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E l k u s R a n c h P r o g r a m N e w s
U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a C o o p e r a t i v e E x t e n s i o n Elkus Ranch Environmental Education Center
Advisory Board
Carolyn Battaini
Christa Bigue
Diane Centoni
Robin Cunha
Roger Hoppes
Joyce James
Gordon Ray MD
Manuela Seitz-Hipkins
Tracey Walsh
Staff
Marilyn Johns, Director
Leslie Jensen,Coordinator
Kathi Baxter Environmental Science Educator
Augie Aguilar,Ranch Foreman
Bruno Acosta, Groundskeeper
Program Staff
Denise Kelly
Amy Kruckewitt
Julie Mathiasen
Terri Pacheco
Nancy Poss
Robin Tierney
Wendy Rotchstein Ranch Talk Editor
Fall/Winter 2011
Welcome to Ozzy
Winter Camp
Children’s Garden Update
Great Blue Heron
Donation Request
Master Gardener Update
Advisory Board Additions
Thank You to Donors
Calendar
Wish List
In This Issue
Welcome Ozzy
New to Elkus Ranch this spring is
Ozzy, a gelded sorrel Quarter horse.
Our older mare Suzie Q. was starting
to show her age, and needed some
medical care beyond our abilities.
Fortunately for us Dr. Lafoon, who
donated Suzie to us, was able to take
her back and give her the attention she
needed as she aged. Lucky for us he
donated Ozzy to fill her shoes.
Ozzy immediately became best buddies
with our Paint mare Pocahontas. Both
of them took to the Elkus hills to enjoy
the green grass and open space. He
seems very happy here and is a big
hit with the children as well as the
staff. He is big and beautiful, reddish
brown (sorrel) the most common color
for Quarter horses. This breed of
horse is known for their short distance
sprinting skills, and we are thrilled to
watch him practice, as he runs across
our pasture. He has taken on the role
of alpha animal in the upper barn, and
keeps Pocahontas and our sheep in
their places.
Quarter horses are the most popular
breed in America. You can find them
working on ranches, in police de-
partments, and in rodeos. They also
can be found showing off their skills
in many different types of horse
shows.
“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good
for the inside of a man”
–Winston Churchill
Ranch Talk Fall/Winter 2011
Great Blue Heron Submitted by Julie Mathiasen, Elkus Ranch Program Staff
The familiar Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in North America. It is a large bird, with a slate-gray body, chestnut and
black accents, and very long legs and neck. In flight, it looks enormous, with a six-foot wingspan. Adults
have a shaggy ruff at the base of their necks. A black eyebrow extends back to black plumes emerging from the
head. In flight, a Great Blue Heron typically holds its head in toward its body with its neck bent.
The Great Blue Heron is found in a wide variety of habitats. When feeding, it is usually seen in slow-moving or calm
salt, fresh, or brackish water. Great Blue Herons inhabit sheltered, shallow bays and inlets, sloughs, marshes,
wet meadows, shores of lakes, and rivers. At Elkus Ranch we often see the Great Blue Heron in the horse
pasture, slowly moving among the horses looking for voles and gophers to eat. Sometimes if we are lucky, a Great
Blue Heron will take flight and fly low right over the car as we are driving to Elkus.
When foraging, they stand silently along riverbanks, lake shores, or in wet meadows, waiting for prey to come by, which they then strike with their
bills. They will also stalk prey slowly and deliberately. Although they hunt predominantly by day, they may also be active at night. Fish, amphibians,
reptiles, invertebrates, small mammals, and even other birds are all potential prey of the Great Blue Heron.
Great Blue Herons usually breed in colonies containing a few to several hundred pairs. Nest building begins in February when a male chooses
a nesting territory and displays to attract a female. The nest is usually situated high up in a tree. The male gathers sticks for the female who fashions
them into a platform nest lined with small twigs, bark strips, and conifer needles. Both parents incubate the 3-5 eggs for 25-29 days. Both
parents regurgitate food for the young. The young can first fly at about 60 days old, although they continue to return to the nest and are fed by the
adults for another few weeks. Pair bonds only last for the nesting season, and adults form new bonds each year.
