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Renewable Energy for Farms and Greenhouses - A Series of Twilight Meetings
Directions and Registration, Sponsors
(Color brochure PDF)
Series Organizers:
University of Massachusetts Extension Agriculture and Landscape Program
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) http://www.buylocalfood.com/
Donald Campbell Associates http://www.dcasolar.com/
We will be exploring renewable energy systems for farms and greenhouses this summer and fall through a series of twilight meetings. Plan to join us for one or all meetings to learn how alternative energy sources might fit into your business. These meetings will provide information on funding opportunities and feature vendors and experts with a wealth of knowledge and experience. For more information or to pre-register, contact Tina Smith, Extension Floriculture Program, 413-545-5306, tsmith@umext.umass.edu or Ruth Hazzard, Extension Vegetable Program, 413-545-3696, rhazzard@umext.umass.edu .
Solar Energy
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
4:00 pm - 7 pm
Riverland Farm, Sunderland , MA
Host: Scott Reed
Riverland Farm grows 11 acres of organic vegetables and U-pick cut flowers on the banks of the Connecticut River in Sunderland , MA . Most of their produce is sold to the public at their farmstand and to members who come each week to pick up harvest shares at Riverland's CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) distribution. This past winter, Riverland installed solar panels (photovoltaic modules, also known as PV) as an awning to generate solar electricity to power their coolers and farmstand, as well as to provide a dry, shady area for customers. Other local farmers will be present to discuss their use of PV to power remote water stations, electric fences and drip irrigation.
Additional Speakers:
About the Installation Process
Mike Kocsmiersky, Kosmo Solar, Springfield, MA
Mike installed the system and will share his expertise.
Using a Solar Electric System to Power Drip Irrigation
Bruce Howden, Howden Farm, Sheffield, MA
Howden Farm currently uses a 1.1 kilowatt solar electric system to power drip irrigation for growing fruits and vegetables on their farm
Using Solar Power to Pump Water and for Electric Fencing
Elizabeth Smith, Caretaker Farm, Williamstown, MA
Caretaker farm uses solar power to pump water for their livestock and has a stand-alone system to supply power for electric fencing.
Getting Started - Getting Funded - Getting Power
Ruth Dinerman, Center for Ecological Technology (CET), with offices in Northampton and Pittsfield, MA
Ruth will talk about resources such as utility programs, financing and tax incentives for renewable energy.
Don Campbell, Consultant, Donald Campbell Associates, Northfield, MA
Don will talk about how to understand what sort of system might work for you, from your own simple first pass to getting a professional overview. Once that is done, the question of paying for systems comes up, with a myriad of programs out there, nuanced for different sectors, sizes and slices of people it can be daunting. Don will give a short overview and have some recommendations as to how to work through this part. The last part, though usually overlapping the second, is getting the job done. Don will give you some pointers in finding an installer who can do the job you need doing.
Wind and Solar Energy
Thursday, September 7, 2006
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Lion Spring Farm, 236 Dedham , St. Dover , MA
Host: Bob Loebelenz
Lion Spring farm is a small diversified farm, that breeds Massachusetts Thoroughbred horses. The farm also grows vegetables and herbs for local gourmet restaurants and raises chickens that supply farm fresh eggs for retail sales. On site there is a 4.8 kilowatt photovoltaic system and 3.1 kilowatt wind turbine all feeding a battery bank.
Additional Speakers:
Wind and Solar at Sylvan Nursery
Jim McBratney, Sylvan Nursery, South Westport, MA
Sylvan recently installed wind and solar for energy for their offices. Jim will share his
experience with the licensing process.
State Funding Opportunities for Renewable Energy
Representative of, Renewable Energy Trust, A division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Westborough, MA
Wind Turbines and Solar Power for Farms and Greenhouses
Mark Howland, The Wind Technology Company, E. Freetown, MA
Getting Started - Getting Funded - Getting Power
Don Campbell, Consultant, Donald Campbell Associates, Northfield, MA
Don will talk about the process of fitting a farm's needs to the types of renewable energy systems currently available including solar hot air systems to supplement heating needs.
Field Corn Biomass for Heating Greenhouses
Wednesday, October 4, 2006
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Kosinski Farm, Westfield , MA
Host: Mike Kosinski, Kosinski Farm
Kosinski Farm grows 140 acres of blueberries, apples, grain corn, vegetables and tobacco. Five greenhouses provide flower and vegetable plants for retail sales at their farm stand and use in the field. Blueberries, apples and butternut squash are major wholesale crops.
Mike began heating one greenhouse with corn three years ago and has been expanding his use of corn for heat each year. This year he is installing two larger stoves with automated auger stoking systems. Field corn fits well into his vegetable rotation.The corn is dried off-site and trucked back to the farm. His production costs are about $60-$65 per ton of corn, which is about one-third of the cost of heating oil ($2.45 per gal.) based on energy costs per BTU.
Additional Speakers:
Cutting Energy Costs with Renewable Energy
Rob Rizzo, Mt. Wachusett Community College, Gardner, MA
Rob helped Mt Wachusett install a variety of renewable energy sources including wood chips, wind and solar power and has reduced the energy costs significantly at the college.
