Matilija Schoolyard Habitat (SYH)

Come learn about the Matilija Schoolyard Habitat!

Growing native plants in Ojai — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:47:58 +0000

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On February 3rd and 4th, 2012, Matilija students joined together with US Fish and Wildlife staff, teachers and community volunteers to plant about 250 CA native plants into the Matilija Schoolyard Habitat. Now that plants are in the ground, with little rain in the forecast, we need to begin hand watering the plants until the drip irrigation is installed. Hand watering for the first month will provide an opportunity to monitor the plants more closely, and watch as plants “take hold” in their new environment.

Parents have been asking “What is going on with the garden?” Renee Roth and Julie Tumamait-Stenslie will be giving tours of the SYH Garden for parents and interested community members for the next 4 Saturdays, February 11, 18, 25 and March 3rd from 9am-9:30 and on Tuesday & Thursday, February 14 and 16 at 2:00 ( for parents who arrive early to pick up their students from Matilija). We will explain the garden areas and water requirements of the CA native plants, along with the layout and future plans for the garden. If none of these times work for you, call Renee to arrange another time.

Anyone experienced with irrigation? We will be meeting with Aqua-flo to discuss layout/design for the drip irrigation early next week. Call Renee if you can help with the installation, or have drip line/emitters to donate.

Renee Roth
798-3897
Matilijasyh@gmail.com

From Ojai Valley News, February 8, 2012

Click to view slideshow.

Green Team plants in the SYH

Growing native plants in Ojai — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:15:30 +0000

Jerin planting purple sage in the Matilija Schoolyard Habitat

Amber with purple sage in Hummingbird GARDEN of SYH

Green team plant on Syh

Growing native plants in Ojai — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:05:15 +0000

Purple sage(2) , buckwheat, Cleveland sage

Look what landed at the Matilija SYH?

Growing native plants in Ojai — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:13:11 +0000

Any idea what this is?

rock work ideas for SYH Garden

Growing native plants in Ojai — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:55:40 +0000

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Annuals- wildflowers from seed balls

Growing native plants in Ojai — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:00:46 +0000

Recipe for making Seed Balls

A. Dry terracotta clay, finely ground and sifted through a strainer to remove large chunks of clay. Amount: 1 1/4 cup – 5 parts

B. Dry organic compost. Amount: 3/4 cup – 3 parts

C. 1/4 cup assorted seeds*. Various wildflower & vegetable seeds can be used. -1 part

STEP TWO: Mix B & C together. (Seed mixed with dry compost.)

STEP THREE: Add A to B & C mix. Blend everything together well. Next, mist water onto the mixture while stirring. Spray just enough water to allow the mixture to stick/bind together.

STEP FOUR: Take a pinch of the finished mixture and roll (in the palm of your hand) into penny-sized round balls.

STEP FIVE: Put seed balls in the sun to dry completely for a day or two.

STEP SIX: Broadcast seed balls onto dirt area. Water or wait for rain to allow seeds to germinate.

Makes approximately 30-40 balls

NEED 3-5 Inches of rain are needed to get them started germinating.

Using annual wildflower seed in the Schoolyard Habitat

Annual wildflowers will bring the garden to life come spring, by adding visual interest with beautiful color, life and insects.
We can make seed balls and get them watered in soon (either in fall or late winter) for early spring flowers.

From http://www.larnerseeds.com/_pages/wildflower_annual.html#anchor

Seeds were donated from S&S seeds in Carpenteria for the following:

Tidy Tips

Arroyo Lupine

CA Poppy

Clarkia Amoena

Nemophila menziesii
Baby Blue Eyes

Good companion for Chinese Houses, Tidy Tips, Five Spot. Low growing to l0″ high.

Chia

Would still like to get:

Calandrinia ciliata
Red Maids

An early-blooming annual under 8″ tall with petals of intense magenta. Likes full sun, lean soil. Edible seeds and leaves. Prostrate habit. Important indigenous seed food; seed frequently found in archaeological sites. Petals used for rouge. A welcome and endearing first sign of spring.

Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta

Purple Owl’s Clover

Carpets of pink and purple in serpentine and other areas are created by the free-flowering habits of this low-growing annual. Larval food plant for Bay Checkerspot butterfly. Very fine seed, so we offer it by the small packet. A little goes a long way.

Gilia tricolor
Bird’s Eye Gilia

Charming and dependable California wildflower growing 6″ to 12″ tall. It is one of the wildflowers that profits from close inspection, with its 1/2″ light-blue or violet flowers set off by powder-blue stamen and a yellow throat with a dark purple ring at the top. Long flowering period and good foil to the summer-flowering Clarkias. Marvelous in bouquets. Self-sows, has musky fragrance.Chia

Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Wild about Ojai on Chumash Ethnobotany event is free to students.

Growing native plants in Ojai — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:00:13 +0000

Hello All,
FYI, another opportunity to learn about Chumash people and their use of native plants.

