample food from San Mateo restaurants will be provided. Commute.Org will present on their 2018 Commuter Challenge. This event is a Spare the Air Active Trip Incentive event.
Teen Program – Planting for Earth Day: 4/21/2018 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Downtown Library – Teen Center – 2nd Floor, Redwood City: At this event, participants will decorate a plant pot and use it to plant a flower in celebration of Earth Day. This event is for teens grades 6th through 12th. Click here for more information!
Marine Science Institute’s Earth Day on The Bay: 4/14/2018 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Marine Science Institute, Redwood City: The Banana Slug String band will play from 11:30am – 1:30pm, boat rides will be available at 10:00am, 1:00pm, and 3:00pm, there will be children activities, and an opportunity to touch live sharks! This event is free.
FREE! “Do the Math” – Earth Day Movie Showing: 4/17/2018 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM, San Mateo Public Library, San Mateo: This event is open to the public. Light snacks and beverages will be provided. This documentary is about one of America’s leading environmentalists, Bill McKibben’s battle to fight the fossil fuel industry and change the terrifying math of the climate crisis.
Spring Cleanup 2018: 4/21/2018 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM, Public Works Services, Redwood City: Free breakfast will be provided at 8:30am before your cleanup team sets out to one of Redwood City’s cleanup sites . A free barbeque lunch will be provided for all volunteers afterwards. There will be free composts for Redwood City community members.
County of San Mateo Sustainability Film Series – “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power”: 4/18/18 5:30pm, Century Theater Redwood City, Redwood City: This event is part of a month long initiative aimed at celebrating Earth Day through free Sustainability Film Series, showcasing inspirational award-winning films. Through these films, learn how issues in climate, energy and food have been solved locally and globally. There will be an opportunity to interact with San Mateo County organizations and ask about ways to take action and protect Earth’s resources. First 150 registrants receive popcorn and a beverage!
County of San Mateo Sustainability Film Series – “Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution”: 4/26/18 5:30pm, Daly City Council Chamber, Daly City: This event is part of a month long initiative aimed at celebrating Earth Day through free Sustainability Film Series, showcasing inspirational award-winning films. Through these films, learn how issues in climate, energy and food have been solved locally and globally. There will be an opportunity to interact with San Mateo County organizations and ask about ways to take action and protect Earth’s resources. Light refreshments provided.
County of San Mateo Sustainability Film Series – “Of the Sea”: 5/3/18 5:30pm, Ted Adcock Community Center, Half Moon Bay: This event is part of a month long initiative aimed at celebrating Earth Day through free Sustainability Film Series, showcasing inspirational award-winning films. Through these films, learn how issues in climate, energy and food have been solved locally and globally. There will be an opportunity to interact with San Mateo County organizations and ask about ways to take action and protect Earth’s resources. Light refreshments provided.
Daly City’s Earth Day Recycling Event & Community Clean Up: 4/21/18 9:00am-12:00pm, City Hall Parking Lot, Daly City: There will be secure document shredding, e-waste drop-off, compost giveaways, used tire take backs, and environmental programs. These free services will be performed in a drive through format.
Celebrate Earth Day: 4/21/18 8:00am-11:00am, San Bruno Park, Beckner Shelter Parking Area, San Bruno: There will be FREE compost giveaways available for all San Bruno residents to help enrich their gardens while learning about the benefits of composting. Residents must bring their own bucket.
Atherton Earth Day Event: 4/21/18 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Menlo-Atherton High School Performing Arts Center, Atherton: There will be a film screening for the film “The New Fire.” This film is about how technological advances in nuclear energy can help combat climate change. Admission is free. A light lunch and beverages will be provided. After the film, there will be a panel discussion, desserts, Q & A, and a networking reception.
East Palo Alto Earth Day: 4/14/18 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Bell Street Park, East Palo Alto: At this event, there will be bike repairs, safety lessons and learning to ride bike lessons, electronics recycling, tree planting, and a bike raffle!

Additionally, the Flows To Bay team will be co-hosting a joint programs on May 19th. We invite you to join us for one of three fantastic opportunities to get outside and enjoy our local environment while getting to know our local community partners who are holding hands-on environmental activities for San Mateo County residents. These activities and partners include:

Pacifica Beach Coalition: This event will be a beach cleanup at Linda Mar State Beach.
San Mateo Arboretum: During this activity, our partner will be holding a native plant talk and planting class at the Greenhouse and Nursery in San Mateo.
Friends of Edgewood: Residents will be able to explore the park through a nature walk at the Edgewood Park and Nature Reserve.

