Guadalupe River Park Conservancy

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NEWSLETTER: December 2012

In this issue:

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Christmas Bird Count

Sunday, December 16, 8:00 am to noon
The Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count is a census of early winter bird populations. More than 50,000 volunteer observers across the Americas take part in counting birds in their particular area. The result is over a century of data on bird populations from North to South America. This data is crucial because it is used by scientists to monitor bird population changes over time. Please join us to complete the census of birds in the section of Guadalupe River Park from Coleman Ave to Hwy 880 and in Guadalupe Gardens. No experience is necessary. Click the green button to sign up.

Corporate Matching Gifts

As the end of 2012 draws near, many folks start thinking about making financial contributions to their favorite charity or cause. We'd like to throw our hat in the ring...please consider one of the many ways in which you can support the Conservancy. But we'd also like to remind everyone that whether you've given to us or someone else, either now, in the coming weeks, or any time in the last year, and you work for one of the countless generous companies in Silicon Valley, you may be able to double your contribution! Many companies offer a matching gift program...some even match your valuable time as a volunteer. Sometimes it takes a little sleuthing but the paperwork is usually a single page or an op-line form. Give it a try!

Rose Pruning Classes

Hands-on rose pruning lessons are being offered at the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden every Wednesday and Saturday, beginning the first Wednesday of the New Year, January 2th, and ending in mid-February. Lessons begin promptly at 8:30 am.

Come to learn, engage with community members, and have fun! Bring leather gloves and bypass shears, if you have them, loaners available if needed. Wear closed-toed shoes and bring a full, large water bottle. Meet in the center of the garden.

The Heritage Rose Garden is located at Spring and West Taylor Streets. Free parking is available on Seymour Street, Taylor Street and surrounding side streets. All minors (age 16 and 17) need to come prepared with a signed minor release form. Call the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy at 408-298-7657, or email Mike Peasland at mike@grpg.org for more information.

Volunteer Corner

Meet Board Member Erich Winkler
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Meet Volunteer Alexander Marcus
Alexander is one of our newest field volunteers. Back in October he jumped in to help with the apple cider pressing booth at Pumpkins in the Park. He has also been supporting our busy monthly Orchard workdays and will also be out for our December 15th river cleanup. In his spare time Alexander enjoys gardening, reading, and walking. In fact he discovered the Conservancy while out on a walk in the park! It’s always nice to have people step forward to lead, so we appreciate Alexander’s efforts.

Upcoming Events

Homeschool Series

December theme: Winter in San Jose’s Sister Cities: Exploring Geography, History and Culture

Winter in the Sister Cities, Dec. 5th
Holidays in the Sister Cities, Dec. 19th

January theme: Weather Happens Everyday: Investigating the Science Behind the Sky

Precise Precipitation, Jan, 9th
Wild about Wind, Jan. 16th
Cloudspotting, Jan. 23rd
Extreme Weather, Jan 30th

Time: 1:30 – 3 pm
Ages: 5-12
$10 members/$15 non-members per class

For more information, click here.

Winter Dormant Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop

Saturday, January 19th
9:30 – 11:30 am
$10/members, $15/non-members

Winter is the perfect time to sign up for a pruning workshop with professional landscaper, Sean McGrail! Sean McGrail will teach you how to prune fruit trees and then you will gain hands-on experience by practicing your newly learned techniques on Guadalupe River Park & Garden’s Historic Orchard. The Historic Orchard is a 3.3-acre site planted in 1994 to showcase the varieties of fruit trees that once made the Santa Clara valley famous as the “Valley of Heart’s Delight”. The orchard is located in Guadalupe Gardens just south of Taylor Street and adjacent to the River Park trails. The orchard contains over 220 fruit and nut trees, including cherries, apricots, prunes, apples, and more. It is maintained by dedicated volunteers. Sign up.

Greywater Basics: Reusing Household Water In Your Landscape

Saturday February 9th
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Age 18 and up
$10/members, $15/members

Join us and certified greywater installer Alan Hackler to explore the basics of how to safely and easily reuse your laundry, sink or shower water in your home garden. In this three-hour workshop, we will cover local codes and regulations, greywater safe soaps, and the simple plumbing modifications needed to redirect your household water into your backyard garden. The second half of the workshop will be hands-on, and participants will have the chance to work with the parts and tools necessary to install a simple greywater system. In addition to being a certified greywater installer, Alan Hackler is a talented landscape designer and the owner of Bay Maples landscaping. Sign up.

2013 Compost Workshops

Wednesdays, 6-8 pm, Free!

March 27
June 19
July 24
August 21

We team up the City of San Jose and the Santa Clara County Home Composting Education Program to offer four composting classes each year. Each class covers roughly the same concepts (i.e. not a series). More details along with a link to register can be found on our web site in the coming weeks.

Legacy Giving