Spring is here in the North Bay, bringing longer days, fresh planting, and a full calendar of fieldwork and community events. While this season brings a visible uptick in activity, our work continues year-round, shifting with the agricultural cycle, from winter planning and research to in-season field support and community engagement. Across Marin, Napa, and Sonoma, our teams consistently work alongside growers, partners, and residents in ways that reflect the needs of each season.
We have also been hearing questions about how shifting federal and state funding may impact UCCE. While some uncertainty remains, our focus is steady: continuing to serve our communities by being thoughtful with existing resources and pursuing new partnerships and funding opportunities. We are especially grateful for the ongoing support from our counties, which makes it possible to deliver local programs, connect research to real-world application, and sustain the volunteer networks that are so central to our work.
Across the North Bay, our team of more than 40 advisors, educators, and program staff continues to show up in meaningful ways, from supporting agricultural innovation to engaging youth through 4-H and working alongside home gardeners and food preservation enthusiasts through our Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver programs. Together, these efforts reflect the breadth of our community-based work and the strength of our volunteer network. We are also looking ahead, with recruitment underway for Environmental Horticulture and Weed Science Advisor positions to further strengthen our regional capacity.
A Note on Local Agriculture & Food Systems
On April 14, our Sonoma team joined partners for a regional agriculture workshop focused on the future of the industry and its connection to local food security. The conversation reinforced something we see every day in our work: strengthening local food systems is not a single effort, but a coordinated strategy, one that supports agriculture, our local economy, community resilience, and equitable access to food.
We hope you will take a moment to explore the events and resources featured in our latest newsletter and join us in the field this season.
-- Lauren Cartwright, Area Director