Growing and Selling Corn for Energy Use
Bill Llewelyn, Five Point Farm, Northfield, MA
Bill grows and sells corn for energy use. This season he harvested 1,000 tons of corn.
Thoughts on Agronomics and Benefits of Burning Corn
Christine Serrentino, Field to Table, So. Deerfield, MA
Christine has been burning corn for 10 years and will discuss her experiences on the subject.
Getting Started - Getting Funded - Getting Power
Don Campbell, Consultant, Donald Campbell Associates, Northfield, MA
Don will talk about how to understand what sort of system might work for you, from your own simple first pass to getting a professional overview. Once that is done, the question of paying for systems comes up, with a myriad of programs out there, nuanced for different sectors, sizes and slices of people it can be daunting. Don will give a short overview and have some recommendations as to how to work through this part. The last part, though usually overlapping the second, is getting the job done. Don will give you some pointers in finding an installer who can do the job you need doing.
Directions
Riverland Farm, Rte. 47, Sunderland , MA
1 mile south of Sunderland Center on Rte. 47
Coming north on I-91:
Take exit 24, turn right at the end of the ramp, then right again at the light onto Rt. 116.
Go about 3 miles, through one light, over the bridge, into Sunderland center. Turn right at the light in Sunderland center onto Rt. 47, south.
Go south on Rt. 47 about 1 mile.
You'll see the farmstand on the right side of the road.
Coming south on I-91:
Take exit 25, turn left at the end of the ramp, right at the light onto Rt. 5&10.
Go about 1 mile, past one light and turn left at the next light onto Rt. 116.
Go about 3 miles, through the one light, over the bridge, into Sunderland center. Turn right at the light in Sunderland center onto Rt. 47, south.
Go south on Rt. 47 about 1 mile.
You'll see the farmstand on the right side of the road.
Lion Spring Farm, 236 Dedham , St. Dover , MA
From West, take I-90 East. Take exit #14 onto I-95 (Rte 128) South toward South Shore - go 4.1 mi Take exit #19B/Highland Ave. onto Highland Ave. toward Needham - go 1.7 mi Bear Right on Chapel St - go 0.2 mi Chapel St becomes Chestnut ST - go 1.6 mi Continue on Dedham St. - go 0.8 mi Arrive at the farm, on the Right.
Kosinski Farm, 336 Russellville Rd. Westfield , MA
From the North or South, take I-91 to the Rte 202 ( Holyoke ) exit. Follow 202 west into Westfield . At the junction of 10 and 202 go straight on North Rod. In one mile you will see the Kosinski farm stand, at the intersection with Russellville Rd.
From the East or West, take I-90 (Mass Pike) to the Westfield exit. Go Left off the ramp on Rte 10 east/202 north. At the second traffic light go left on North Road . Follow one mile to the farm stand at the intersection of Russellville Rd.
Registration Form: Energy Twilight Meetings
(July 26th , Sept. 7th, Oct. 4th)
Name(s): ______________________________________________________________
Company:________________________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ___________________________________ Email:_________________________________ Please write in the number planning to attend each session.
____ July 26 th , Solar Energy Program, Riverland Farm, Sunderland
____ September 7 th , Wind and Solar Energy, Lion Spring Farm, Dover
____ October 4 th , Corn Biomass, Kosinski Farm, Westfield , MA
________ x Number attending x ________Number of Sessions x $20 per person per session or $35 per farm (if more than one attending per business)
Total Enclosed ____________
Make check payable to: University of Massachusetts. Send to: Energy Twilight Meetings, Marilyn Kuzmeskus, Agricultural Engineering Building , University of Massachusetts , Amherst , MA 01003
Contributing Sponsors:
Risk Management Agency (RMA)
This event is sponsored in part by the USDA Risk Management Agency in partnership with the MA Department of Agricultural Resources and the New England Small Farm Institute through the Targeted States Crop Insurance Education program.and in partnership with CISA's Women in Agriculture program. http://www.rma.usda.gov/
Renewable Energy Trust, A division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Westborough , Massachusetts , Phone: (508) 870-0312 http://www.mtpc.org/
Farming and Growing Magazines, Moose River Publishing Company, St. Johnsbury , Vermont
Phone: 800-422-7147
http://www.farmingmagazine.com/
http://www.growingmagazine.com/
Stonyfield Farm, Londonderry, NH
Phone: 800-776-2697
www.stonyfield.com
The Wind Technology Company, E. Freetown , Massachusetts,
Phone: 508-763-5253
www.windtechco.com
Solar-Stream, Temple, NH
Phone: 603-878-0066
www.solar-stream.com
Home Power Magazine, Ashland , Oregon
Phone: 800-707-6585
http://www.homepower.com/
Kosmo Solar, Springfield , Massachusetts
Phone: 413-734-1456
http://www.kosmosolar.com/
BioQuantum Inc., Perkinsville , Vermont
Phone: 800-901-2616
http://www.bioquantum.net/ |
