A Time to Grow, with Solar Water Pumping

A Time to Grow, with Solar Water Pumping

Panel of local growers, moderated by Bill Hennessy

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 from three local growers who are using solar power to pump their water:

A large scale grower who uses solar water pumping to irrigate three acres of crops and a greenhouse, a small plot grower who uses solar water and battery power, and a grid-tied solar gardener who uses rainwater catchment to irrigate.

MAREA’s vice president and solar installer Bill Hennessy will moderate the discussion, which will focus on the growers and how they made their decisions to go solar. We’ll look at some of the costs and technology involved and see how it fits in a sustainable, renewable process of food, water and solar electricity.

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, [masked] .

Need a gift…but don’t want to buy stuff?

If you’d like to make a donation to MAREA or buy someone a membership as a gift, let us know and we’ll handle the acknowledgement thoughtfully, by email or paper mail, with your input. Drop us a note at [masked] . And remember, all new memberships get a free copy of the DVD, “Saving Sunshine (https://www.themarea.org/saving-sunshine.shtml)”!

Free DVD with MAREA membership (https://www.themarea.org/join.shtml) While supplies last, all new and renewing MAREA members will receive a free copy of “Saving Sunshine, Keeping the Lights on with Batteries and Solar Power,” the 30-minute DVD produced by MAREA this year with funding from the Berks Community Foundation and distributed by Bullfrog Films. It’s terrific film, offering an interesting and easily understood explanation of the electricity grid and distribution generation, especially the role of batteries with solar. MAREA is a 501(c)3 non-profit. Donations and memberships are how we keep the lights on. You can join at the meeting or anytime online (https://www.themarea.org/join.shtml). Thanks for your help.