First Corporate Work Day of the Rainy Season

LEJ's Patrick and Charles, Geoff from Bay Natives and CCSF students work alongside employees of Price Waterhouse for the first workday of the rainy season.  Work included weeding the drainfield to make way for new plants in the butterfly meadow, digging holes for manzanita and other shrubs, and digging a trench to install an irrigation system linking the rainwater harvesting tanks to the landscape surrounding the EcoCenter.  

Tracy Zhu returns to help train CCSF students give tours of the EcoCenter

Today Tracy Zhu returned to the EcoCenter to work with CCSF faculty and students to share her experience in training students to give tours of the EcoCenter.  Given Tracy's years of experience as a former LEJ employee and program manager of the facility, she is the perfect person to share the history of the organization and the creation of the EcoCenter and its mission.  Students will incorporate this information together with their research and understanding of the sustainable systems at the EcoCenter to help conduct tours ranging from K through 12 students to working professionals. Thanks to Tracy we can make sure that the history of the EcoCenter, especially the environmental justice component of its story continues to be communicated to future visitors.

Ever Wonder How to Clean Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels?

Very carefully given that you have to get up on the rooftop and there is glass and electrical wiring involved!  After inspecting the panels to ensure there were no cracks or loose wiring, CCSF students Ivan Hu and Toby Taylor climbed onto the roof and washed and dried the 24 pv panels. Using a soft cloth scrubber and water with a little vinegar and biodegradable dish soap added, Ivan and Toby scrubbed the dirt and bird poop that accumulated on the panels since the summer.  Keeping the panels clean is important so that they do not lose efficiency and produce as much electricity as possible.  Ivan and Toby will be writing up a standard operating procedure and will make "how to" videos so that future students working at the EcoCenter can follow in their footsteps.

The EcoCenter and Heron's Head Park is a part of the world's largest volunteer effort: Cleaning up the coast

Did you know that the largest volunteer effort in the world is International Coastal Cleanup Day? Locally, it's known as California Coastal Cleanup Day, and this year, LEJ is continuing the tradition it started on the eastern San Francisco shorefront by coordinating efforts at Heron's Head Park and Candlestick State Recreation Area. 

Over 150 people came out to Heron's Head, mostly dominated by CCSF students and faculty. The students who are taking the CCSF sustainability course at the EcoCenter joined in cleanup and gave tours of the EcoCenter afterwards to public and other CCSF students and faculty from Environmental Science, Biology and English departments.

Thanks to all of those who came out and supported! Much appreciations especially to the Golden Gate Parks Conservancy for stepping up coordination efforts across the whole city!

Source: CA Coastal Commission

CCSF class returns!

CCSF returns for second semester of Applied Research in Sustainability taught by instructor Peggy Lopipero-Langmo. 11 students enrolled this semester and are ready to dig deeper than the previous class by picking up where they left off. Students will conduct research on sustainable systems as well as get down and dirty with operations and maintenance! CCSF is provided much needed support for LEJ staff in taking care of the facility.

Summer monitoring continues

CCSF finished acquiring supplies and equipment for more extensive monitoring of the wastewater treatment system, wetlands, and energy system to be used in the fall! In the meantime, the supplies and equipment is currently aiding monitoring that has been conducted all summer long. These students are taking water samples, which are being tested for microorganisms such as E. Coli and enterococcus. 

Weeding the Living Roof

LEJ's Executive Director and Nursery Manager Patrick Rump works with CCSF student Jonathon Greer give the living roof some tender loving care. They're pulling out some of the plants that aren't intended to be there while replenishing the roof with some native plugs. Even though the semester is over, a few CCSF students are so committed to the EcoCenter that they are doing work throughout the summer with either LEJ staff or instructor Peggy Lopipero-Langmo.

Seaside daisies are blooming the background (light purple flowers) while the Douglas irises will soon be flowering.