No longer flat on the ground

[Rodney Mills]

On my walk this morning I heard an interesting show on my radio. A farmer whose 24-acre family farm was slowly going broke. He had done some reading regarding solar panels, and asked the local agricultural committee if he could convert it to a solar farm. They told him no, that his land was designated agriculture. He said that if he had to close down his farm no one wins, how about if we work together to find a solution? They ultimately agreed, and combined, they contacted the University of Colorado and the National Renewable Energy Lab, and collectively all parties came up with what looked like a solution, and the agricultural committee passed a change in their rules.

Here's what happened. First the farmer had to borrow $2 million dollars against the farm to put in the solar panels, however, with a big difference. He elevated the blocks of panels in tiers, from block rows of 3ft elevating above the ground, and by steps, elevating to blocks 8ft off the ground (so each block doesn't block the sun from the next). Between the blocks he left lanes with enough room to drive his tractor.

Beneath the solar panels he is, and has, grown crops of peppers, beets, turnips, tomatoes, squash, carrots, etc., and his farm is bursting with chard and kale even in November (winter here).

The panels protect the small crops from fierce summer sunshine, not only that it lowers loss of water through less evaporation and has halved his water bill; there are now a dozen farms across the United States experimenting with this dual program. Farmers are arriving to see the results from many areas of the US Western. drought stricken, States and from around the world

The farmer says his farm generates enough power to provide 300 families with electricity and his agriculture almost enough food to feed them, and he is in the black, (profitable}

This combination program, food and solar is a tremendous leap. and just the first baby step to combine projects to provide alternative energy and food.

Cheers Rodney

[happy daze john in oz]

Rodders, he was lucky, very lucky.

You see when some one come sup with a sensible concept there will always be either a poli or public servant that will say no!!!
It is inovations such as this that make men of vision worth their weight.

The world needs more of them.

Here in Oz we have some every large solar farms, but it has been discovered that the soil under them is becoming toxic due to lack of sun light.

[Rodney Mills]

Then tell them to raise them em up Johno, and plant export crops under them, both you'll love them and so will the Japanese.

Cheers, Rodders

[Rodney Mills]

Then tell em to raise them up and plant small crops under them Johnno, you'll love them and so will the Japanese when you export fresh small crops to them.

Cheers. Rodders

- - - Updated - - -

Sorry doc. I got a five mins. delay so I thought my post didn't go through, so typed another one, remove one and this please. Rodney

[happy daze john in oz]

Rodders, it sounds a great concept.

We have one solar farm in Queensland with over 1 million panels, just think how much space that takes up.