Farm & Granary solar installation

Overview

For Michael Siegel and Barbara Caldwell, harvesting solar energy just makes sense. At Farm & Granary,their 14 acre farm nestled between the Shawangunk Ridge and the Catskill Mountains in the Rondout Valley, they take the best of what is old and marry it to the best of what is new. Their certified organic heirloom vegetables and eggs represent a new direction in agriculture. Crops on their farm are intensively grown in raised beds and in high tunnels which extend the season in which Michael and Barbara bring great tasting sweet potatoes, yellow Brandywine tomatoes, and varieties of beets to market.
Knowing that assistance was needed to accomplish their goals, Michael and Barbara contacted NYSERDA which provided the needed assistance to make the photovoltaic dream a reality.

The system is comprised of 30 photovoltaic modules, 140 watts each. The DC (direct current) power produced by the solar modules is converted into AC (alternating current) for use by Farm & Granary. The total AC rated power of the system is 3.5kW. The total installed system costs are approximately $34,200 and the NYSERDA incentive is $16,800.

The estimated annual output of the Farm & Granary system is 4,900 kWh. This system should reduce the amount of energy purchased by about 85%. Emissions of CO2 will be reduced by 5,350 pounds annually.

Farm and Granary grows high quality, great-tasting, heirloom produce utilizing organic and sustainable agricultural principles. Among our most requested products are yellow brandywine tomatoes, sweet potatoes, fava beans, edamame, heirloom winter squashes, heirloom beets as well as wild and cultivated mushrooms including chicken of the woods, shiitake, chantarelles, and chestnut boletes. We offer delicious certified organic eggs from a pastured mixed flock of 60 hens including Buff Orpingtons, Australorps, Silver-laced Wynandottes and Arucana breeds. Visitors are welcome, however it is a good idea to call first. Barbara Caldwell 845-647-2254

Farm and Granary is a proud member of the Rondout Valley Growers Association.

Hudson Valley Homegrown Energy and Resource Map
updated 09/2009 by Hudson Valley Noteworthy Sites