Geeklog Site

Updated list of Education Resources.

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:35:47 -0700

Most Recent Notifications are on top.

http://www.meetup.com/chico-vegan/events/88330532/?a=md1_grp&rv=md1

This Way to Sustainability - Conference Proposals due!

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:05:28 -0700

Do you qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)? Find out if you qualify.

Over half of those who qualify for this important program are not signed up. To find out if you are likely to qualify use this Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool : http://www.snap-step1.usda.gov/fns/

If you live in Butte County region of Northern California and would like assistance with the application please call 530-345-9749. If no answer, please leave a message.

Why is CalFresh important to our economy?

• CalFresh supports businesses and farmers.

Vegetables, fruits, grain products, meat, and meat alternatives account for most of the money value of food used by CalFresh households.

On average, $1 billion of retail food demanded by CalFresh recipients generates 3,300 farm jobs.

California has over 125 farmers’ markets that have vendors at 280 different locations.
• CalFresh allows households to redistribute income that would normally be allocated to purchasing food.

A portion of this can be spent on taxable goods, generating sales tax revenue for the state and counties.

In addition to helping people put food on the table, CalFresh exerts a multiplier effect that stimulates the economy.
$1.00 = $1.79 in economic activity

According to the California Food Policy Advocates’ Lost Dollars, Empty Plates Report, in FFY 2007 California lost out on an estimated $4.9 billion a year in federal nutrition benefits and as much as $8.7 billion in annual economic activity. This was based on a statewide participation rate of 48%.

Estimated Local Effect
An estimated 29,552 of Butte County residents are income eligible, but not participating in CalFresh.
If all income eligible residents participated, Butte County would receive an additional estimated $40.5 million annually in federal funds and $72.5 million in economic activity
Other Counties (estimated increase in economic activity)

• Tehama = $10.2 million / year
• Glenn = $6.1 million / year
• Shasta = $42.1 million / year
• Colusa = $3.8 million / year
• Siskiyou = $6.9 million / year

HoopDance

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:21:13 -0700

Oroville Gardening Workshop - Aug 18th!

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:37:59 -0700

A gardening workshop will be held on August 18th. Open and free to all the community, this project was organized by the African American Family and Cultural Center in the Southside Neighborhood of Oroville. This project is a collaboration with cChaos and the Cultivating Healthy Communities Grant project. Funded by the USDA Specialty Crop Grant Program through the California Department of Food and Agriculture. this is a 3 year - half million dollar project focusing on developing healthy lifestyles through increased access to fresh fruits, vegetable, seeds and nuts.

For more information on the project, please go to www.cultivatingcommunitynv.org or call Terry Tillman at: 530-712-0496.

Click on image to view full size.

Mother's Day Slow Food Electric Tractor Ride

Wed, 11 May 2011 18:59:02 -0700

Amber Bailey, lead organizer of the Slow Food Mother's Day Brunch at Llano Seco Ranch takes the cChaos Electric Tractor for a spin. Had a wonderful time. Lots of folks got to try out the electric tractor, and Shasta Cascade Slow Food is donating a portion of the funds raised to cChaos projects.

Slow Food Feast on Mother's Day

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:11:00 -0700

Mexican Brunch at Llano Seco Ranch on May 8th, Mothers Day. Tickets available at Lyohn Books in Chico, Discovery Earth in Red Bluff or brownpapertickets.com on line. Some of the funds raised will be donated to cChaos Projects!! Yay!! Please Check it out.

First Time Electric Tractor Moves Under Its Own Power

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:48:18 -0700

Backing out of the barn under electrical power. Maiden run. First of two videos. Next one shows part of the trip across town to the Valley Oak Tool Company Shop.

Maiden Voyage of the Electric Tuff-Bilt Cultivating Tractor

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:45:59 -0700

Electric Tractor: Maiden Test! See Sparks Fly!

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 17:34:07 -0700

Singing the Tractor Electric

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:59:51 -0700

The Farmers Markets are increasing every year, yet the average age of the farmer continues to get older. Something has to change. Fortunately farmers are a renewable resource - but to create and maintain sustainable food systems we must begin to launch aggressive campaigns to attract and engage the attention of young people to the great, honorable, and worthy occupation of growing fresh fruits and vegetables for local consumers. In response to that need cChaos is hoping to launch a new program aimed at cutting edge technology and and needs your support. We need to raise funds to secured this Tuff-Bilt Cultivating Tractor.

The Tuff-Built is modeled on the Allis-Chalmers G Tractor build in the late 1930's and early 40's. Close to 200 of these Allis-Chalmers G's have been converted to electric. Only a handful of Tuff-Bilt's have been converted, and non of these have kept the hydraulic system for controlling the position of the cultivating tools. This will be a unique and cutting edge project. The idea is that High School, College, and University Students in the Butte County area will be invited to take part in the conversion of this tractor. Lead by Engineering Student Steven Lemos these students will get an opportunity to learn about the conversion process and evaluate the performance of the tractor in the field. Allis Chalmers G tractors are said to be able to plow an acre of ground and cultivate 2 acres.

We will be seeing how the Tuff-Bilt can equal or beat the performance of these machines, and experiment with alternatives. We expect to be using the tractor for outreach tool for local Certified Farmers Markets as part of a Healthy Lifestyle Promotion programs, and we will be making it available to both the University Farm's Organic Vegetable Project and the Butte College Organic Garden, as well as interested High Schools in the area. We are approaching local businesses for sponsorships of the project. Please help cChaos in this high profile educational collaborative sustainability project and donate now. Please help make our community healthy and sustainable.

Watch a short video of Engineering Student Steven Lemos describe the project.

Read his blog on the project here.