Creating Green Technology at Milpitas Green Businesses
Check out the role that Milpitas is playing toward the goal of green energy through its green businesses.
SolarCity
Solar panels produce renewable clean energy while securing low utility rates. Our panels exceed industry standards for durability and lifespan. Now owned by Tesla. Tesla careers. 418 S Abbott Ave. 855-860-7652
SunWork
SunWork Renewable Energy Projects is a nonprofit in California’s San Francisco Bay Area that installs solar electricity systems on small-energy-footprint homes with the help of trained volunteers. 477 Valley Way 650-520-9918
View
View Dynamic Glass is powered by a sophisticated intelligence engine that adapts to your environment and you. It automatically responds to outdoor conditions and people’s preferences, or can be controlled individually from a mobile device. View careers. 195 South Milpitas Boulevard 855-478-8468
Using Green Technology
GoMilpitas Produced by Sunbeams
GoMilpitas-a green business. Solar panels installed April 2008 and more in 2018. Other green improvements.
No longer available on weekends.
(Who came up with THAT bright idea?) Monday through Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm by appointment only for pick up and return of tools
Milpitas residents, businesses, property owners, and community groups are able to borrow select tools from the available inventory for free. A wide variety of hand and gardening tools are available for temporary use. There are no power tools. For those, visit Home Depot. The full list of the inventory is available; view the Lend-A-Tool Shed Inventory (PDF).
Follow these 2 simple steps to select and borrow tools:
Complete and submit our online request form: Tools Request Form(the included Liability Waiver (PDF) must be digitally signed and submitted with the request form).
In spite of our “adobe brick” soil, we manage to have quite lovely gardens in Milpitas. Many are giving up manicured lawns for drought-tolerant and California Bay Area native plant landscaping. Plants are selected to attract hummingbirds and butterflies common to our area to our gardens.
Beautification of Local Gardens
Heritage Tree Program
Recognize and protect individual trees or groves of trees. Includes photos of significant and historic trees in Milpitas’ gardens.
Neighborhood Beautification Ordinance
The Neighborhood Beautification Ordinance was adopted to enhance the quality and appearance of our community. It requires a minimum level of upkeep for properties and prevents activities that detract from a residential atmosphere.
Lend-A-Tool Shed
Milpitas residents, businesses, property owners and community groups may borrow these tools free of charge! No power tools. While fire station is being rebuilt, the Lend-A-Tool Shed is not available.
Climate
SF Bay A Subtropical Area?
Does anyone know if the San Francisco Bay Area can support tropical plants outdoors? I’m wondering, as I see tropical hibiscus planted outdoors while my gardening books say they aren’t hardy in this area.
Plant Map for Milpitas
Zip code 95035, Milpitas CA is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b: 25F to 30F. Using updated climate data through 2010, 95035 is in the Plant maps Hardiness Zone 9a: 20F to 25F. The average first frost in 95035 is between December 11 – 20, while the average last frost occurs between February 1 – 10. 95035 rarely has days where the temperature exceeds 86°F. The average annual high temperature in 95035 is 71°F and the average annual low temperature is 48°F. The average high temperature in July (Summer) is 84°F, while the average high temperature in January (Winter) is 57°F.
Sunset climate zones: San Francisco Bay Area and inland
ZONE 17: Marine effects in Southern Oregon, Northern and Central California
The climate in this zone features mild, wet, almost frostless winters and cool summers with frequent fog or wind. On most days and in most places, the fog tends to come in high and fast, creating a cooling and humidifying blanket between the sun and the earth, reducing the intensity of the light and sunshine. Some heat-loving plants (citrus, hibiscus, gardenia) don’t get enough heat to fruit or flower reliably. In a 20-year period, the lowest winter temperatures in Zone 17 ranged from 36 to 23°F (2 to ?5°C). The lowest temperatures on record range from 30 to 20°F (?1 to ?7°C).Of further interest in this heat-starved climate are the highs of summer, normally in the 60 to 75°F (16 to 24°C) range. The average highest temperature in Zone 17 is only 97°F (36°C). In all the other adjacent climate zones, average highest temperatures are in the 104 to 116°F (40 to 47°C) range.
