Not rendering correctly? View this email as a web page here.
OPEN SPACE OUTLOOK
April 2023
The Future of Agriculture
Everyone needs food, but climate change is impacting the production and supply of the healthy foods we love and need to eat. Thankfully, a growing number of farmers are responding to the needs of the future through the use of responsive land management practices. Learn how local farmers are using sustainable and regenerative agriculture to increase the longevity of our food supply while also improving the health of the land.
"As much as I want us to complete needed projects in the field, I also want us to enjoy the ride. I don’t place the 'what' above the 'how.'"
Click here to read Volunteer Program Administrator Gavin Comstock's "expression session" on why the Volunteer Program focuses on the process as much as the end goal.
30 Open Spaces We Love
In honor of the Open Space Authority's 30th Anniversary, we've put together a list of our 30 favorite open spaces we think you should visit, and a little bingo activity to up the stakes.
Beginner's Guide to Birding
It's National Wildlife Week! What better way to celebrate than to get outside and hone your birding skills? Whether you're a professional birder or you can't tell the difference between a crow and a raven, our guide will get you started.
In other news...
Celebrate Earth Month and Help Plan the Future of Coyote Valley!
"We are running out of time to protect a functioning planet for future generations. Let's embrace a future where we invest in nature to meet our needs. Because when we protect and care for nature, nature will care for us," Andrea Mackenzie, Open Space Authority General Manager.
Enjoy a fun-filled day at Spreckels Hill and get involved in the Coyote Valley Conservation Areas Master Plan. Learn morehere.
In Case You Missed It: WILDFLOWERS OF THE SOUTH BAY
Springtime is here, which means wildflowers are popping out of the ground across the Santa Clara Valley! Join us for a virtual exploration of the wildflowers of the South Bay to learn what’s to come this spring season. Discover some of the best places to stop and enjoy the flowers! Watch the webinar here.
Countywide Master Trails Map Update
Our partners at Santa Clara County Parks are working to update the Countywide Trails Master Plan Map and they are accepting feedback through Sunday, April 30, 2023. Take a look at the draft here.
The Time is Now to Act on Climate Change
The findings from the latest IPCC report left no question as to the seriousness of our changing climate, and now is the time to act! Protecting nature and working lands is the smartest investment we can make to secure a livable future for all. Read about the IPCC's findings here.
Did you know?
Some butterflies, like the Western tiger swallowtail, engage in a behavior called "puddling," where a group of butterflies gather on the group to consume nutrients - like sodium ions and amino acids.
We acknowledge that the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority works within lands that were originally stewarded by the Awaswas-, Chochenyo-, Mutsun-, and Thámien-speaking peoples. Today we are honored to partner with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area in our shared work to protect and restore the environment and connect people to land. Learn more.
Photo Credits: Farming - OSA Archives, Opossum - Canva, Volunteer - David Mauk, Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve - Mike Buncic, Bluebird - David Mauk, Farmland - Nick Perry, Wildflowers - Ivette López, Trails - Derek Neumann, Oak tree - David Mauk, Butterflies - Canva
.jpg?upscale=true&width=500&upscale=true&name=CRID%20-%20Western%20Bluebird%20-%20D.Mauk%20-%20APR-15-2018%20-%202%20(1).jpg)
