Energy and Sustainability Policy
Program Office

March 28: MAREA Meeting

03/28/2017 - 11:00pm to 03/29/2017 - 10:59pm
A Time to Grow, with Solar Water Pumping 
Solar Water Pumping at Lehigh Valley Farms
by Bill Hennessy & Reuben DeMaster
 
Growing wholesome food while minimizing the carbon footprint and keeping it sustainable is a challenge under the best of conditions. When the weather turns dry, irrigation is needed. At our March meeting, we'll hear about local growers who are using solar power to pump water.

Reuben DeMaster of Willow Haven Farm near Werleys Corner uses solar water pumping to irrigate three acres of crops and provide water for chickens and pigs. Red Cat Farm, in nearby Germansville, has been using solar water pumping for more than 10 years as a small plot and greenhouse grower. Red Cat uses solar power with a pressure tank and battery backup for its irrigation system and has an additional grid-tied PV system with battery backup for the farm cooler and greenhouse fan. Willow Haven's setup is solar powered with gravity flow from a storage tank.

MAREA's vice president and solar installer Bill Hennessy and Reuben DeMaster will present at the meeting. They'll look at some of the costs and technologies involved and see how it fits in a sustainable, renewable process of food, water and solar electricity.

Both farms will be featured May 6 on the MAREA Solar Tour. The tour is free and open to the public. Tour information can be found at the MAREA website, www.themarea.org.
 
We hope you'll bring your questions and join us. The meeting is Tuesday, March 28, at 7:00 at TEKPark (9999 Hamilton Boulevard, Breinigsville, PA 18031, between Kutztown and Allentown). Meetings are free and open to the public. After the meeting, please plan to stick around and chat with friends old and new. Light snacks will be served. Hope to see you there!
For questions, contact Vera Cole, veracole@comcast.net.
 
TEK PARK MAY MEETING
9999 Hamilton Boulevard
Breinigsville, PA
March 28, 2017
7:00 p.m.