Native Plants and Gardening
California Native Plant Society, Silicon Valley
A non-profit organization dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of California’s native plants and how to conserve them and their natural habitats through education, science, advocacy, horticulture, and land stewardship.
CalScape
83 likely and confirmed host plants for butterflies and moths native to Milpitas, CA. Enter your specific address to refine this list of native plants to lure butterflies and moths, and the birds that feed off them, to your garden.
Urban Ecological Ecological Planning Guide
Like most cities, the urbanized region of Santa Clara Valley is a challenging place for plants and animals to make a home. Largely covered with pavement, crisscrossed by major freeways, and fragmented by a variety of land uses, the urban landscape creates barriers to the movement of wildlife and hostile environments for plants. While a small set of species tolerant of cities (such as pigeons and raccoons) can tolerate these difficult conditions, our cities have the potential to support much greater biodiversity. Urban greening projects are already occurring piecemeal across urban landscapes. Harnessing this momentum can help these efforts build greater benefits for biodiversity and for people
Composting
Composting Education Program
The UCCE CEP is a partnership with the Cities and County of Santa Clara that seeks to educate our community about composting. In addition to a Master Composter training course, the UCCE CEP offers Community Classes throughout the county as well as technical resources. Home composting bins will be available for purchase at each workshop. 2022 Workshop Dates Coming Soon 408-918-4640 to register for a class.
Guide to Home Composting
The work upon which this information is based was performed pursuant to a contract with the County of Santa Clara. Composting is a practical and convenient way to handle yard trimmings. It’s easy to do, keeps useful materials from being disposed in landfills, and compost improves soil and benefits plants growing in it.
Mornings at Martial Cottle Park
Three different free garden field trips to schools, homeschoolers, and other groups throughout Santa Clara County. Age group is 1st through 5th graders. UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County have created an engaging set of nutrition and science lessons for students to experience in the garden.
Call 811 Before You Dig!
Underground Service Alert (USA) is a free service for homeowners, excavators and professional contractors who are digging, blasting, trenching, drilling, grading, or excavating.
Kim Parker Plants, Inc.
Our office plants, plant rentals, plant sales and plant maintenance guarantees the best design, plants and services at competitive rates supported by superior customer service and technical expertise. 430 Evans Rd. (408) 262-8989
We Start Gardens
We provide a specialized backyard edible landscaping service. Thats right. All edible We strive to go beyond organic and provide our customers with the knowledge and tools they need to sustain themselves and protect the earth for the next 7 generations. 339 Timber Way 408-915-6861
Nurseries
The Best 10 Nurseries & Gardening near Milpitas
Yelp reviews, but you’ll have to drive out of Milpitas to get the best plants. True, Home Depot has some plants, and often you can get a small selection outside some grocery stores, if you top quality plants, you are going to have to drive.
Organizations
California Garden & Landscape History Society
CG&LHS is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the celebration of the beauty, wealth, and diversity of California gardens and landscapes.
California Native Plant Society
This is a group for fun plant conversations, plant ID, and sharing of information and photos. We welcome everyone who has interest in topics related to native plants of California, from the greenest novice to the career professional.
Green Thumbs Garden Club
Members meet in the Police Station’s Community Room at 7 PM. Review does not accurately reflect meeting dates. Occasionally there are speakers at the meetings who present new ideas about growing flowers or even vegetables. Members are all very helpful to one another, so if you just cannot get that special plant to grow, try asking the Green Thumbs for some useful advice.
Gardening with Natives
A special interest group of the California Native Plant Society’s local Chapter which meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7p in the Community Library. The group is open to all, and includes a mix of seasoned native plant gardeners as well as beginners. Social media: YouTube, Facebook, Meetup, and Twitter.
Local (Milpitas) Home Gardeners Club 2018
This is a community based home gardening club begun to provide education, share pointers, trade and exchange, and overall support each other in building productive and healthy home gardens.
Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County
Scientific and educational purposes: promotes horticultural education and service to the community and provides continuing horticulture enrichment for members.
Pests
Creepy Calling
Milpitas-based interior landscaper Parker buys “good bugs”–like ladybugs and wasps without stingers–and brings them into buildings.
