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What's New: Our native plant hedgerow is growing strong!  The elderberries, lupines, and coffee berries are putting on new growth, and the goldenrod, mugwort, and California buckwheat is sprouting.

We need your help! If your group wants to volunteer to help with our natural resource stewardship efforts please contact info@sagecenter.org.

Natural Resource Stewardship

Sunol AgPark Natural Resource Stewardship Goals:

1. Protect and enhance natural resources through activities integral to and integrated with the sustainable agriculture practices.

2.  Work with the USDA NRCS and ACRCD to complete the Conservation Plan for the AgPark and implement the conservation practices called for in the plan. Implement additional resource protection practices as needed.

3. Develop and maintain the AgPark hedgerow and filter strip and other common areas in order to prevent negative impacts to ground water and adjacent streams from farming practices and to provide enhanced habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects.

4. Effectively engage stewardship volunteers to assist AgPark staff with the planning, installation and maintenance of the filter strip.

5. Promote and facilitate experimentation and research that supports the goals of the AgPark agriculture and natural resources components.

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Natural Resource Stewardship Accomplishments

Soil Enhancement for soil and plant health

Since the AgPark's inception in 2006, we have done annual winter cover cropping and added soil amendments such as compost and lime, to increase organic matter and long-term fertility and to prevent erosion.  In addition, our farmers follow all organic practices  and 95% of all plots are certified organic by CCOF.

Drip irrigation for water conservation

The whole AgPark is irrigated using water-conserving drop irrigation.

Filter Strip for water quality protection

We have installed a 600 foot by 15 foot grass filter strip on the western edge of the farm to protect the adjacent Arroyo de la Laguna from sediment from the farm.  The filter strip consists of a mix of annual and perennial grasses and wildflowers.

Hedgerow for supporting pollinator and beneficial insect habitat

We are in the process of establishing a 15 foot wide hedgerow interwoven through the length of the grass filter strip.  The hedgerow features clustered plantings of Bay Area native shrubs and forbs, including:  Toyon, Coffeeberry, Elderberry, California Grape, Yarrow, Goldenrod, Yellow Bush Lupines, Sticky Monkeyflower, Gumplant, California Buckwheat and Mugwort. These plants were selected to attract and support pollinators and other beneficials year round.  Native wild grapes will be grown on the fenceline to provide screening and windbreak.

All of the practices are being developed in partnership with the Alameda County Resource Conservation District (ACRCD).   Volunteers have helped with the planning and establishment of the filter strip and hedgerow during the past year.  SAGE and ACRCD sponsor volunteer work parties.

Partnerships and Financial Support

The hedgerow is being developed under the auspices of SAGE and its AgPark Advisory Committee.  SFPUC has contributed funds that match the contracted financial support and technical assistance received by SAGE from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service EQIP program.  Assistance with implementation and education is being provided by USDA NRCS, farmers and other volunteers.

Plant List in Native Plant Hedgerow

Scientific Name Common Name Life Form Bloom Period Symbol on plan
Achillea millefolium yarrow forb early summer - early fall Y
Aesculus californica California buckeye tree early *
Arctostaphylos manzanita manzanita shrub very early *
Artemisia douglasiana mugwort forb Late spring-early summer M
Ceanothus cuneatus buckbrush shrub early *
Ceanothus oliganthus California lilac shrub CL
Epilobium canum California Fuchsia forb late
Eriogonum fasciculatum California buckwheat shrub mid B
Fremontodendron californicum flannelbush; fremontia shrub early *
Grindelia camporum gumplant herb late *
Heteromeles arbutifolia toyon shrub mid *
Lotus scoparius deerweed herb mid *
Lupinus albifrons silver lupine shrub March-June L
Mimulus aurantiacus sticky monkeyflower herb-shrub summer SM
Penstemon heterophyllus Foothill Penstemon herb spring-summer P
Rhamnus californica coffeeberry shrub Late spring-early summer C
Rosmarinus officinalis rosemary shrub late *
Salvia mellifera black sage shrub *
Sambucus mexicana blue elderberry shrub spring-summer E
Vitis californica wild grape vine May-June V
Erysimum capitatum wallflower shrub W
Solidago californica California Goldenrod herb G

Plants to be added later *
Note:

early/spring:  March-April
mid/late spring & early summer:  May-June
Late (summer & fall): July-Sept

Partners and Funders

SFPUC

Alameda County Resource Conservation District (ACRDC)

USDA RMA

Columbia Foundation

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