Feature: Cal Poly’s partnership with Zero Foodprint could help SLO County’s farmers and regenerative agriculture practices
Cal Poly’s Initiative for Climate Leadership and Resilience is on a mission to bring a program that supports regenerative agriculture to San Luis Obispo County. Called Zero Foodprint, the California-based nonprofit aims to help restaurants reduce their climate impacts by focusing on the root source—changing the way food itself is grown. Erin Pearse, the Cal…
Feature: Addison Jerlow sets the record for completing the 400-mile-long Condor Trail
A little more than 400 miles; 69,000 feet vertical gain. Rain, snow, ticks, and poison oak. Addison Jerlow conquered all these things in 21 days this spring on the Condor Trail. “I was going to do a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail and was doing a train hike with my uncle. This was in…
Outdoor Kitchen: Central Coast Outdoors offers private lunches and dinner with kayak tours
Book a tour To make a reservation with Central Coast Outdoors, call (805) 528-1080 or submit a private tour request form available at centralcoastoutdoors.com. Kayaking tours are common for the Central Coast, but one experience breaks up exploring Morro Bay waters with picnic lunches and dinners. “I don’t know anyone else who does it actually,”…
Outdoor Kitchen: Groundstar Vineyard shines a light on regenerative farming—and Vandenberg’s “small but mighty” native flower
When the time came for first-time vineyard operator Chiara Shannon to name her new business venture, she simply looked toward the stars. Not the kind of stars astronomers study, although these ones do neighbor some local rocket launch facilities. “I sound a little spiritual when I say this, but, … I feel like this is…
Trailblazing: Morro Bay and Montaña de Oro state park campsites placed first and third in state-wide competition
Between California’s 280 state parks, 340 miles of coastline, 5,200 miles of trails, and 15,000 campsites, Morro Bay and Montaña de Oro state parks placed first and third for best camping in the California State Parks Foundation’s first-ever “Best of” competition. California State Parks Foundation Executive Director Rachel Norton said the competition was inspired by…
Trailblazing: Discover Lompoc’s 30-plus outdoor art murals scattered across the city
The Central Coast’s city of arts and flowers is an apropos destination for lovers of both varieties. The two categories found in Lompoc’s nickname often intertwine with one another, too, during long-standing traditions like the annual Flower Festival and Parade, for example. Finding art in general—whether it depicts flowers, people, Vandenberg Space Force Base’s rockets,…
Feature: The Cal Poly Unicycle Club builds community, skills, and a passion for all things on one-wheel
The reverberation from a bicycle wheel hitting the pavement is constant. A vibration that moves from the bouncing rubber tire into the metal spokes. “These can take an absolute beating,” Cal Poly third-year Jacob Hinshaw says as yet another unicycle hits the basketball court in front of the Sierra Madre dorms and a student jumps…
Get Outside – Summer/Fall 2025
Most sports have their own ecosystems built around them: teams, tournaments, talent, training programs, and gear, lots of gear. Unicycling is a little bit different. It’s looser, more accommodating, and welcoming to all. It takes just as much athleticism and grit as any other sport might, but most of the students who joined Cal Poly’s…
Feature: A Central Coast transplant tries surfing for the first time
Go for a lesson Sandbar Surf School teaches private group lessons for $85 hour and open group lessons for $60 hour. Find Sandbar Surf School at sandbarsurf.com or call (805) 835-7873 for more information. I can officially say I have been humbled by the ocean, and nearly every part of my body can vouch for…
Gear Hub: SLO and Santa Barbara counties spear fishers talk spearguns and offer tips for the sport
Dive right in Need spearguns, pole spears, snorkels, or wetsuits? Check out Riffe International’s spearfishing gear collection suited for newbies to pros at speargun.com. When Mossimo Jar was spearfishing in Cambria with some friends this spring, he said he heard them suddenly flounder to their kayaks and hold four fingers up, thumbs to their foreheads.…
Gear Hub: Is an inexpensive survival kit worth the money?
You’re driving in the country after a daylong fishing trip when the unthinkable happens: Your car sputters out, you have no cell service, and it’s getting dark. It’s at least a two-day walk to civilization, and you haven’t seen another car or person all day. The fish weren’t biting, and you ate your lunch hours…
