Crabtree Sessions

     Raised on North Haven Island, Zeb  grew up in a fishing family with 4 siblings and has a 250+ year maternal history of fishing and farming on the Island. He spent most of his childhood and early adult years working in the stern of a boat for his dad. Zeb bought his first lobster boat when he was 14, and fished full time for 5 years after graduating high school. After seeing environmental potential, he decided to sell his lobstering business and transition into running the oyster farm alongside his father, who started the business in 1999. Most of Zeb’s island ancestors lived and farmed on the Middle Road, where his family land and North Haven Oyster Company lie. He currently lives on a houseboat where he passes time with his sweetheart Edith Gawler and their daughter, Isla, playing banjo, writing songs about fishing, the sea, and tending to his 25 beehives via North Island Apiaries   

     Most recently a carpenter and farmer by day – Jake studied music theory, composition, and recording engineering near Charlottesville Virginia under the mentorship of Anne Marie Simpson (co-creator of MixHalo) and Wallace Hornady. He was able to learn his way around a mixing board and audio software while running sound for professional live theater performances as well as musical artists such as Keller Williams, Peyton Tochterman, Don McCloskey, the Harlem Gospel Choir and a number of other local Charlottesville performers.  > >         He moved to a rural log cabin near Rollinsville Colorado and remained connected in the music scene in the towns of Rollinsville, Nederland, and Boulder. He spent several years in Colorado developing his own songwriting and musicianship as well as being in charge of recording live performances at the famous Stage Stop Inn where he recorded shows by artists like Yonder Mountain String Band, Vince Herman, and Elephant Revival - among others.  > >         On North Haven since 2018, Jake, his partner Devon and their two year old son, River, have been involved in farming a family owned plot of land, Wild Ledge Farm – raising chickens, ducks, goats, and vegetables. > >          

    Curtis really likes music, stories, and convincing people to sponsor Crabtree. He is the official Crabtree grant writer, farm liaison, and occasional opening act on concert nights. Curtis has spent the summer working on North Haven for three years, and can often be found driving around in his grandma’s VW bus (Thumbelina) or writing sad cowboy music. “A working knee would just weigh me down”.   

I come from a long line of kings that never existed and I have no relation to either Walt Whitman, William Blake, or Blake Lively.  Vermont is home, but Brooklyn and Maine have my heart as well. I helped make Vimeo for a long time and then dabbled in VR, but

I'm more fond of leaves and rocks than ones and zeros. Experience and connection are my currencies of choice and I am currently experimenting with its possibilities with Sterling Forest Lodge.
I hope to write a book one day (about anything) so I can lead this bio with that accomplishment.

 @blakewhitman on most internet things.