Sustainable Communities Program

Siskiyou Land Conservancy’s Sustainable Communities Program is intended to complement our efforts to protect privately held parcels containing rare and unique habitat values. That is, while protection of habitat is important unto itself, reducing human consumption of vital natural resources greatly increases the effectiveness of such wildland protection.

Influencing local planning efforts, especially around development of housing and business infrastructures, and transportation, is an important conservation goal of Siskiyou Land Conservancy’s Sustainable Communities Program.

Another important means of reducing resource consumption is to grow food locally. Siskiyou Land Conservancy supports local farming efforts, and is helping to develop gardens projects for schools and communities.

Jacoby Creek School Garden

In April 2009, SLC’s Sustainable Communities Program launched a student-run garden at Jacoby Creek School in Arcata, Humboldt County. The City of Arcata partnered with SLC on the Jacoby Creek project, as did Living Earth Landscapes, Ohana Organics and Sandy Bar Ranch and Nursery. Siskiyou Land Conservancy received a $2,500 start-up grant for the garden from the California Instructional School Garden Program. The project has added to growing local interest in school and community gardens.

Jacoby Creek School students pose during the school’s garden groundbreaking ceremony April 22, 2009. Standing in back, l-r: Arcata Mayor Mark Wheetley, JCS Principal Eric Grantz, and SLC President Greg King. Photo courtesy the Arcata Eye.

Jacoby Creek School students work the sunflowers and raspberries.