When : December 20 and 21
Time : 9 :00 a .m. to 3:00 p.m.
Ages: 6 – 11 years
Cost: $50/chi ld/day
Advanced registration is required.
Visit http://ucanr.org/2011wintercamp to register using a credit card.
Questions? Contact Leslie Jensen at (650) 712-3151 or [email protected]
Hey kids! Put on a sweater
and come join the fun. It
might be chilly but our
wooly friends will keep us
warm while we work in the
barns and gardens, bake
holiday treats and
make wintery
crafts.
Winter Camp
Children’s Garden Makeover Submitted by Kathi Baxter, Environmental Science Educator Our children’s garden will be getting a makeover this winter thanks to
the Atkinson Foundation of San Mateo. Elkus Ranch was the
recipient of a $7,000 grant to purchase materials to construct
new raised beds. We have been so pleased with the
raised beds in our Enabling Garden, also funded by
the Atkinson Foundation, and are looking forward to
the transformation of the Children’s
Garden. Raised beds have so many
advantages from easier pest management
and extended growing seasons to improved
access for weeding, planting and harvesting.
We’ve also found that it is easier to focus children’s
attention when the plants are at eye level – it brings the garden
closer. Safety issues will also be reduced as the beds and pathways are
more clearly delineated. Materials will be delivered shortly and beds
will be constructed and filled gradually throughout the winter.
By spring, the transformation should be complete and our garden
may just attract more attention than our spring lambs.
Ranch Talk Fall/Winter 2011
New Board Members of the Elkus Advisory Board Submitted by Carolyn Battaini, Advisory Board Member
We are delighted to have two new members to the Elkus Advisory Board,
Robin Cunha and Manuela “Manu” Seitz-Hipkins.
The Elkus Advisory Board is a group of dedicated professionals from
many walks of life, who donate their time, expertise, and networking
contacts to help Elkus Ranch. The Board meets several times a year to help
plan projects, fundraise, market, and provide valuable connections that help
make it a better place for the kids to learn about environmental science.
Manuela “Manu” Seitz-Hipkins is originally from Germany, where she
trained as a Speech Language Pathologist, and continues her private practice by
referral. She provides speech and language screenings, with her special
training for autism, bilingualism, and parenting education. She is also
the CEO & President of Well Kiddos, and is on a mission, dedicated to
healthy eating, by improving the food choices in restaurants and venues
that serve families. She is resourceful, focused, organized, and strongly
believes in children and their health. Her talents complement the focus
of nutrition and education, which contributes to the betterment of the
children who come to Elkus Ranch. Welcome to the Board Manu!
Robin Cunha says she’s boring, but she is anything but! Originally born on
the 4th of July in Rhode Island, she moved with her family to Pedro Point
and then Montara. She attended grade school in the old Army Barracks
in Montara, with 11 kids in her class! She and her husband purchased
the Catch 13 restaurant, which became the Miramar. Some of you many
know her from the Miramar, or from planning many HMB class reunions!
She knows so many people on both sides of the hill, that she is a great
asset to the Advisory Board. She is also focused, a great organizer, hard
working, and dedicated to the Ranch. We first met her at a Sheep to
Shawl Day a few years ago, and she fell in love with the Ranch and the
goats, and we fell in love with her enthusiasm. She says, “I love being a
part of Elkus Ranch, It is a great place for children to visit.” We tend to
agree with her! Welcome to the Board Robin!
If you know someone who would be interested in being an influential
volunteer Board Member, and who can help guide the Ranch into the
future, please let us know. We have a few special board spots available
in the upcoming months. Since it’s not a Board of Director position, the
liability issue of an Advisory Board is not the same. It’s better!
Master Gardener Trial Garden at Elkus Ranch Submitted by Janet Didur, Project Leader The purpose of our trial garden is to conduct studies on edible ornamental plants and disseminate the results to the home gardener. We enjoy a
Mediterranean climate here in zone 17 which differs from inland weather. What grows well here does not necessarily grow well in other climate zones
and vise versa.
