San Mateo & San Francisco Counties

What is UCCE?

About Us

Across California, the University of California's Cooperative Extension (UCCE) offices are local problem-solving centers. We are the bridge between local issues and the power of UC research. Our staff is part of the community - we live and work in the areas we serve.

More than 300 campus-based specialists and county-based farm, home, and youth advisors work as teams to bring the practical, unbiased, science-based answers to the issues we face across the state of California. As part of the agricultural communities, we promote healthy diets and exercise for better health, help Californians learn to choose the most nutritious foods and help shape the citizens of tomorrow through the 4-H Youth Development Program. Thousands of volunteers extend the reach of our work through the Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver Programs and the California 4-H Youth Development Program. 

UC Cooperative Extension has been serving San Mateo County since 1945 and San Francisco County since 1970. The San Mateo/San Francisco County UCCE office is unique with the addition of the Elkus Ranch Environmental Center, we teach thousands of school aged children in the San Francisco Bay Area environmental education in a rural setting, thus creating a sense of stewardship to the environment. 

Local Cooperative Extension services are provided at our office located at UC Elkus Ranch just south of Half Moon Bay.  Housed there are program offices for 4-H, Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry, the Master Food Preserver and Master Gardener Programs.  The site is also the home to Elkus Ranch Environmental Education and Conference Center, our outdoor education and conference facility. Our Nutrition Program and staff are located at an secondary location in South San Francisco.

We work in full partnership with federal, state, county and private resources.

We are stewards, problem-solvers, catalysts, collaborators and educators.

We are UC Cooperative Extension, part of the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR).

 

Contact Us

UC Cooperative Extension for San Mateo & San Francisco Counties is located on the grounds of Elkus Ranch Environmental Education Center in Half Moon Bay, CA. Directions

Administration for all programs is conducted at this location and includes the following programs: 4-H, Elkus Ranch, the UC Master Food Preserver and Master Gardener Programs, and Urban Forestry. Our Nutrition Education Program Staff are located in South San Francisco.

 

Main Office:
1500 Purisima Creek Road
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 726-9059 cesanmateo@ucanr.edu

 

UC Master Gardener Helpline: (650) 276-7430 /  mgsmsf@ucanr.edu

Submit a Plant or Pest Questions: https://ucanr.edu/mg_helpline

Our (3) locations are staffed by MG Volunteers per the following schedule:.

  • Elkus Ranch Conference Center /  Mondays: 10am to 1pm
    1500 Purisima Creek Road
    Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
  • San Francisco Botanical Garden Library*  / Fridays: 10:30 to 1:30pm
    1999 9th Avenue
    San Francisco, CA 94122
    *Do not bring any pest or disease samples to this SFBG location!
  • Veteran's Memorial Senior Center  /  Thursdays: 1pm to 4pm
    1455 Madison Avenue
    Redwood City, CA 94061

4-H Club Information:

Please complete this information request form and a 4-H representative will contact you directly