Oregon growers such as Northwoods Nursery (Molalla, Ore.), Harts Nursery (Jefferson, Ore.) and McKenzie Valley Bamboo Nursery (Springfield, Ore.) have already made the commitment to install renewable energy and energy efficiency projects (such as this efficient in-ground heating system) with help from the USDA Rural Energy for America (REAP) grant program. If you would like to be next, the Energy Trust of Oregon is offering free information sessions, in locations convenient to most of the state, where you can learn more about how the program works.

• Pendleton — December 9, 6 -7:30 p.m. and December 10, 9:30 – 11 a.m., Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, 72789 Highway 331
• Bend — January 12, 6-7:30 p.m., Boyle Education Center, Central Oregon Community College; and January 13, 9:30-11 a.m., Redmond City Council Chambers
• Medford — January 21, 6-7:30 p.m., Room HEC-132, Rogue Community College/Southern Oregon University, 101 S. Bartlett, Medford; and January 22, 9:30-11 a.m., Room TRC-132, Rogue Community College Table Rock Campus, 7800 Pacific Ave., White City
• Corvallis/Lebanon — February 11, 6-7:30 p.m., Linn-Benton Community College; and February 12, 9-11 a.m., Lebanon Center, 44 Industrial Way, Lebanon

After attending these sessions, those interested in proceeding can then register for grant-writing workshops and review sessions, which will be facilitated by experienced grant-writing consultants.

We have more information about the REAP program in an article by Miles McCoy, to be published the December issue of Digger, out soon.

NOTE: Edited 11/26: Projects covered are not just solar in nature.