Hi Folks,
Showing & selling rural property in the Sierra foothills puts me in close touch with people and family's looking to be closer to the land and who wish to enjoy a simpler life than they have been accustomed to.
Permaculture is one of those topics that comes up often.
"Permaculture (a combination of two words: Permanent & Agriculture) is about designing ecological human habitats and food production systems. It is a land use and community building movement which strives for the harmonious integration of human dwellings, microclimates, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, and water into stable, productive communities. The focus is not on these elements themselves, but rather on the relationships created among them by the way we place them in the landscape. This synergy is further enhanced by mimicking patterns found in nature."
If I summed up permaculture in one word I would call it harmony.
Over the last few years, I have heard of some great classes offered with hands on experience to be had and lessons to last a lifetime, but they that great story often follows with the sticker shock of it all . . . folks paying $2,500 to $3,000 per person for a 3 or 5 day intensive course . . . or . . . $500 for a weekend.
Wow, so much for grass roots helping thy neighbor do the right thing ey?
I think the concept is a great one and it has been in use and successfully practice for thousands of years by a multitude of cultures all around the world. Permaculture has a great place in todays back to the land models that are being tossed around and continually honed to impress the largest number of people. Impressing people with something so good and genuine, shouldn't have to be so hard . . . but more importantly it should not have to be SO DARN EXPENSIVE!
Now, are you ready for some good news?
Keith Crabtree and Mike Kluk have joined forces again to offer a bargain of an all day class at Sierra College's Grass Valley Campus.
An all day permaculture class taught by certified instructors for only $88 per student!
I am happy to share their new class details . . .
New Permaculture, Garden and Soil Preparation Class @ Sierra College
Permaculture strives to leave your land in better condition than when you arrived. Basic concepts and tools of rural, suburban and urban permaculture approaches will be introduced. Specific topics covered will include philosophy and design themes, efficient water use, soil health, orchard care and gardening, energy conservation and personal power production including solar, wind and microhydro.
Please bring a sack lunch to the class.
Saturday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM; 1 session on October 17, 2009 Tuition: $78.00 Materials Cost: $10.00 Instructor: Keith Crabtree Location: Sierra College Nevada County Campus (Map)
If you have additional questions about the class, please call Keith Crabtree directly at 530-635-1253 or Mike Kluk at 530-273-5006
It will be a valuable earth connecting experience . . . guaranteed!
May all your acres be green ones!
Paul
Hi Folks,
We have had many many requests for a pasture focused all day class . . .
Keith and I are proud to announce our new all day pasture establishment & managment class to be held at Sierra College in Rocklin.
"So how many horses can I have on this acreage?"
"I am watering like crazy, but everything is still brown"
"We bought this property from a catlle rancher and now my horses are getting sick"
"I want to feed my horses from our own land and use less hay. Is this possible?"
"Which specific grasses are right for my property?"
"How do I get rid of this dog gone starthistle!?"
Join us to learn the difference between horse, cattle, annual and perennial pastures. We will be discussing 'no till' and conventional planting methods as well as basic irrigation and soil management which are both crucial for good pasture etablishement & management. What to plant and grazing practices will be emphasized. Weed control, especially star thistle and blackberry, will be covered. Tools and techniques for determining soil moisture for optimum pasture health will be shown & discussed too.
Please: Bring a sack lunch to class.
Saturday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM; All day session on November 21, 2009
Tuition: $78.00 Materials Cost: $10.00
Instructor: Crabtree
Location: Siera College, Rocklin Campus
Have more questions about this class? Please call Keith Crabtree at 530-635-1253 (mobile phone) to ask them or to get further instruction on registering.
Hope to see you there!
Paul
Hi Folks,
Nevada County Recycles has a technical assistance program design to help large acreage and livestock owners manage their waste.
Call to schedule a FREE appointment to get help:
For more information, call (530) 265-7119
Too much manure? How much is too much?
If not properly cared for, this can cause problems
on your land by:
Manure vs. chemical fertilizers
In the past, manure was seen as a valuable part of a farm or a ranch's soil fertility. With the use of chemical fertilizers, we have often forgotten the inherent value of manure.
How can you get the most value from manure?
Handled properly-turned into compost-manure will supply more comprehensive fertility than any chemical fertilizer.
Local farmers and gardeners may be interested in your livestock manure. To find interested parties, create a FREE listing right here at www.NevCoMAX.com .
The excellent hostess of this amazingly FREE program is the lovely & talented Marney Blair who has just updated and revised the new 36 page "Nevada County Manure Composting Manual".
Have just a few simple questions? or need full blown help in a big way? Give them a call. . . . It's FREE!
May all your acres be green ones,
Paul
Good & Valuable Rural Stuff is coing to a Mailbox Near You!
Why sign up for our new email or regular US mail list??
To keep updated on the latest rural happenings in Nevada & Placer County. Upcoming classes, seminars, demonstrations, events, festivals and more. And did I mention our monthly 'local source' coupons?!
Here is our Summer mailing's value added coupon that is going out as we speak.
You can expect to see similar rural related options in our future mailings.
Hope to hear from you soon,
May all your acres be green ones!
Paul
Hi Folks,
I just bought a number of items at last Thursdays Mill Street Market event and was telling a friend about it and she said, "wow, is it that time of year, I have not seen a calendar of the locations & times yet" . . . then I had a similar response from a client on the phone this morning while talking about Summer berry season.
That got me thinking, "I wonder how many other local folks dont know the details of the various markets held throughout our are of the county". So, I found the details and am happy to post them up here on my Active Rain site.
