- Author: Jill Santos
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.
– Chinese Proverb
What is your happiest memory that involves trees? Hopefully, most of those memories are positive. Trees provide a multitude of benefits that are hard to overlook. Reflecting on happy memories involving trees often evokes a sense of joy and wonder. These towering guardians not only serve as the backdrop to cherished moments but also provide an array of invaluable benefits.
However, in regions like the Western United States, escalating wildfire risks loom large, burdening homeowners with soaring insurance costs and stringent fuel reduction mandates. Balancing the delicate interface...
- Author: Jill Sarick
Spring marks the onset of the environmental education event season. We've curated a comprehensive list of events scheduled through May, emphasizing environmental literacy, climate education, and participatory science opportunities throughout the County.
Kicking off this weekend is the highly anticipated STEAM Festival on March 8th, 2024, hosted by California State University – Channel Islands (CSUCI). Attendees can engage in hands-on educational activities facilitated by UC ANR staff and various community-based and academic organizations. The event will promote 'science, technology, engineering, art, and math' (STEAM) via interactive exhibits, science experiments, and maybe even some cool rocket launches to inspire...
- Author: Jill Sarick
Capitalize on all this rain and capture it using rain barrels and rain gardens. Discounts and programs are available depending on where you live in Ventura County.
The City of Ventura offers water use efficiency programs as well as rain barrel discounts.
The City of Ojai and parts of the surrounding unincorporated areas are serviced by Casitas Municipal Water District which offers water use efficiency rebates, but currently does not offer rain barrel discounts.
Camarillo, Oxnard, Moorpark, Port Hueneme and surrounding unincorporated...
- Author: Jill Sarick
The 2024 rainy season in Southern California has intensified, with recent storms causing significant damage and life-threatening flooding. Daniel Swain, a dedicated UCLA researcher specializing in the analysis of evolving weather patterns influenced by climate change, warned of "bomb cyclone" conditions driven by air current anomalies off the West Coast. His detailed insights, outlined in a February 3rd blog post on Weather West, sheds light on recent weather events.
Despite the apprehension surrounding these storms, it's crucial to acknowledge the vital role atmospheric rivers...
- Author: Jill Santos
The old saying, knowledge is power, rings true for increasing personal resilience in the face of changing climate conditions. These books written by UC Davis authors inspire action to some of the most pressing environmental issues.
