You may have read my post on creating an eco-friendly barn/stables in which I told the story of our client, the avid equestrian, "Doc" . She stopped in to visit and to talk about "Energy"-- specifically Energy Star Rated buildings that might work for her horse barn construction project.
That really got us thinking. Right away, I dropped an email on over to AR's Tricia Jumonville and Janie Coffey who commented and gave Doc's project some ECO-juice. Don't ya' just love it when the gang gets together to brainstorm about healthy living space remedies?
That got me thinking about all our horse farm clients past, present and future. Could eco-friendly farming systems be of significant benefit to them?
I decided to look into those benefits including reducing farm energy costs, finding ways to deal with high energy costs, and capturing energy resources available on the farm.
I found out that indeed wind, solar, and biofuel resources are a value-added feature for our clients who are on the lookout for large tracts of land for agriculture and horse-related projects. I hopped on over to North Carolina's Piedmont Biofuels and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems web site. I was so-pleased to discover that they offer energy management and renewable energy workshops and free tours of the on-farm biodiesel plant. This is something the whole family might find informative..especially the inventors and investors among you. (You'll see what I mean when you look at the photos below.)
On-farm biodiesel demonstrations even include a demo
of the famous "mobile biodiesel reactor "
(photo courtesy of CEFS.)
In fact, if the whole idea of sustainable design and cost reduction intrigues you, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems will host an all-day energy risk management workshop, "Fueling the Farm," at Cherry Research Farm near Goldsboro, NC on July 12. Will I see you there?
Resource: http://www.biofuels.coop/
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janeAnn, eco-friendly for farming is good stewardship in action. You inspired two posts this morning.
Mansfield Missouri - Eco-friendly horse properties Part 1
Mansfield Missouri - Eco-friendly horse propertiies Part 2
Eco-friendly construction is the way to go. Start at the beginning and it is cost effective.
One of our favorite books is Malobar Farms. I got a tattered paperback copy at a read/return. I traded for something else. DH about wore it out, so at a celebration at Baker Creek Seeds, I bought him a hard copy to keep.
I don't have any particular comments on horse farm solutions but I did want to say "cool post!"
JudyAnn~
Thanks for the information. Glad that this post inspired a couple more and hope it inspires 20! (I'm smiling) As you say, if you start at the start, it's less expensive. I', going on over to read what you wrote now...and comment.
Jeff~
WELLL...I'm glad you think this is a cool post. I am wondering if there are any farms in your part of the country? Or is it totally urban (??) I'm kidding. When you get a chance, it would be great to know what the "green scene" in farming is out your way!
One thing I mentioned in a recent blog that applies to horse farms is the use of manure tea on pastures instead of fertilizers and weedkillers. If the soil is healthy enough, you don't need to fertilize and weedkill in order to have good grazing and good hay production, but it doesn't happen automatically in our day of confined grazing so that the animals can't move a few miles down the road when this bit of pasture is grazed enough. So pasture management, as well, is an important part of an eco-friendly horse farm (I feel a blog coming on!).
As for vegan animal feed. It depends on the animal whether or not this is a good thing - animals tend to not have issues with being politically correct (by our standards, anyway). I have a running joke with the gentlemen in the meat department at our local Whole Foods (the flagship - the original started here, I shopped there when they were just a pup). Having chickens myself, free range, and knowing something about their natural behavior firsthand, I've asked the buys if the higher cost for the free range vegetarian chicken that they sell is because people have to be paid to run around after the chickens pulling the bugs, grasshoppers, and occasional mice out of their beaks before they get a chance to swallow! Organic, yes; vegan, not hardly! ;-)
Jeff~
For sure keep a good eye out for "green horse" farms. In the-meantime, I'm going to do what Susan suggests (see her comment just above) and start using the WWW for some research-in this interesting-matter.
Susan~
I am SO happy to hear from you! I know you must be super busy, but I have missed your comments...like the one above that inspired me to find THIS!
If you encounter any problems with this web site, please contact the webmaster.
Welcome to horsesforcleanwater.com
Your online resource for environmentally sensitive horse keeping
Horses for Clean Water, now in its 10th year, offers ways to care for horses that improves the farm they live on and reduces non-point pollution. Techniques such as mud management and composting manure offer a way to care for animals that benefit the animals, the farm, the owner, the community and the environment - all win-win-win solutions.
Check out the monthly newsletter The Green Horse.
In the June 2007 issue:
Message from Alayne: Summertime
Farm Focus: Three Sisters Mule Farm
Tip of the Month: Pasture Management
Do You Know Your Soils?
Hay stocks lowest since 1950
Free Alternative Stall Bedding
Don't Let These Weeds Take Over Your Pastures!
Weed Control Resource List
Educational Events
Wow! Cool! I'm going to be busy for the next little while, I can tell! Thanks for finding this and bringing it to our attention.
Tricia~
I'm always on the lookout for interesting information...especially as it pertains to sustainable practices. This includes healthy choices not only in living spaces for the two-legged, but for our four-legged friends as well.