Project Overview
FNE07-598
Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 2007: $2,744.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2007
Region: Northeast
State: Delaware
Project Leader:
Commodities
- Vegetables: broccoli, celery, greens (leafy), peppers, tomatoes, brussel sprouts
- Additional Plants: herbs
Practices
- Crop Production: cover crops
- Education and Training: demonstration, extension, on-farm/ranch research
- Farm Business Management: new enterprise development
- Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity
- Pest Management: weather monitoring
- Production Systems: agroecosystems
- Soil Management: organic matter, composting
- Sustainable Communities: new business opportunities, employment opportunities, sustainability measures
Proposal summary:
Rising greenhouse heating costs are creating a burden for many northeast producers. The project manager will test using a compost pile adjacent to a greenhouse to heat water that will be used for under-bench heating of the greenhouse crops. B.T.U.s generated by the compost pile, transferred to water, and ultimately released in the greenhouse as heat will be calculated and plant performance will be noted. Costs of constructing and running the compost heating system will be compared to the costs of installing and operating a propane heating system. Outreach will be through presentations, the agricultural press, and farm visits.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.