www.cfgrower.com/features/0706/renew.html -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 4/23/2005
Last Visited: 9/10/2006
Barry Adler feels now is the time to see if renewable energy sources can be efficiently utilized to compete with or replace older energy sources, whose rising cost makes such a course of action feasible.On nine acres of family farmland in Union County, Ohio, the former lawn and garden industry researcher, who has a Masters degree in horticulture from Virginia Tech, is making his case in impressive fashion.Adler is a member of Green Energy Ohio, for which he also works part time as coordinator of operations.The non-profit organization acts as a clearing house for renewable energy information, much of it utilized by Adler in his cutting edge facility completed slightly over a year ago, at a cost of about $80,000.Grants were obtained from the Ohio Department of Development Office (ODOD) of Energy Efficiency and the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program.Innovative Farmers of Ohio helped coordinate the ODOD grant application.One problem that surfaced immediately was the water supply situation in central Ohio -very good except in times of drought, but also very hard.Thus the name given to the Adler farm operation: RainFresh Harvests, meaning rainwater is collected and used as a ,natural supply, for the herb greenhouse plantings, plus several outdoor small fruit plantings, Two 500 gallon cisterns collect the water, the amount used for rinsing is treated with ultraviolet light, the rest used for crop production is filtered through algae and gravel, then through a series of gutters onto 20 some herbal varieties, and eventually into fish tanks for the nourishment of Koi, supplied now by a contractor, though Adler may go into this business on his own.What's left over from the fish and plant feedings is channeled to a grass plot, which also acts as a filter, then finally back into the storage tank.Its not a perpetual motion machine, Adler says he loses about 20-25 gallons to evaporation and some of course is retained by the plants, but the cycle does continue.Grass is fed to red worms in another tub, who do a great job of providing compost for the herb potting material, provide fertilizer, and give off heat for the greenhouse.He's also thinking of using ducks, whose manure producing potential is legendary, to eat the grass, provide some greenhouse heat and lay eggs that can be sold for a premium.This seems to be the core idea here, a cycle of energy transfers, nothing going to waste, with each forward move in the cycle giving birth to another.Adler feels this type of technology can help small farmers remain in agriculture by concentrating on greenhouse production, or small outside acreage, using the alternative energy of wind and sun.The Renewable Energy Solar Greenhouse faces south to catch maximum sun heat through clear glazing, with radiant heat from water heated by the same source, then run through pipes in the floor.Solar panels, plus a single wind turbine, provide about three kilowatts of power.Adler says on sunny and windy days he has surplus power, while clouds and still air provide less, so the extra power collection is stored in batteries for use when neededThe 20 year trend toward organic production has not gone unnoticed by Adler-or by most other growers seeking profitable niche markets.Presumed health benefits, at least a 10 year trend toward more ,natural, production, plus the willingness of consumers to pay more for these attributes, more than make up for the increased cost of going organic.He's moving in this direction, uses biological controls and beneficial insects to replace chemical insecticides, stressing to customers they will get the freshest, safest and most environmentallyfriendly crop that can be grown.He focused on herbs for their relatively undemanding fertility needs, plus resistance to pests and disease.They can be planted once and harvested twice a week for a considerable length of time.Already Whole Foods of nearby Columbus and Northstar Cafe are steady buyers of fresh cut herbs and salad greens.Other specialties include tea mints, wheatgrass and micro-greens, and seasonal specialty vegetables, plus outdoor small fruit in season, including red raspberries, thornless blackberries, Heirloom tomatoes and peppers, plus Asian pears.Adler makes free delivery to restaurant and retail outlets, using bio plastic degradable containers for retail outlets, and reusable ones for restaurants.He feels he can become profitable from this now one of a kind high tech facility in 5 to 7 years.What he's learning now may be the template for future agricultural production, and he hopes eventually to market the system to other growers seeking a production map that will sustain and improve the environment by utilizing alternative energy from wind and sun.He is literally researching while testing three different production systems, any or all of which may meld into the future of agriculture: RainFresh Green BioShelter, BioIntensive field crops, and a Passive Solar Greenhouse.For the field crops, he is using high tunnel housing to help lengthen the growing season, hoping eventually to move berry production to late fall, and enable earlier spring planting.Adler's philosophy is that we need to develop better ways to preserve the soil by using already existing natural resources.He says there are limits to how long we can continue polluting soil and water and using up the energy supply.He is far from the only grower to feel that growing and selling agricultural produce will help preserve the family farm, by also supporting a viable local economy.The reasons he gives for making this a priority are simple -and feasible: reduce reliance on oil, factory farming pollution and pesticide usage; increase food safety and security; save energy and money; eat fresher, healthier, better tasting foods; and invest in a green future, In short, keep the money at home.From Northland Ohio Foodland Network he quotes this statistic - for every dollar spent shopping and eating locally, two to four dollars are generated for Ohio farms and businesses.
12 online sources [ view sources ]
Profile is not claimed [ claim profile ]