Chumash Ethnobotany by Jan Timbrook
WILD ABOUT OJAI: Environmental Learning Series
Saturday, FEB. 11th, 10 AM‐ 12 PM at the OVLC Office, 370 W Baldwin Road, Bldg. A4
“Appreciation of Chumash people’s lives and cultures requires some understanding of their relationship to the environment in which they lived. Food, medicine, raw materials for making clothing, shelter, all kinds of tools and utensils, religious paraphernalia, and other items essential to existence – all these things were derived in a fairly direct way from the natural world. And, in one way or another, virtually everything Chumash people made and used involved plants. Plants truly were everywhere in Chumash life, not only in daily activities but also in thought, philosophy and ways of viewing the world. How people thought about plants, named, classified them, and wove stories around them – these are just as fundamental part of culture as how they usedthem.” Jan Timbrook, author of Chumash Ethnobotany.

Join Jan Timbrook for a fascinating exploration of how the Chumash people used and thought about plants. An anthropologist and ethnobotanist, Jan is Curator of Ethnobotany at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. She has been with the museum for more than thirty five years and is one of the top experts in Chumash studies. She has collaborated on four books, and has authored a dozen scientific papers on topics ranging from Chumash herbal medicine to environmental management.
This Wild about Ojai event is free to members and students and $10 for non‐members. Become a member today! A family membership is just $35 per year. For more information contact Marti Reid at martior 649‐6852 ext. 2.

making gopher baskets

Growing native plants in Ojai — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:13:01 +0000

Boy Scout Troop member shows how to make gopher basket using hardware cloth at a Ventura River County Water District workday to put in a Ocean Friendly Garden.
1. Measure 9″ high, 24″ wide, and cut with wire cutting scissors.
2. Overlap by a couple of rows, and fasten with zip ties.
3. Fold bottoms in, 2 opposite sides, then other 2 opposite sides and smash it flat on the bottom.

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Planting Day #1 – Saturday, February 4, 2012

Growing native plants in Ojai — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:07:57 +0000

Planting Day at the Matilija Schoolyard Habitat (SYH) native plant demo garden.

About the Project: The Matilija SYH promotes by example the use of native plants for landscaping while also providing habitat for local and migratory wildlife including songbirds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects. Matilija students are working together with parents, volunteers and staff to create the outdoor classroom using CA native plants. U. S Fish and Wildlife has provided grant funds along with technical expertise and guidelines to help students get actively involved in the project. Local businesses and volunteers have donated time, mulch, tools, equipment and excavating services to help prepare the site.

Now it is time to plant our chaparral and pollinator gardens! Come learn more about the Matilija Schoolyard Habitat and our unique chaparral native plant community, and how to save water by growing CA natives in the landscape. Learn how the Schoolyard Habitat builds problem-solving skills while promoting an understanding of the urban-wildland interface. Come learn how to potect our water resources by planting natives which conserve water and support wildlife! Come learn how to plant CA natives, and about the habitat they create for wildlife. Help us! No experience necessary, snacks and drinks will be provided. Bring a shovel and wear heavy shoes, sunscreen and gloves. Volunteers to help coordinate and donations of food/drinks are also welcome. Call Renee Roth for more info at 798-3897.

Date: Saturday, February 4, 2012

Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Where: Matilija Junior High, 703 El Paseo Road, Ojai

“Nature is good for people: Let’s recognize the right of every child to live and grow up in a wildlife-rich world.”The New Nature Movement.

Ojai Trees works with students to plant trees at the Matilija Schoolyard Habitat site

Growing native plants in Ojai — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:39:36 +0000

December 15, 2011

What is Ojai Trees? (from the Ojai Trees web site)

We are a local Ojai Valley community forestry group. Our vision is a healthy Ojai Valley community forest that is sustainable for future generations. Our mission is to inspire people to take some personal responsibility for the community forest by participating with us. We are all- volunteer and registered as a non-profit.

How can I participate?

Why are healthy trees a benefit to me?

• Trees mean energy cost savings (cooling & heating)
• Trees increase the resale value of your property and beautify your neighborhood
• Trees provide direct health and social benefits (safer, reduce stress, less violence)
• Trees improve air quality by releasing fresh oxygen and removing carbon
• Trees help the watershed by reducing storm water runoff and stabilizing the soil
• Trees mean better business in commercial districts (shaded parking – attractive)
• Trees encourage walking and outdoor activities, and cool parked vehicles

What about the Ojai Valley’s Community Forest ?

• Ojai’ s community forest is an aging tree population that is in less than average condition.

• We need to plant new trees every year to maintain a balanced tree population. The overwhelming majority of trees (approximately 75%) are on private property, so private property owners are the largest group of stakeholders.

• Ojai’ s community forest has about 17% canopy coverage. Our goal is 25%

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