SAVING BAREC

1
SAVING BAREC

• A public presentation in assisting a communitys
  effort to preserve and conserve its heritage
  land in
• THE VALLEY OF HEARTS DELIGHT

2
What is BAREC, and Why should it be preserved?
Bay Area Research and Extension Center.
90 N. Winchester Blvd. Santa Clara, California
This 17 acre tract of land has belonged to The
State of California since the 1960s and was
used for both Horticultural and Agricultural
research. It is one of the last remaining such
properties in a place once known as The
Valley of Hearts Delight.
3
Open space in a concrete jungle
4
What is The Valley of Hearts Delight?
Long before the age of high tech computers and
silicon micro chips, this valley was recognized
worldwide for its unique soil. It was, and
still is regarded by many to be the best
agricultural soil on Earth. Because of the
soils uniquely rich content along with the
valleys Mediterranean climate this area quickly
gained respect for growing some of the finest
horticultural and agricultural products in the
world.
5
Since the 1800s this property has always been
used by the community and for the community.
Originally part of a 40 acre parcel formerly
housing part of the Stevens Creek School, and
belonged to the City of San Jose. In 1886 Dr.
Antrim Osborne started the Home for the Feeble
Minded called Osborne Hall. The patients were
later transferred to Sonoma State Hospital. In
1921 The Holderman family operated a home for
widows and daughters of veterans of the Civil War
then referred to as Holdermans Sanitarium, the
facility was closed in 1962. The last remaining
orphan was Eva Simpkins who moved to another home
and later died in 1966, institutionalized her
entire life.
6
Since the 1920s..
The University of California has conducted
research on the property.The primary research
efforts focused on improving crop production
methods, irrigation systems, nutrition and
variety characteristics of crops, as well as crop
disease control. Extensive studies on local
crops such as garlic and chili peppers have
tremendously benefited the Valleys farming
community.
7
Various research projects such as turf
management, Oak root development, and especially
composting research.
8
Other extremely beneficial research by BAREC
Extensive research in soil management and studies
of drought sod, and composting have been used by
urban planning and developers throughout the
nation, especially here on the west coast where
water conservation is an extremely important
element . As recent as the late 1990s studies on
turf management greatly improved the care and
maintenance of lawns both private and public uses
in Urban Developments. Michele Young of San
Joses Environmental Services Department offers
the following information regarding the
importance of community information regarding San
Joses partnership with BAREC research.
9
BARECS contribution to San Joses Greenwaste
Program.
San Jose formed a partnership with BAREC in 1998
to do composting research. Although a greenwaste
program is not unique,, the size of San Joses
program is. It is one of the largest collection
programs in the nation, which requires a
significant market for the resulting compost. The
biggest benefit to the BAREC site was its
centralized location. Not having this
centralized site available was a great loss to
the valley as the outreach is as critical (if not
more critical) to the community than the research
itself. Although there is a tremendous amount of
research and great demonstration being done , the
results do not reach the intended audiences.
Utilizing centrally located sites such as BAREC,
provides a venue for research carried out locally
as well as throughout the state.
www.urbancompost.org
10
One of the most important projects was with
Strawberries
Extensive studies at BAREC on the characteristics
of this fruit and its relationship to the local
soil has immensely proven beneficial to the
central coast.
The California Strawberry production is one of
the most successful agricultural ventures in the
World. California accounts for 61 of US fruit
sales as well as 40 of US vegetable sales.
11
Other notable research projects include
Oak Root Fungus (Armillaria) Field Corn Walnut
Blight (Aphids) Cyclamen mite Brown rot on
apricots Mealy aphids effecting plum production
12
What about the historical Weather Station of 1928?
Originally created to collect rainfall pattern
data used to assist the farming communities in
San Mateo, Northern and Central Santa Clara
County. In the 1980s The Department of Water
Resources initiated CIMIS (California
Environmental Information System) a satellite
weather system that collected data which proved
invaluable to to farms, commercial landscapes,
public open spaces. CIMIS helps agricultural
growers, turf managers, managers of parks, golf
courses and other landscapes to develop water
budgets to determine when to irrigate and how
much water to apply. The need for water
conservation in California cannot be under stated!
13
BAREC was also the home for Santa Clara Countys
Master Gardeners.
Educate Children, Teach healthy eating
habits. Promote chemical free gardening Teach
Gardening as well as Composting
programs Emphasize the importance of water
conservation Knowledge is invaluable to home
gardeners www.mastergardeners.org
14
So, What the _at_ happened in January of
2003?
15
Enter the BAD GUYS!
The University of California states that over
the past decade, use of the site has decreased as
technology in agricultural operations has
improved. As a result, UC has decommissioned the
agricultural research station and returned the
property to the State of California. The State
Legislature subsequently designated the property
as surplus land stating that no other State
agency needed the property, as a result the
State of Californias Department of General
Services made the property available for sale,
lease, or exchange to local governmental agencies
and private developers.
16
One Developers proposal for in-fill housing
17
Other Alternatives which directly benefit the
community
Visitors Center in a Museum of The Valley of
Hearts Delight, to include BAREC research
history, an Interpretive Center sponsored by the
Master Gardeners. Urban Gardening Research Center
which can educate the public as well as the
private sector in the application and importance
of Sustainability. Horticulture Therapy and
Alternative Medicine Center which offers
educational programs in conjunction with the
various local institutions of rehabilitation.
Job Training and Mentoring Programs in all
aspects of urban horticulture and agriculture.
18
HEY! What about internship programs to assist our
local College programs in Horticulture and Park
Management?
There are several colleges in the area that
have expressed interests in using this site for
urban research. Santa Clara University University
of California at Santa Cruz
As Carol Shennan, Director of the University of
California Santa Cruz Center for Agroecolgy
states if this parcel of land has the
agricultural zoning removed, it would be not only
a tragic loss to the communitys heritage and
its future, but will also close the door to any
opportunities we may have in the future to pursue
other research and education work in the Santa
Clara Valley.
19
Furthermore
Barec was the only Agricultural Extension Center
on the Central Coast from Mendocino to Orange
County. The community is currently working
diligently to have this property placed on
the National Historical Registry
20
The Bottom line.
The community MUST persuade the City Council to
keep this property zoned agricultural. City
Council Meetings MUST remain open to the public,
agendas MUST be available for public review and
discussion. Residents MUST hold their elected
officials accountable for representing the
majority opinion of their constituents. Community
MUST get involved in such issues to keep a
watch-dog focus on such local political behavior
in the future.
21
For more information..
All information, photos, and historical data
shown in this presentation can be found publicly
at www.urbancompost.org www.savebarec.org
22
A special thanks too.
John Dotter john_at_apphort.com Kathryn Mathewson
kmathewson_at_secretgardens.com Michele Young
Michele.Young_at_ci.sj.ca.us