Less Toxic Insecticides
Other products—often called less toxic pesticides—cause few injuries to people and organisms other than the target pest. The less toxic insecticides listed on this page should be a first choice when deciding to use pesticides to control insects.
New quarantine zones are added for light brown apple moth
By Holly Hayes, Mercury News, 3/17/09
More Santa Clara County gardeners will find themselves in a quarantine zone following two new discoveries of the invasive agricultural pest known as the light brown apple moth. The new boundary, set by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, includes an additional 64 square miles in the Milpitas area. County agriculture officials are reminding home gardeners who live inside the quarantine area that anything grown inside the zone may not be removed from the property – not even to share with a neighbor.
Pests & Control A GO MILPITAS RESOURCE
Got something bugging you? Advice on everything from mosquitoes to deer.
Planting Guides
Garden-to-Table Guide to Tomatoes
Tips for growing and caring for tomato plants, plus Sunset Magazine’s favorite recipes come harvest time.
Go Native Garden Tour
Not only information about the tour, but also lots of information about native plant growing, and seed and cutting exchanges in the SF Bay Area.
Growing In A Drought: The Best Plants That Thrive With Little Water
All plants need water to survive. However, like plants that require more water, some plants grow in a lack of water. They are the best drought tolerant plants and can live without water for a long time.
Lemon Tree Growing
Meyer lemons grow well in our soil and climate. Here’s information n how to make yours thrive and ideas for what to do with your backyard crop.
Rose Care in Santa Clara County
The old idea that roses should be cut down to a few canes only 8-10 inches tall does not apply in our climate. If your rose is in its first year in the ground, it will need very little pruning.
Sunset: Garden Basics
Learn how to start your own home garden with our expert gardening tips.
hese California recipes are made from fruits and vegetables that can be found in local gardens and farms. Some are found in local restaurants. If you can’t find these in a local garden or farm, then try a grocery store or farmers market. Some farms will deliver to your door. Farm Fresh to You Coupon Code Promo Code.
Silva dries apricots at his orchard on Piedmont Rd. Look for California recipes on this page to use these apricots.
Apricots
Fresh apricots are available in June at the ranch on Piedmont road between Calaveras and Yosemite.
Apricot Recipes
Apricot and plum tart. Apricot sorbet. Apricot preserves. Apricot purses on a cloud. Apricot crumble. Apricot nectar. Apricot soufflé. Apricot tart. Caramelized apricot tart
California Apricot Council Recipes
Try these great ways to prepare Apricots. Apricots are high in vitamins A (beta-carotene) and C, a good source of potassium, low fat and sodium free!
Asian Recipes
We have a large Asian community here in Milpitas. This helpful site has recipes from each culture as well as lots of information about herbal remedies and Asian culture.
Bubble Tea Recipes
The beauty of Bubble Tea is the versatility of this drink. Please play with the recipes and come up with your own creations.
Avocados
Best Guacamole
Submitted by: Kathy Shaw. The real trick to great guacamole is to use good avocados. Make sure your avocados are ripe and of the Haas variety.
California Avocado Recipes
Guacamole and avocado recipes submitted to the California Avocado Commission website. Receive free avocado recipe each month via email.
Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pão de queijo)
Originally from a town in Brazil called Guaporé, Fernanda D. of Milpitas keeps the foods and recipes from her culture alive in her household.
California Earthquake Cake
This California recipe features coconut and nuts topped with chocolate cake mix. Then powdered sugar is poured in a criss-crossed pattern on top before baking.
Ghirardelli Chocolate Inspired Desserts
With the best chocolate in the world made just up the road in San Leandro, we can’t get enough California recipes for these chocolate treats!
San Francisco Sourdough French Bread
If you’re a bread lover, nothing beats the tangy taste and chewy texture of true San Francisco French style sourdough bread. From its hard crust to its soft interior, this California recipe bread has a unique flavor that is hard to resist.
San Francisco Sourdough Recipes
Here in Milpitas we take these recipes for granted – crab dip on sourdough, sourdough french toast, and more.
Cherries
Bing or Black Cherry Flan – Clafouti
In central France, this custardy fruit dessert is known as clafoutis. It can be made with a variety of fresh fruits, but plump, glossy dark sweet cherries are the traditional first choice.
