Upcoming Meetings

New England Farm Energy Conference

March 15-16, 2010
Radisson Hotel
Manchester, New Hampshire

Registration information coming soon!

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Mike Morris, National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)

Mike Morris works with farmers, ranchers, and communities on more sustainable ways of using energy and water. He is especially interested in irrigation, solar energy, and small-scale biofuels. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh, and has taught at colleges and universities in Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, specializing in ethics, technology, and the environment. Mike's keynote address will focus on assessing on-farm energy options.

There will be Two Concurrent Tracks of Presentations over Two Days of the Conference.

Greenhouse Energy Track: Conservation and Renewables.
Draft Agenda Feb. 10, 2010

Monday March 15
9:00-10:00 Assessing On Farm Energy Options (plenary session with Oilseed/Biodiesel Track)

Mike Morris, National Center for Appropriate Technology, Durham NC

10:30-12:00 Principles of Energy Conservation in Greenhouses

Chris Callahan, Callahan Engineering, Cambridge NY

Conservation and Efficiency in River Berry Farm Greenhouses
David Marchant, River Berry Farm, Fairfax VT

1:15-2:45 Growing Winter Greens Just With Solar Energy

Joe Buhley, Screamin’ Ridge Farm, Montpelier VT

Winter Spinach Production with Minimal Ground Heat
Seth Jacobs, Slack Hollow Farm, Argyle NY (not confirmed)

3:15-4:30 Making the Most of Wood Heat in Greenhouses

John Bartok, University of Connecticut

Our Experience with Outdoor Wood Boilers for Greenhouse Heat
Glenn Cook, Cider Hill Farm, Amesbury MA

Tuesday March 16
8:30-10:00 Our Experience with for Renewable Energy for Greenhouses

Mike Collins, Old Athens Farm, Putney VT

A Tour of Renewable Energy Heating Systems in Greenhouses
Vern Grubinger, University of Vermont

10:30-12:00 Overview of Solar Photovoltaic and Hot Water Systems

Mike Morris, NCAT

Geothermal Heat for Greenhouses, Can it Pay?
John Bartok, University of Connecticut (not confirmed)

1:15-2:45 Waste Vegetable Oil for Winter Greenhouse Growing

Ralph Turner, Laughing Stock Farm, Freeport ME

A Small Scale Waste Vegetable Oil System for Greenhouse Heat
Jeremy Barker-Plotkin, Simple Gifts Farm, MA

3:15-4:45 Overview of Shell Corn for Greenhouse Heat

Andrew Cavanaugh, University of Massachusetts

A Shell Corn Boiler for Ground and Air Heat in Greenhouse Tomatoes
Gideon Porth, Atlas Farm, Deerfield MA

A Corn Furnace with Advanced Temperature Control
Rich Adams, Ravenwold Greenhouse, Florence MA

Hosted by:Cooperative Extension of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont; and the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund.