Wednesday, August 22, 2012
September fundraiser includes community dedication ceremony for new building, greenhouse
The million-dollar additions to Red Wiggler Community Farm have provided workers an air-conditioned building to gather in, the ability to extend growing seasons in a temperate greenhouse and, importantly, has meant bye-bye to the Port-a-Johns. All are reasons to celebrate, according to founder Woody Woodroof, as the farm recently announced plans to host a community dedication ceremony at its annual Harvest Celebration on Sept. 15. Red Wiggler, a farming nonprofit that leases 15 acres of park land from the county, operates a community-supported agriculture program (CSA) and distributes USDA certified organic produce to group homes and local food banks. The farm also hires people with disabilities as part of its social mission. Red Wiggler …
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Local organic, CSA is part of 15-stop farm tour this weekend
Ahead of a late morning tour of Red Wiggler Community Farm, and after the “growers” had dispersed to complete their duties, the farm’s chief steward and founder Woody Woodroof explained why he named the 15-acre farmstead after a worm. “Red wiggler worms create fertile soil, where plants are likely to be successful,” Woodroof said. “We're a place where we hope our community is successful. We create the conditions to nourish a healthy and inclusive community through fertile ground.” Established in 1996, Red Wiggler Community Farm comprises part of the 300-acre Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park in Clarksburg. The farm is part of the 15-stop Farm Tour and Harvest Sale the county’s agricultural services division has scheduled for Saturday and …
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Germantown man is building an open-source, robotic farm from salvaged junk
The Future Farmers of America would be automatons, or at least that would be the case for a rural plot in Germantown, if an open-source robotic farm under development turns out to be a success. Germantown technologist Peter James is building a hydroponic robo farm off Brink Road. The agribots would be built from recycled junk. “Part of being sustainable and scalable was to try to drop the cost of production,” said James. “Around here that's labor and energy cost.” Under the shelter of a greenhouse, robots would tend to and harvest an array of greens planted inside rows of water-filled PVC pipes. The temperature inside would be controlled, in part, by a yard waste and coffee ground-fueled composting system. James plans to donate some of the…
Peter James
6:55 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
To find out more about our Just Money farm notes and which local merchants accept them for purchases, go to www.justmoneymd.com. To see more pictures and videos of the robots and renewable energy systems, go to www.facebook.com/robogrow more ›