This year we conducted trials on basil and parsley comparing varieties for vigor, disease resistance, cost of seed and flavor. A study was done on
regular and grafted tomatoes, but unfortunately the cool wet season caused severe tomato blight and an early termination of the project. A
variety of vegetables and edible ornamental flowers were grown, one set in soil inoculated with endomycorrhizal fungi and one with out. The
results are most encouraging. A two-year study investigating natural reseeding of native flowers was begun. Details about these studies, and trials
conducted in past years can be found at our website: http://cesanmateo.ucdavis.edu and click on Master Gardener Program link.
Pictured Above: Master Gardener and Elkus Trial Garden Project Leader, Janet Didur , among the vigorous plants at the trial garden.
The Best Field Trip Ever! Submitted by Leslie Jensen, Coordinator
I have always liked the saying “one hand to
give, one hand to receive”. Though Elkus is
not a human with hands, it certainly has heart
and soul, and is continually giving. Just about
every day of the year someone is receiving
from Elkus. From the tiniest tots visiting us
during preschool days to our senior citizens
who come to visit for an afternoon, we see a wide variety folks who are
happily spending time at Elkus. We hear over and over from students as
well as teachers and parents that, “this is the best field trip ever”. While
being on this beautiful ranch surrounded by the coastal foothills, enjoying
the gardens, and giving attention to the stars of the show, our farm animals,
our visitors learn about our natural surroundings, where food and clothing
fibers comes from, and how to help take care of this amazing planet we
call home.
So I am asking you ‘with one hand to give’ to please think of Elkus
Ranch. With the state of our economy budget cuts have been passed
down from the State to the University to Elkus. We are pulling the
purse strings even tighter, and trying very hard not to increase our fees
or lessen the amount of scholarships we are able to provide. Every little
bit helps. Your donation will be put to good use in helping us purchase
animal feed, provide transportation funds to low income schools,
purchase program supplies, and so much more. Information about
donating is on the last page. Thank you in advance for supporting Elkus.
Thank you to our most recent donors
Baywood Court Residents, Andy Cresci & Family in Memory of Kathy Cresci, Jill Harmon, Paul & Karen Meadow, Dana Moore, Wayne Ota, Terri Pacheco, and Debbie Utz. Elkus Ranch is a 501(C3) non-profit entity, donations are tax-deductible. Your donations help fund feed for the animals, sponsor scholarships for classrooms, and help us to improve our programs and ranch grounds. We appreciate all donations and no do-nation is too small. Thank you!
Please make all checks payable to: UC Regents and mail to :
RanchTalk 80 Stone Pine Road, #100 Half Moon Bay CA 94019 [email protected] http://cesanmateo.ucdavis.edu
University of California, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex mental or physical handicap, or age in any of its programs or activities, or with respect to any of its employment policies, practices, or procedures. Nor does the University of California discriminate on the basis of ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, medical condition (as defined in Section 12926 of the California Government Code) or because individuals are special disabled veterans or Vietnam era veterans (as defined by the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974 and Section 12940 of the California government Code). Inquiries regarding this policy may be addressed to the Affirmative Action Director, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1111 Franklin St., 6th Floor, Oakland, California 94607-5200. (510) 987-0097.
Elkus Ranch Administration Office 80 Stone Pine Road, Suite 100
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Phone: 650-712-3151 Fax: 650-712-3153
2011-12 Calendar
Elkus Ranch Wish List
4” plant pots Cardboard 1 doz. egg cartons Foam camping matts Children’s rain gear, Boots and coats
To donate online with a credit card please see our website for instructions: http://ucanr.org/sites/elkus_ranch/Donate/
Dec. 20,21, 2011 Winter Discovery Day camp
Dec. 24 to Jan 2, 2011 Closed for the holidays
March 14-16,2012 Spring preschool days
June 9, 2012 Sheep to Shawl
June 11-15, 2012 Discovery Day Camp session 1
June 17-22, 2012 Range Camp
June 25-29, 2012 Discovery Day Camp session 2
July 9-13, 2012 Discovery Day Camp session 3
July 23-27, 2012 Discovery Day Camp session 4
August 6-10, 2012 Discovery Day Camp session 5
http://tinyurl.com/6r6k9yr