Smart Energy Conference

On Thursday, March 23 we hosted a gathering of farmers, engineers, tinkerers, and environmentalists to discuss techniques and benefits of energy conservation on the farm. 75 of us spent the day dreaming and tire-kicking, brainstorming petroleum-free solutions to food production.

Preston’s contribution was our organic setting plus examples of solar power generation and veg-oil fueled tractors. Local chef and educator Evelyn Cheatham deliciously catered the event with the help of staff and students of Worth our Weight, her cooking school for at-risk teens.

The workshop was organized by the Eco-Farm Association, a non-profit group located in Watsonville CA that is best known for its annual weekend-long conference at Asilomar covering all aspects of sustainable farming. Satellite meetings on specific topics are scheduled from time to time in agricultural counties to bring the action and information directly to farmers. 

In the course of the morning at Preston, presenters covered topics ranging from photovoltaic electrical power, solar hot water, wind power, biodiesel, SVO as an alternative to diesel engine fuel, plus the long-term need to reduce our energy consumption.