Cherry Recipes
Cherry Almond Cinnamon Rolls, Brown Butter Cherry Bars, Cherry Almond Quick Bread, Fresh Cherry Sauce, Fresh Cherry Hand Pies, and more.
Cream Cake with Bing Cherry Sauce
This is an elegant, yet simple cake to make for a special occasion. The white cake is layered with a vanilla pudding in the middle, frosted with sweetened whipped cream, dusted with chocolate curls and served with a warm bing cherry sauce.
Dates and Figs
California Fig Recipes
From the California Fig Advisory Board. A bunch of quick, easy ideas of what to do with your backyard crop of figs.
Cooking With Dates
Versatile California Dates go well with many other fruits, and are compatible in compotes, salads, and desserts. Provided by the California Date Administrative Committee.
Fig Newton Bars
The cakes took their name from the Massachusetts town of Newton, which is a suburb of Boston. Here’s a recipe to let you make these popular bars with figs from your back yard tree.
10 Easy Medjool Dates Recipes
Here are all the best Medjool dates recipes! This chewy, caramely fruit is perfect for naturally sweet treats like brownies, energy bars and smoothies.
27 Fig Recipes Because They’re *Finally* in Season
The best fresh figs are not usually the perfect, good-looking firm ones. Oh no! You want ’em soft, squishy, even oozing a bit of syrupy juice. Some of the best are the ones that have started to wrinkle a bit after sitting for a couple of days on your counter.
Valley Fig Growers’ Recipes
If your busy schedule leaves little time to plan or eat balanced meals, keep dried figs on hand as a kitchen-cabinet staple. Here are some quick ways to add figs, and more nutrition, to your everyday favorite dishes.
Fruit Cake Recipe
At the top of this page is a humorous look at fruit cake baking, but at the bottom are links for real fruit cake recipes.
Persimmon Recipes You Should Try This Fall Here’s everything you need to know about choosing and storing them, plus our favorite persimmon recipes. Martha Stewart recipes for a fruit many here grow in their yards.
Grapes and Raisins
30 Dessert Recipes for Raisin Lovers
From simple snacks to more complex ethnic dishes and everything between, click on a category here and get inspired. You just might get hungry.
Double Boiler Raisin Bread Pudding for Two
It is so good, it may serve just one! A layer of brown sugar on the bottom of the pan makes a delectable sauce for the pudding, while also protecting the custard from contact with the hot pan.
Sun-maid Recipes
This collection includes many of our classic recipes that have been enjoyed by generations of families.
California Wrap Sandwich
What you get when you mix California cuisine with a big Mexican tortilla.
Chicken Tortilla Casserole California-Style
A family favorite! I often make it to freeze in portions for my family to take to work (reheats easily in a microwave). I generally make this as low-fat as possible using skim milk, lowfat cheeses, tortillas & soups.
Mexican Recipes
Your home for great Mexican food recipes, meal ideas and cooking advice.
Jams and Jellies
Kumquat Orange Marmalade
I don’t think there is anything else you CAN do with kumquats BUT make marmalade! They are so sour!
Pyracantha Jelly
You don’t have to let the robins eat all those lovely, red pyracantha berries!
Sunkist Recipes
Recipes you to help you use up your backyard lemon, limes, orange and grapefruit crop for a wide variety of drinks, meals, and desserts.
Grilled Lamb Recipes
Several delicious recipes for BBQ’d lamb from the Barbecue Bible.
In-N-Out Double-Double
This is a recipe for making what I believe is the best hamburger in the world. The secret to duplicating this and other fast-food burgers is getting the beef patties real thin…about 1/4 inch-thick.
Mushrooms
MykoWeb: Mushrooms, Fungi, Mycology
Learn to identify wild mushrooms with this Bay Area group, and once you are sure you have found edible mushrooms, here you’ll also find recipes to suit your pallate.
Nuts
California Almond Recipes
Top recipes: Strawberry Cucumber Salad with Almonds and Mint, Beet Salad with Almonds and Chives, Chinese Pearl Balls with Orange Ginger Dipping Sauce, and Orange Almond Bostock. Look for new recipes, by situation, and browse by meal type.
