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Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Green Summer Events in Montana!

Here are some upcoming Green Events in Helena and around Montana. Please contact us at Recycle @ Savemobile.org or 406.431.0815 if you have an event we should add.

Thanks - Savemobile.org

* June 1-8: S.A.V.E. Plastics Drive, Helena, http://www.Savemobile.org

* June 10-12: 17th annual EPAC Conference on Biofuels, Big Sky, http://www.ethanolmt.org/conferencelist.html

* June 12, 13, 20: Three Montana Farm Tours to Feature Energy-Savings, Oilseeds, Carbon Sequestration and On-farm Biodiesel (see full text below)

* June 16-23: Montana Festival of the Wind, Judith Gap & Harlowton, www.harlowtonchamber.com

* July 14: Sustainability Fair, 9am-5:30pm, Sacajawea Park, Livingston, http://www.northrock.org/

* August 18, NCAT SustainabilityFEST, 10am-6pm, Butte, http://www.ncat.org

* Sept. 7-14, S.A.V.E. Plastics Drive, Helena, http://www.Savemobile.org

* Sept. 11-14. Yellowstone Greening / Waste Not Montana Conference, Big Sky, Montana Sky, Montana, September 11-14, 2007 http://www.headwatersrecycle.com/conference/index.htm

* September 29th, Trash for Trees, 9a.m.-4p.m., http://www.Savemobile.org/trashfortrees/

Three Montana Farm Tours to Feature Energy-Savings, Oilseeds, Carbon Sequestration and On-farm Biodiesel

Three tours of five diversified Montana grain farms will feature a wide range of cropping systems aimed at reducing fossil fuel energy, trapping carbon and increasing profitability.

The first tour is on June12th at 1:30 pm at the Bob Quinn and Thad Willis Farms southeast of Big Sandy.
This tour will focus on:
Reducing energy and off-farm inputs
Growing and pressing oil seeds for farm fuels
A presentation on economic issues related to farm input use and profitability by Economist Dr. Dave Buschena of Montana State University (MSU)
The effect of spring and winter pea green manure crops on soil nitrogen, soil water, and winter wheat on the Quinn Farm by MSU Cropping Systems Specialist Dr. Perry Miller and colleagues

The $10 registration fee covers the tour costs and all-Montana dinner including a Polynesian pig roast. Pregistration is encouraged. Take Highway 236 south out of Big Sandy 12 miles, turn right onto Kamut Lane and go to the second house on the left.

The second tour is June 13th at 9:30 am at the Gettel Farm near Power. This free tour will highlight:
How a no-till diversified cropping system can reduce off-farm inputs. Brothers Dave and Roger Gettel have been experimenting with risk management concepts for a number of years – following in the steps of their father, Arnold, who began no-till farming in the late 1960’s. Crops include winter and spring wheat, lentils, barley and grass & alfalfa hay.
Field research that measures the effect of no-tillage vs. continuous diversified cropping on soil carbon sequestration, presented by Dr. Perry Miller of MSU, research partner David Gettel, and Miller’s colleagues at MSU.
Economic issues related to farm inputs and saving energy on the farm, presented by Dr. Dave Buschena of MSU.

Directions to the Gettel Farm: For those heading north from Great Falls on I-15 -- go past Vaughn to the Gordon Exit. Take frontage road 2 miles North to I-15 underpass and head east two miles to starting point. For those heading south on I-15 take the Power Exit. -- take the frontage road 2 miles south to I-15 underpass and head east two miles to the farm.

For more information or to register for either of these tours, contact Jim Barngrover at 443-7272, (jbarngrover@aeromt.org).

The third tour is June 20th at 1:30 pm at the farms of Ken DeBoer and Curtis Harper near Ryegate, Montana. Camelina crop production at both farms will be featured, along with an oilseed crusher and a homemade biodiesel processor at the DeBoer Farm. This tour provides an excellent opportunity to see what on-farm oilseed crushing and biodiesel processing really involve.

To get to the DeBoer and Harper farms, turn north at Ryegate’s flashing light onto Highway 238, drive two miles and turn west on the Ruzick Road. Drive two miles and stop at the first farm, which is Ken DeBoers at 178 Ruzick Road.

For more information on this free farm tour contact Holly Hill at 494-4572 (hollyh@ncat.org).

Co-sponsors of these tours include the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO), Montana Organic Association (MOA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Montana Farmers Union. Additional support for the Willis/Quinn and the Gettel tour comes from the Western Risk Management Center/USDA-CSREES.

- Savemobile.org

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