*Further details such as event times will be released shortly.

UC Master Gardeners are volunteers trained and certified by the University of California to provide community service and educational outreach that helps home gardeners and community organizations garden sustainably and create a healthy environment. Flows To Bay has partnered with the UC Master Gardeners for our current Flows To Bay Challenge to bring you eco-friendly gardening classes with their extensive horticulture expertise. Check out some of their amazing workshops to help you kick off your eco-friendly gardening efforts.

When and Where	Event Type	Why You Should Attend	Details
Date: 4/21/18 9am-1pm Location: San Mateo Co. Event Center – Sequoia Hall (FREE PARKING), 2495 So. Delaware Street, San Mateo 94403	Spring Garden Market	The annual Spring Garden Market is a plant sale and educational fair brought to you by the UCCE Master Gardeners of San Mateo and San Francisco Counties.	The Spring Garden Market will 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.
Date: 5/19/18 10am-12pm Location: Lyngso Garden Materials, Inc. 345 Shoreway Road, San Carlos 94070	Citrus Trees Care and Maintenance Workshop	Everyone should have at least one citrus in their landscape. You will learn which trees will thrive in our area, how and where to plant them, common problems and diseases, and a discussion about the Huanglongbing disease and the threat it poses to your citrus trees. Register at lyngsogarden.com/community-resources	Co-Presenter Master Gardener Lisa Putnam: Lisa has a BS in Agricultural Economics from UC Davis, and also studied nutrition science. She currently operates a small sustainable organic farm in Woodside and is a lifetime gardener, a UC Master Gardener (2009) and Master Composter (2010). Lisa’s passions are composting and the soil food web. She teaches both summer and winter vegetable gardening at Lyngso, Common Ground and several local garden clubs. Co-Presenter Master Gardener Kathleen Putnam: Kathleen is a professional organic vegetable gardener serving the Mid-Peninsula, is an Int’l Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist, a UC Master Gardener (2008), and has a degree in Environmental Horticulture from City College of San Francisco.
Date: 5/19/19 1pm-3pm Location: Lyngso Garden Materials, Inc. 345 Shoreway Road, San Carlos 94070	Backyard Irrigation Workshop	Learn about and participate in a hands-on demo to create a basic drip irrigation system using tubing, fittings and emitters. Register at lyngsogarden.com/community-resources	Presenter Master Gardener Pete Cerri: Pete has over 50 years experience with the Pipefitters & Sprinkle Fitters Union, experience with installing automated irrigation systems for yards, greenhouses and farm fields, loves to garden, and was certified as a UC Master Gardener in 2009.
Date: 6/16/18 10am-12pm Location: Lyngso Garden Materials, Inc. 345 Shoreway Road, San Carlos 94070	All About Herbs and Edible Flowers	Learn the basics of growing, harvesting and using culinary herbs and edible flowers. Propagate your plants from seeds, cuttings, transplants and divisions. Integrate your herbs and edible flowers in your native landscapes, vegetable gardens and containers. Maintain your plants with sustainable methods, and harvest your herbs to use them fresh or preserve them for future use. Have fun while sharing the many ideas for using herbs. Register at lyngsogarden.com/community-resources	Presenter Master Gardener Kathy Fleming: Kathy loves creating a balance at her Peninsula home by growing culinary herbs and flowers in containers and her perennial landscape for more than 30 years. She uses the herbs and edible flowers in many recipes, either fresh and/or dried, and loves sharing them with her friends and neighbors. Kathy has been a San Mateo/San Francisco UCCE Master Gardener since 2006 and has always enjoyed speaking and sharing ideas about this passion. Co-presenter Master Gardener Cindi Morris: Cindi’s affinity for plants began when she was in the fourth grade. She used to visit Ferry Morse Seed Company where her father worked. She loved peeking into the labs and seeing all of the experiments, and the best part was picking out some seed packets to take home to grow. Cindi was always amazed by the wonderful transformation of seed to flower. Over the years Cindi has continued her interest in growing plants, and today as a Master Gardener she loves assisting the home gardener with their gardens.

Visit smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.edu for more information and check out the Flows To Bay Challenge to learn more about eco-friendly gardening and community events.