Pistachio Facts and Recipes
California pistachios are excellent “keepers” when stored properly. To keep them at their freshest, store pistachios in a refrigerated airtight container or keep them in the freezer for long-term storage. Recipes for Pistachio Pesto Pasta, Salmon with Pistachio-Basil Butter, and Cranberry Pistachio Semolina Tea Bread.
California Walnut Recipes
Starting with Ricotta and Apricot Walnut Crepes. From the The California Walnut Commission.
Walnuts Recipes
Walnuts have been around for millions of years, and a crop here in California for more than a century!
Olive Oil Source
Olive trees look so lovely… until they begin dropping black olives all over the place. Here’s a resource for dealing with your olive crop, or having it pressed into gourmet olive oil.
California Dried Plum Recipes
California Dried Plums are the not-so-secret ingredients that make everything from appetizers and salads to entr¨es and desserts irresistibleüand good for you, too!
Sunsweet Recipes
Sweets and desserts made with Suunsweet prunes.
Poultry
California Chicken Salad
And as always, mix and match the salad ingredients to suit yourself. If mangoes are too expensive where you are, use halved grapes or apple chunks. If you don’t like the crunch of celery, use cucumber cubes. If you don’t want to screw with finding poppy seeds, just leave them out. It’ll break my heart but won’t make much difference to the final product.
California Turkey Chili
In a skillet, heat oil over low heat. Add bell peppers, onions, and garlic. Cook until tender. Then, add beans, tomatoes, water, turkey, chili powder, coriander, red pepper flakes, and salt. Simmer 25 minutes.
Middle Eastern Turkey Kebab Bowl
Middle Eastern turkey kebabs easily transform into a delicious, colorful bowl full of flavor. Hot off the grill, turkey kebabs make for an excellent main course with countless possible ingredient combos!
Willie Bird TurkeysWilly Bird Turkeys
Probably the best free-range turkeys in the state. You can order them from this website. Famous for their quality and taste.
Pomegranates
Pomegranate Recipes from Martha Stewart
WWhen the days begin to shorten, and we are all in need of bright flavors, cooking with pomegranate can add a bit of sparkle to meals.
Potatoes
Carbonara Stuffed Potatoes with Crispy Pancetta
Our Chopped Dinner Challenge this week was pancetta, a kind of Italian unsmoked bacon. We wanted to do a spin on the classic spaghetti carbonara and crossed it with a twice-baked potato for crispy, cheesy, eggy comfort.
Delicious Sweet potato Recipes
Come try Crispy Sweet potato Wedges, Sweet potato Leek, Sweet potato Chicken Oriental and other great recipes from the The Sweet Potato Council of California.
White Potato Recipes
Nutritionally speaking, potatoes often get a bad rap , but they can be a smart foundation for a healthy meal. They are naturally high in Vitamins C and B6, are gluten-free, and rich in potassium.
Restaurants
Bay Area Bites
Celebrity Chefs Recipes from San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants on KQED website. Includes some cannibis recipes.
Marzetti Recipes
T. Marzetti has a plant on Yosemite Dr. Here are recipes that feature their dressings.
Rice
California Nori Rolls
These rolls are great to bring to parties, as everyone with be impressed with how beautiful and yummy they are. They are also very lowfat.
California Wild Rice Recipes
Specialty varieties of rice grown in California can be used in each of these recipes.
Rancho California Rice
Ronald Reagan’s favorite rice recipe. (From when he was governor.)
Seafood
Cioppino (San Francisco style fish stew)
When you have a houseful, whip up a potful of Cioppino to treat family and friends. This San Francisco-style fish stew is nutritious and delicious–shrimp is high in omega-3s and low in mercury. The amount and types of fish can be varied according to what you can find fresh locally. How to select and clean mussels for this recipe.
Strawberry Recipes: Palate Pleasing!
If you really want to indulge, preview the quick and easy recipes we’ve included to please your palate. From dips and drinks, to salads and sauces, to glorious glazes, toppings, pies and cakes, we’ve got the goods on cooking with strawberries. The California Strawberry Commission.
