Apr-Jun 2012
Our spring issue brings you the latest on the movement to save state parks, asks tough questions about wild food foraging, showcases the unusual Santa Cruz Sandhills, and more. For our state parks special, reporter Joan Hamilton talked to regular people mobilizing in advance of the July 2012 deadline to close 60+ state parks. Jonah Raskin headed out with local foragers to both savor mushrooms and ponder the ethics of same. We also help you spot dinosaurs in your backyard, adorable stingrays in the bay, and more. Order your copy today! Cover photo: Joshua Yospyn, yospyn.com.
Issue Contents
Not all print articles and images appear online immediately.
Some 70 state parks were scheduled to be closed on July 1, 2012. But determined action by park-loving citizens around the state has succeeded in getting some parks removed from that list and has opened a discussion of the relationship between public parks and the people they serve. We visit four parks around the state to see what the future might hold for our beloved, but beleaguered, state parks.
Special Section
in the Apr-Jun 2012 issue
Published April 01, 2012
Feature
by Jonah Raskin
Just a century ago, foraging for wild foods would have been unremarkable--part of daily life for many people. That's not true today, but foraging is making a comeback, with ever more people interested in finding food in the wild. But with a growing population and diminishing natural resources, is this sustainable? We head out with local foragers and ask about the ethics of foraging in a metropolis.
From the Apr-Jun 2012 issue
Published April 02, 2012
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Sidebar
by Dan Rademacher
Want to forage in a local park? Chances are it’s not allowed, but some parks do allow limited gathering of edible berries and mushrooms. In January 2012, we gathered up the rules from a couple of dozen agencies. But caveat emptor: they may have changed since then.
From the Apr-Jun 2012 issue
Published April 10, 2012
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Photo by Kathy Barnhart.
East Bay Parks Feature
by Nate Seltenrich
At the northwestern edge of Richmond, near Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, a modest bayshore wetland stands ready to emerge from decades of neglect. Thanks to the residents of nearby Parchester Village and staff of the East Bay Regional Park District, Breuner Marsh will become precious public recreation land and a refuge for sensitive species imperiled by sea level rise.
From the Apr-Jun 2012 issue
Published April 05, 2012
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On the Trail
by Marilyn Fahey
In the Santa Cruz Mountains, some passionate folks look after rare plants and animals in a unique habitat defined by sand but threatened by mining, development, and fragmentation.
From the Apr-Jun 2012 issue
Published April 13, 2012
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Photo by Dan Hill.
On the Trail
by Ann Sieck
Tired of crowded trails? Get a permit from the East Bay Municipal Utility District and you’ll get access to miles and miles of little-used trails. We feature a hike around Briones Reservoir that’s especially delightful.
From the Apr-Jun 2012 issue
Published April 30, 2012
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Photo by Kevin O'Connor, Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods.
On the Trail
by Michele Luna and Joyce Bacci
Looking for something out of the way, but with great wildflowers? Head to Armstrong Redwoods and Austin Creek state parks just north of the Russian River.
From the Apr-Jun 2012 issue
Published May 08, 2012
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Climate Change: Distpatches from the Home Front
by Jacoba Charles
A project in West Marin shows how ranchers, and a whole lot of compost, can help mitigate climate change.
From the Apr-Jun 2012 issue
Published April 24, 2012
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Signs of the Season
by Joe Eaton
What’s the cutest fish in the sea? To some biologists, it’s the bat ray, which cruises along the floor of local bays and estuaries, chomping on clams and other creatures. Maybe it’s time to make bottom-feeder a term of endearment! Springtime is breeding time for these friendly fish.
From the Apr-Jun 2012 issue
Published May 15, 2012
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Photo by Melati Kaye.
Conservation in Action
by Melati Kaye
Thanks to the nonprofit Kids for the Bay, each year a few thousand kids learn firsthand why those “Drains to Bay” stencils on storm grates are so important -- and why eating fish from San Francisco Bay may not always be a good idea.
From the Apr-Jun 2012 issue
Published May 01, 2012
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Photo courtesy Scott D. Sampson
Families Afield
by Scott D. Sampson
With dinosaurs roaming your backyard on a daily basis, why NOT get out there with your kids and start watching those birds?
From the Apr-Jun 2012 issue
Published April 18, 2012
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Vicki and Chuck Rogers, Creative Commons
Ear to the Ground
by Aleta George
After 130 years of tough times, the Carmel River is finally catching a break from a few big restoration projects.
From the Apr-Jun 2012 issue
Published April 09, 2012
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"In My Grandfather's Backyard," by Allison Chang, age 15. Sunnyvale, California. 2012 River of Words Shasta Bioregion Prize.
Ear to the Ground
by Aleta George
Poet Robert Hass awakened a lifelong love of nature while a student at Saint Mary’s College. Now, River of Words, the art and poetry program he cofounded, has found a home at the college.
From the Apr-Jun 2012 issue
Published April 16, 2012
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Photo courtesy East Bay Regional Park District.
Ear to the Ground
by Aleta George
The Bay Area lost a giant of park-building with the passing of Hulet Hornbeck, who presided over the creation of 49,000 acres of parkland at the East Bay Regional Park District.
From the Apr-Jun 2012 issue
Published May 09, 2012
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Photo by US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Ear to the Ground
by Aleta George
The imperiled Lange’s metalmark butterfly lives only on a small stretch of remnant dunes near Antioch. Managers of the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge hope to create precious new habitat, while a captive-breeding program keeps the butterflies just short of extinction.
From the Apr-Jun 2012 issue
Published May 03, 2012
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