About Amador County, CA

Close your eyes for a minute, and imagine that you are traveling back through centuries - long before white man had the audacity to show up and begin shuffling around the New World.

You look at your hands - they are brown. They may be weathered; but perhaps not. In your right hand is a long conical stone pestle - unless you are a lefty. You are using this tool to grind acorns in mortars formed on a massive marbleized limestone rock outcropping with 1,185 mortar holes. There are others in your group performing similar activity. You know each other. Some of them are your kin. All of them are of your tribe. You are a member of the Miwok Native American people. And you are among the FIRST people of this land, which will later become known as California.

Meanwhile, back in today's world where reality can get into mischief, the 135 acre Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park, exists as a testament to the original people of California, who lived in this area for many centuries, before being driven into less desirable land, by settlers, who arrived during the California Gold Rush.

The Roundhouse emphasizes the aboriginal importance of the site. A reconstructed Miwok village provides present-day descendants of the Miwok with an opportunity to preserve their heritage and traditions. Several times during the year, local Native Americans hold ceremonies. In September, Indian families gather at the park for the annual acorn gathering ceremonies. Dancing, story telling, and games are traditional activities. But, there is no fixed schedule of events.

The Northern Sierra Miwok established their villages alongside the rivers and streams of the Sierra Nevada - from the Cosumnes River on the north to the Mokelumne River on the south. Other Miwok groups lived to the west as far as Mount Diablo and as far south as Yosemite National Park.

The park is located near the town of Pine Grove, approximately 8 miles east of Jackson on highway 88 (headed toward Lake Tahoe). The distance is about 48 miles from Sacramento.

For more information about this fascinating place, you can visit the Indian Grinding Rock State Park website.

[*Note from Myrl]: The grandkids will be starting back to school next week. I promise to get back to writing more about real estate related things then. But, I must admit, I've enjoyed these little summer day trips with the kids. Summer is ending too quickly.

A Few Green Steps in Amador County Real Estate

As Amador County’s First EcoBroker certified® REALTOR® and GREEN designee, I obviously have a thing for “GREEN,” I love to share and discus opportunities and choices in energy efficiency, sustainability, and the triple bottom line in Real Estate. In these next few posts I aim to share a few ideas on ways to save you money as you save energy, water, and other resources. Making good green choices is not about suffering for savings, but just the opposite, living a comfortable life with less waste.

So lets go!

Low Hanging Fruit.

Lighting and electrical use…

This is free, and rather obvious; turn it off if you aren’t using it. This goes for almost anything, and this is getting easier and easier all the time. Now you can even have smart systems installed to do the more difficult part of this for you. They can even be set up to automatically power down the things you really can’t use while you are away. This type of system knows when you leave and shuts down power for things like your TV, PC and wall warts. All of the little electrical draws do really ad up to a big difference in your bill and in the need to “fire up” power plants and even build new ones. Standard size wall switches are even avalible that will turn themselves off if they do not detect motion for a preset time. Areal "no bainer."

And how about the lights themselves? Those old off color, slow to warm up, and costly, Compact Fluorescent Lamps are just about a thing of the past, These days CFL’s are mostly instant on and many are even dimmable and color temperatures have improved greatly as well. As for the neysayers who ballyhoo about mercury in the lamps, of course, it is contained unless you break the lamp, and even then it is a very small amount. So that you have an idea what to do when this happens, here is what the EPA says to do with broken CFL’s.

Old CFL’s should always get recycled. Here in California we have the “Take It Back” program at many hardware and home stores (take old household batteries there also).

Spring and fall are great times to walk around the house and look for things like weather-stripping that needs to be replaced or upgraded. This inexpensive little fix can save hundreds of dollars in energy bills and make you more comfortable at the same time. If you are thinking of moving in the future, or just want to doing the best job of sealing those leaks you can, you might think about having a home energy rating done. This will tell you ware the biggest bang for your bucks will be, and often you can do “before and after” tests to show real improvements. You want to do these fixes as early as you can to be able to show good data to buyers. Keep in mind, and be sure that those prospective buyers are informed that these savings are real dollars that can let them more comfortably buy (Their) your house. If the question is between your house and an other similar house, if you can show that your energy bill is one or two hundred dollars (or more) less that the norm, that can make a big deal to a buyer who is already stretching every penny to buy.

Other things to keep in mind are passive solar opportunities. Don’t think that this is all just about site selection, and that your home is already where it is so you can’t fix this. Go out and take a good look at what you have, figure out those solar angles, and think about planting some shade trees on the sun side of your home. Maybe a canopy or some drop down shades? You will be surprised at the difference these changes can make.