Vegetables
California Asparagus
Asparagus “tips,” recipe ideas, and information about where it is grown.
California Tomato Growers Association
Check the Chef’s Recipes for elegant recipes featuring California tomatoes from 4-star restaurants around the world.
California Zucchini Quiche
If you are a lacto-ovo vegetarian, here’s a great dish to use up that big zucchini.
Famous Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Revenge of the chocolate zucchini bread. To get back at my ex-husband, I had to use the dessert he loved most. By Paulina Borsook.
Pepper Fool
California vendor of hot sauces has an abundance of Mexican and Chinese hot pepper recipes.
See our weather forecast widget on every page in the lower right column. It includes hourly forecasts and you can click through to minute by minute forecasts so you know when a storm cloud is about to dump on exactly where you are.
Apocalyptic Wednesday!.
Dog still needs to be walked in spite of smoke in the air.
The Weather Channel Hourly weather forecast for the Milpitas area, with other links to maps, travel conditions, gardening and allergy tips, advisories for those flying or boating. You may change settings.
Spare the Air
Click here to see if it’s a good idea or not to light a fire in your fireplace tonight. Runs from November 1 through February.
Confronting Climate Change in California
As we enter the 21st century, a powerful new agent — global climate change — will increasingly interact with the human pressures that continue to stress California’s natural environments. From the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Area Vibes: Milpitas CA Weather
For today and the coming week, as well as historic averages for each month. Lots of other data about Milpitas you may want to know.
Which City Has The Most Unpredictable Weather?
Not Milpitas! San Francisco’s weather patterns are unusual as compared to the rest of the country (September has historically been San Francisco’s warmest month, for instance). But they’re predictably unusual, at least on a day-to-day (if not necessarily hour-to-hour) basis. And San Francisco, like the rest of the West Coast, rarely gets severe weather. In other words, it is fairly easy for the weather forecast you see on TV to be correct.
Drought in San Francisco Bay Area
Fire on the hillside during July heatwave
Inside Bay Area Drought
News, water saving tips, maps and data, on how drought is affecting the Bay Area.
Historic Weather Events
Storm Events Database
Search Results for Santa Clara County, California. 397 events were reported between 01/01/1980 and 01/31/2018 (13911 days). Sortable data base. You can also change the date range to suit your study. Due to Trump cuts to the NOAA budget, the data hasn’t been collected for several years.
Sunnyvale Tornado 1998
Tornadoes are extremely rare here, but one did occur in 1998. This one did some destruction in Sunnyvale. Here’s the weather analysis from SFSU.
Wind Storm, October 22, 2000 GO MILPITAS ARTICLE
Photo essay by your Go Milpitas! Guide, Ann Zeise, showing damage done by windstorm.
Images
Mt Hamilton HamCams
We’ve added a second, fixed Hamcam (Hamcam #2) to provide the popular and useful western view, thus freeing the original Hamcam (Hamcam #1) to roam the mountain top at our whim.
The Best 10 Contractors near Milpitas
Yelp reviews providing information, planning and qualified contractors to discriminating residents of Milpitas.
Call 811 Before You Dig!
Underground Service Alert (USA) is a free service for homeowners, excavators and professional contractors who are digging, blasting, trenching, drilling, grading, or excavating.
Get energy efficiency rebates for your home
Complete our online application to speed up the turnaround time for your rebate. Our step-by-step instructions help you find the information you need, plus we provide examples of invoices and other documents required.
Home Depot Sucks
Home Depot is the largest retailer of old growth rainforest wood in the U.S. For this and other reasons, this site really doesn’t like HD.
HomeAdvisor True Cost Guide
Enter in your project type and 95035 to get a ballpark for your project costs. Updated daily. Free.
Installation Cost Calculators
Get current fair pricing for common remodeling, installation, maintenance and repair services. Homewyse provides easy-to-understand cost breakdowns for 1000+ common home projects. 408-262-3667
Budget Blinds
Vernon Hasebe, window covering design consultant. We offer a great selection of name brand blinds and shades, free in-home consultation, and “Expert Fit” measuring and installation. 1147 Pescadero St. 408-262-3035
GoMilpitas Produced by Sunbeams