Here goes . . .
Nevada County Growers Markets
Lake of the Pines Growers Market (a Nevada County Certified Growers Market)
10566 Combie Road
Grass Valley
http://www.thegrowersmarket.com
When: Every Sunday 8am to Noon (June thru Sept)
Nevada City 7-Hills Market (a Nevada County Certified Growers Market)
175 Ridge Road (Sierra Presbyterian Church Parking Lot)
Nevada City
http://www.thegrowersmarket.com
When: Every Tuesday 3pm to 6pm (June thru Oct)
Mill Street Certified Growers Market
Mill Street (part of the Thursday night marketplace in Downtown Grass Valley)
Grass Valley
http://www.grassvalleyevents.com
When: Every Thursday 6pm to 9pm (June thru August)
Penn Valley Growers Market (a Nevada County Certified Growers Market)
17645 Penn Valley Drive (Seventh Day Adventist Church Parking Lot)
Penn Valley
http://www.thegrowersmarket.com
When: Every Thursday 3pm to 6pm (June thru Sept)
Nevada County Fairgrounds Growers Market (a Nevada County Certified Growers Market)
11228 McCourtney Road (parking entrance #8)
Grass Valley
http://www.thegrowersmarket.com
When: Every Saturday 8am to Noon (May thru October)
Nevada City Farmers Market (sponsored by the Nevada City Downtown Assn)
Union Street (alley way)
Nevada City
http://ncfarmersmarket.org/
When: Every Saturday 8am to Noon (June thru Aug) & 9am to 1pm (Sept thru Oct)
Hope this helps many more folks find there way to some of the best that Nevada County has to offer . . . locally grown farm fresh produce . . . mmm, mmm, mmm!
Enjoy!
Paul
Specializing in rural properties: Ranches, Farms, Horse Property and Recreational Land Nevada, Placer and Yuba County
Who's Paul Weir? 
I was born in Southen California, but grew up in San Jose. I met my wife, Jennifer, in 1989, and we were married, right here in Grass Valley, 5 years later. Our only daughter, Abby, was born in 2000.
I have had a love affair with the natural world since my early days of chasing butterflies, collecting wildflowers, drawing pictures of birds and watching tadpoles morph into frogs in my Grandparents backyard creek.
I can still remember, with a a chuckle and a smile, my Dad coming home to find that I had dug (with the help of some neighborhood friends) a 10ft x 10ft x 4ft deep hole in the backyard to make my own fish pond. We pooled our money to buy a plastic liner and took a group oath to start our very own fish club. I was 9 years old at the time.
I still think about digging fish ponds to this day :)
I have a degree in horticulture, though I have spent most of my adult life working in high tech. I have always held a sacred place in my heart for the special connection people need to have with the environment and the natural world we all live in. My move from the Bay Area to Grass Valley in 2005 has given me a wonderful opportunity to pay more attention to myself, my family and the beautiful world to be had in Nevada County.
I met Keith Crabtree when we first moved to Grass Valley when I took his excellent Rural Property Management Course at Sierra College. It opened my eyes to my true calling and Keith and I have been great friends ever since.
Green Acres 101 is the company Keith and I created to assist new and seasoned rural property owners in all aspects of embracing their dream of living the country life. Teaching at the college and our private consulting is very rewarding to me.
My family and I live on 6 acres in Peardale. We have 2 horses, 12 chickens, a dog and a cat. We are active in the Chicago Park 4-H Club, Union Hill School, Gold Country Soccer Association and are members of the Nevada County Farm Bureau too.
Living the country life is where we want to be and Keith and I know that many of you do too . . . that is why we are here to help. Keith and I took our real estate licenses and joined Laura Berman's United Country Real Estate to add yet another facet to our business . . and we are making this a primary one. Helping buyers make their country living dreams come true is our top prioirty and helping folks make the best possible choices, one property at a time, is what it is all about.
With Green Acres 101 & United Country Real Estate, your rural dreams have never been closer to reality and I am totally commited to help you to make it all happen.
May all your acres be green ones!
Paul Weir
Working as a team with Keith Crabtree, together we specialize in Sierra Foothill rural property. We are experts in many facets of rural acreage including; soils, ponds, irrigation, and pastures. With our collective knowledge and nearly 35 years of combined experience, we are excited to offer our services as dedicated specialists to both buyers and sellers alike.
Would you like to know more about us?
please see our website http://www.greenacres101.com
Paul Weir opened my eyes up to what going the extra mile really means. Knowing your deal is in great hands and managed every step of the way is worth so much to me. I recommend him to my friends and colleagues as often as I can.
- Alan Thomas
Some people say that Customer Service is dead, well I am hear to tell you that it alive and well. Need proof? just call Paul!
- Mary Clark
Your service, your skills and ability are unmatched Paul. You are an asset and excellent resource to those key people that have a lot on their shoulders at any give time. I look forward to continuing the relationship we have developed together over the past few years.
- Christopher Box
Paul you have been great. I really have appreciated your work and your friendship. If I have friends or family that, in the future, need to sell here in Calif or move I will remember your help and recommend you. God bless you and your family.
- R. Parker
I am sending this note to let you know how much I apprecaite your employee, Paul Weir. He has been so great to work with. Anything I needed or any questions I had he has always been there for me with quick responses and support and always with a smile too. I consider him a real asset and I hope you all do too. He has treated me great and I look forward to our future business together.
- Marc Robbins
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
