Keith Crabtree

Great news!

Our new rural class, "Introduction to Permaculture" will have its inaugural session on February 28, 2009.

Class will be a hands on all day event and you will surely go away with new tools and a new visison towards being a better steward of your own land. Whether you have a city lot or 100 acres, this class will have something for everyone.

Here is the official write up we submitted to a number of publications to advertise the event.

Permaculture, Energy Efficiency, Garden and Soil Preparation:
This class will provide an introduction to Permaculture techniques to allow the landowner to maximize their properties natural resources. Soils will be covered, including; Texture, Structure, Organic Matter, and how to determine soil textures by the field method, and learn how to use the USDA Soil Surveys for determining soils series and there limitations. Garden design, Energy efficiency and utilizing sunlight for energy production will also be discussed.

We would love to see you there. Class is only $40 per person or $60 per couple (bring a friend).

Please call or email me for more information. I would be happy to share more about this class and the many others we have scheduled throughout 2009.

530-635-1253 mobile or keith@greenacres101.com

Thank you!

Keith

What is Permaculture anyway? That was my question exactly.

This last November, I completed the “Permaculture Design Certification” class. The Permaculture movement that is happening around the world was new to me. I am enthusiastically going to be a promoter for this common sense approach to the uses of our Natural Resources (water, soils, food production, energy savings, and all other good use of natural resources). I came away with a good feeling that I can give our clients and students more excellent techniques for creating a beautiful and productive property. This includes options for urban, suburban and rural properties too.

To answer the above question “What is Permaculture”: I would describe it as being in balance with Mother Nature. When we leave this earth it is in as good and hopefully better condition than when we became the Stewards of the land.

Our future generations are relying on us. With this in mind I have teamed up with Mike Kluk to teach a full day hands on Introduction to Permaculture class. Try that link of please visit our Green Acres 101 website for more information.

Please call or email me if you have any questions or just want to know more about “Permaculture”
(530) 269-1217 or keith@greenacres101.com

May all your acres be green ones,

Keith

P.S. I want to pay special thanks the Sivananda Ashram Farm in Grass Valley for providing us such a beautiful environment for our classes. They fed us and treated us with the utmost hospitality and, respect. We are very fortunate to have their Yoga Farm in our community.

I will be giving 4 seperate lectures at this years event. topics range from rural property management to irrigation design.

I would love to see you out there and when you do come, please stop by and say hello.

This years conference will be held from 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at
Lincoln High School, 790 J St., Lincoln, CA.

It is co-hosted by PlacerGROWN and Placer/Nevada Counties University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE). PlacerGROWN is a nonprofit organization that promotes activism around farming and the local food system.

The conference is an occasion for both farmers and those who purchase their commodities to gather for a day, partake in educational workshops and an opportunity to better know one another. This year's keynote speaker is Michael Dimock, president of Roots of Change, a collaborative of leaders and institutions unified in common pursuit of achieving a sustainable food system in California by 2030. Michael will address how small and medium sized agricultural producers can survive amidst global corporate consolidation. He will also discuss the Declaration of Healthy Food and Agriculture which calls for U.S. Food and Agriculture to move beyond the production of cheap calories to a more holistic approach that addresses the root causes of health, social and environmental problems.

In addition to the trade show, and lunch, the conference features over 25 workshops. The speakers presenting these workshops come from various backgrounds: farm advisors, local ranchers and farmers, and business people within the local community. The following provides a glimpse of the strands and workshops they offer:

• EATING LOCAL
  Food Preservation
  What is Local & How to Buy Local
  
• GETTING STARTED IN FARMING
  Business & Operations Planning
  Where to Turn for Resources
  
• BEGINNING FARMING
  Soils in the Foothills
  Irrigation Design & Management

Reserve your space and register today, registration fees go up on January 29, 2009. Download a registration form, complete it and enclose payment made payable to U C Regents, and mail to: PlacerGROWN, 11477 E Ave., Auburn, CA, 95603. Contact Roger Ingram at (530) 889-7385, or by email rsingram@ucdavis.edu for supplementary information on the Farm Conference.

Classes for 2009: Keith Crabtree and Paul Weir of GREEN ACRES 101

January: None Scheduled

February:

2/7/09 Placer Farm Conference Lincoln High School

2/14/09 Rural Property Planning Placer Co

2/21/09 Permaculture, Garden, Soils Placer Co

2/28/09 Permaculture, Garden, Soils Nevada CO

March:

3/14/09 Rural Property Planning Nevada Co

3/21/09 Pond Management Nevada Co Sierra College

April:

4/11/09 Irrigation Water Management Nevada Co NID

4/18/09 Irrigation Water Management Placer Co NID

May:

5/16/09 Pasture Management Nevada Co

5/23/09 Flood Irrigation Management NID

June:

6/06/09 Pond Management Placer Co

6/13/09 Rural Property Planning Placer Co

6/20/09 Irrigation Design Nevada County

July:

7/11/09 Pond Management Nevada Co

7/18/09 Rural Property Planning Nevada Co

7/25/09 Irrigation Design Placer Co

August:

8/08/09 Pond Management Placer Co

8/15/09 Pasture Management Placer Co

September:

9/05/09 Pond Management Nevada Co

October:

10/05/09 Wildlife, Fire, Erosion Nevada Co:

10/10/09 Rural Property Planning Nevada Co Sierra College

10/17/09 Permaculture Garden Soils Nevada County Sierra College

November:

11/07/09 Pond Management Placer Co Sierra College

11/14/09 Irrigation Design Placer Co Sierra College

11/21/09 Pasture Management Placer Co Sierra College

Dec: None Scheduled