These are a few cheep and easy things to think about doing, whether you are just starting to look, moving in, thinking about selling or looking for the little thing that will make your listing stand out from the crowd. In my next post I will up the ante a bit, we can look at some of the bigger things…

By the way if you are looking for a great easy way to shop for green products, Let me invite you to look at New Leaf America, I will vouch for them, I have met and talked with the owner, Chris Prelitz and he is very “dark green” and very well informed.

As always I would love to talk to you about these things and Amador County Real Estate.
Leave a comment, Email me, Give me a call (209) 257-4590 or visit Mainstreet Brokers’ Website.

I remember the first day I met Pam, She and her parents were checking out Lake Amador where I was working, looking at the possibility of moving into the park. You got the feeling right away that these were just nice people. And the feeling was right.

Fast-forward many years. Pam and her family did make the move and I guess Amador County stuck. Pam, her husband, and their kids now run Pets N Stuff in Ione. Although the Shop has been in business since the 1970's Pam and her familly have not been in charge all that time but they had run it for years. After a stint in Jackson the shop made the move to Ione about a year ago, and from what I see they are thriving as well as can be expected in this economy. These folks are all about the area, The kids go to school here and here oldes actually drives the shop's sponsered demolition derby car.

The personal and expert care that we need from the people who help us with our animal friends can be found at Pets N Stuff. They carry the best in pet food, supplements, and supplies. You can even purchase fish and small pets at the shop. Always willing to do special orders if what you want is not in stock, Ione finally has a pet shop of its own. So if you would rather save the gas and time or even more importantly these days keep your money in the county as opposed to going to some big box, corporate, pet company, check out Pets N Stuff.

When you make the Real Estaste jump don't forget the rest of the familly, They need to be part of the move as well. Click over to Mainstreet Brokers website to learn more about how I can help you here in Amador County.

Pets N Stuff

217 W Jackson St

Ione, CA 95640-9599
(209) 274-4324

Amador County has many stories of discovered treasure and fortunes made, but lots of them date back to the late 1800’s this “Mother Load” score only dates back to 1945 when What would become Swingles Meats was little more than a cold storage facility for the many locals who had not yet purchased those “new fangled” fridges and freezers we all take for granted these days. Soon a curing house and then an old style smokehouse were added and butchering was offered. The rest is history…

These days Jay runs the place, after years working for the first and second generation of “Swingles” He still holds up the extremely high standards they set back in the good old days. With so many product choices, well into the hundreds, Jay has actually lost count.
Swingles Meats is known far and wide. Hundreds of people come from as far as the bay area to get the famous cuts and cures only available here and when locals want the best this is the spot.

Often local 4H kids grow right into a job working the next step in the food process, at Swingles. Right now Swingles employs over a dozen people and with the level of quality here and many peoples’ move to staying home for nice dinners, thanks to the economy, business is brisk and most of the employees work well over 40 hrs. per week.

After you try Swingles Meats you will be hooked. The only question will be which marinade and what cut. I have only had great service and great quality meats here. Extra services like game processing (obvious by the décor) and butchering of local stock are always welcome. My wife and I have even gone in on underwriting an organic local hog, processed by Swingles, THE BEST! I can’t even tell you how good the bacon and hams turned out.

If you come to the Northern intersection of highway 49 and highway 88 just befor you drop into Jackson, you will see the big cow over Swingles Meats. Come in six days a week and get a meat treat! This old style butcher is a rare find, trust me…

I really love to introduce my carnivorous Amador County Real Estate Clients to Swingles Meats and if you are a vegetarian or vegan, STAY AWAY FROM THIS ONE!
Let me show you around the Amador County Farmers’ Market. I’ll set you up too!

Swingles Meats

12964 KENNEDY FLAT ROAD

Jackson, CA. 95642

209.223.0731

Jackson Tire Service is the place to go for tires here in Amador County, At least that’s where I go…

Patrick, one of the founders of the company says that Jackson Tire Service employs almost a dozen people at the two stores, one in Jackson, and for the last two years, one up the hill in Pine Grove.

A Local Company unlike so many tire shops these days, Jackson Tire doesn't bat an eye at my low profile rubber on my Scion, my wife's run on flats for her mini, or agriculture tires for my sister's tractor. Always doing a great business from what I see every time I come by, Jackson Tire Service caries most major brands. Now in their thirty-seventh year they go out of their way to help with community activities, sponsoring all sorts of local things like kids clubs and little league teams to the County Fair Demolition Derby! Pat is even on the City Council.

The shop does exhaust, breaks, alignments, suspension, and of course, Tires! So next time you need any of those services keep Patrick and Jackson Tire in mind…

And tell them I sent You!

Jackson Tire Service

801 S State Highway 49
Jackson, CA 95642-2699
(209) 223-3000

20084 State Highway 88
Pine Grove, CA 95665
(209) 296-8473

If you need any help with Real Estate or just want to learn about Amador County, Click over to Mainstreet Brokers Website.