Join our Photo Contest

What does being sustainable mean to you? Is it tending to a garden? Picking up litter? Teaching kids about water conservation? Show us how you support sustainability in San Mateo! Three winners will be chosen to receive prizes! Participation is easy:

By 5 p.m. April 30, email photo and caption to sustainability@cityofsanmateo.org.
Photos will be shared on our social media pages.
Eligibility: Anyone who lives or works in San Mateo is encouraged to participate. Photos must be your own.

Upcoming Events

Vegetable Gardening in Time of Drought
Saturday, May 7, 2022, 10:00 - 11:30 am
Online

Spring is the time to plant your summer vegetable garden. At the same time drought is, once again, upon us. Most of California was dry-farmed before irrigation systems were common. Zoom in and learn about what crops can tolerate little to no water, bring back some tried and true practices. Also, learn about ways to grow more food using the same amount of water by incorporating techniques, tips and tricks like hydro-zoning, mulching, cover cropping, companion planting and regularly checking your irrigation system.

Sustainable San Mateo County’s 23rd Annual Awards Celebration
Wednesday, May 11, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Online

SSMC will honor four local sustainability heroes, Each Green Corner, Kalimah Salahuddin, Seamless Bay Area and Robert Whitehair, along with the 2022 Green Building Award winner, the Marshall Medical Offices on Kaiser Permanente’s Redwood City campus. The All-Electric Leadership Awards, sponsored by Peninsula Clean Energy, will also be announced during the Awards Celebration. Admission to the Awards Celebration is free, but pre-registration is required at https://bit.ly/SSMC_Awards_2022.

Selecting Native Plants

Tuesday, May 24, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Online

Is your yard too high maintenance for your lifestyle? Are you finally ready to replace your lawn with a more sustainable landscape? Learn about eco-friendly lawn alternatives such as California native grasses that provide benefits for the ecosystem. Plus, find out which low-maintenance plants are suitable for your yard.