Crew

DOUG CRABTREE

Doug has always been a farmer. He grew up on a large-scale grain farm in Ohio that didn’t survive the farm crisis of the 1980s. Giving up a full ride engineering scholarship after one semester at Purdue he followed his true passion and transferred to the Agricultural Economics Program. While completing his degree, he managed a crop farm in Indiana. He worked as a professional Farm Manager and Agriculture Systems Researcher in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska. After completing his Masters program, he spent two years building a sustainably constructed home with his wife, Anna, while also working as an organic inspector. From 2001 until 2012 he served as the Organic Program Manager for the Montana Department of Agriculture. Doug holds a B.S. in Agricultural Economics / Farm Management from Purdue University and a M.S. in Plant Science/Agronomy from South Dakota State University.

ANNA JONES-CRABTREE

Anna grew up in rural Colorado and Washington State. She spent several summers in Indiana visiting relatives and playing hide and seek in cornfields. She is an innovator who has championed sustainability throughout her 26+ year Federal career and her personal life. Her work has saved millions of BTU’s dollars. She routinely cultivates key pilot projects, and pioneers new approaches to supporting the place-based work of local sustainability champions. She’s fostered a national sustainable operations effort for the US Forest Service serving as the first Regional Sustainable Operations Coordinator and as the National Sustainable Operations Director—positions she created. She holds a B.S. in Construction Engineering and Management and an M.S. in Civil Engineering, Construction Emphasis from Purdue University. Her Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a Sustainable Systems minor is from Georgia Institute of Technology. Anna is a registered professional engineer and an early accredited US Green building Professional.

JIM DOLPH

Jim grew up on a farm in Montana, and has been farming on the “Hi-Line” (the colloquial name for the region across the north of Montana) for most of his adult life. While working on his father’s farm south of Gildford, MT Jim learned a love and passion for farming and equipment that continues to this day. Most of Jim’s time farming was within the so-called “conventional” style of agriculture, but over time Jim came to appreciate the importance of healthy food and landscapes, and is passionate about farming organically. Jim currently supports Vilicus Farm as a skilled equipment operator, as well as maintenance man, mechanic, and trucker. Jim is a born problem solver, and can quickly turn resources into resolutions, all while maintaining a positive and encouraging attitude. He brings his passion for problem solving, healthy food, and warm companionship to the team as well as a deep understanding of the landscape and history that only an individual who has spent their life in a place can grasp. In addition to working for Vilicus Farms, Jim also manages his family land south of nearby Gildford and Hingham, and recently obtained organic certification for the first time.