A history of the San Francisco Bay could be told through the story of oysters. Native oysters were once in abundance, and their shells—found in the middens of Native Americans—date back to about 7,000 years ago. In the 1850’s people began bringing Olympia oysters to the Bay, from Puget Sound...
This past winter was a particularly wet one, providing much-needed relief from the previous year’s drought conditions. As if on a giant cosmic see-saw, the extra rain tipped us in the opposite direction, and brought to the fore another issue—namely increased flooding due to sea level rise. A Mill Valley...
Weeds are super adaptors. In urban settings weeds thrive under the most meager of growing conditions—moving into bare patches and vacant lots, filling cracks in the pavement and even pushing up through blacktop. In more natural habitats, biodiversity can take a hit as thuggish weeds crowd out native species. While getting rid of weeds isn’t rocket science, it’s all...
— CALL FOR SITE IDEAS — A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE — Some 60 years ago, the construction of the Bay Model helped engineers and hydrologists see the big picture, and better understand the ebb and flow of the estuaries and waterways that feed into San Francisco Bay. Working with nature, and not against it, and...
There’s a reason chefs say they’re “in the weeds” when the fast-paced, delicately-balanced dance of the restaurant kitchen becomes hopelessly unmanageable. I used to be weed-ignorant, and happily so. I now know more about weeds, and the tools and means to deal with them, than I usually care to admit. Along with learning...
For the first time in a very long time the MMWD (Marin Municipal Water District) is giving a big green thumbs up to watering our plants. As you turn on your irrigation, check that your system hasn’t sprung a leak. Hoses and nozzles degrade with lack of use as well as exposure to the elements. Think...
Earlier this week, over at Waldo Point Harbor, we saw the notice that Aquamaster, a toxic herbicide produced by Monsanto, was about to be sprayed around our beautiful bay. Issaquah dock reps Ali Johnston and myself (Sandy Harford) quickly put the word out to our dock mates that they just might want to weigh in on this issue. It’s well...
These are trying times. Canada Geese are nesting on our docks, in our planter boxes and on occasion on our rooftops. It can be particularly unnerving to be walking down the dock—lost in thought—only to be jolted to attention by the sudden hiss of a Canada goose. Rumors abound, which—even if...
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Five Ways to Celebrate Dark Sky Week! The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is a great resource and orientation for the week that starts with Earth Day (April 22) and ends with the spring new moon (April 28). However you choose to spend the week—whether only using the lights you really need,...