| Nursery energy efficiency measures save money, earn salmon-safe certification |
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Northwoods Nursery/One Green World in Molalla, Oregon is a great example of the interconnection between energy savings and other natural resource stewardship strategies. The nursery recently became the first nursery in Oregon to attain Salmon-Safe certification, which it earned through a variety of sustainable agricultural practices that protect water quality and salmon habitat, and also save energy.
“We’re proud of the things we have done to protect and conserve natural resources on our nursery. Many of these practices not only benefit natural resources, they also save us money and, because of the certification, may also provide marketing benefits,” says Jim Gilbert, owner of Northwoods Nursery.
One practice that Northwoods Nursery is particularly proud of is their extensive recycling program. The nursery recycles all of its plastic pots thanks to agricultural recycler Agri-Plas, Inc, in Brooks. Instead of using Styrofoam peanuts to ship plant materials to customers, the nursery uses biodegradable packing peanuts.
All waste plant material and other organic matter is composted onsite in a roofed, concrete-floored facility. The composted material is then used as nutrient-rich mulch in the fields. Soon, used potting medium will be pasteurized and then used for onsite transplanting material.
What does composting and re-using waste plant material have to do with energy savings? “As Oregon’s growers know, fertilizer costs are closely tied to energy prices,” explains Stephanie Page, Renewable Energy Specialist with Oregon Department of Agriculture. “Natural gas is required to produce fertilizer, and fuel is required to transport it to the United States and to the grower. Northwoods Nursery is helping save energy and reduce input costs tied to energy by producing its own nutrient-rich compost.”
Nurseries typically use propane to heat their greenhouses, so recent increases in propane costs have been a challenge. Northwoods Nursery provides some great examples of small steps that can make a difference on a nursery’s propane use. “One of our employees has been locating gaps in the greenhouses and sealing them to prevent heat loss,” says Laura O’Leary, pointing out caulking on a corner of a greenhouse. The nursery has also installed two sheets of poly sheeting on the outside of its greenhouses, creating an air gap and helping to prevent heat loss.
O’Leary isn’t sure yet how much energy these measures will save, but will know more after winter bills come in detailing energy use. “We’re trying a few things at a time to see what kind of effect they’ll have,” she explains.
In addition to rising propane costs, diesel costs are a concern for many agricultural producers. Northwoods Nursery has switched from conventional diesel to biodiesel in all of their equipment. O’Leary reports that the price is nearly competitive with diesel. The nursery also appreciates some other benefits of using biodiesel.
“Our employees are frequently working around the equipment while it’s running. Now that we’re using biodiesel in our equipment, they don’t have to breathe the exhaust of conventional diesel anymore,” says Laura O’Leary.
On the irrigation side, Northwoods Nursery has taken steps to reduce energy needed to pump water and apply it to plants. Currently, the nursery has a small rainwater storage tank fed from the gutters of the composting facility. This water, supplemented with other water pumped from wells, is applied to plants through a drip irrigation system. “In addition to applying water efficiently, the drip system saves energy,” explains O’Leary. “By applying less water, we are using less energy to pump the water to the irrigation system.”
Northwoods Nursery and the Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District have just jointly applied for an agricultural scale rainwater harvesting demonstration at the nursery, collecting and storing approximately one acre-foot of rainwater for irrigation. The site will also showcase tail water recovery and reuse during dry summer months.
The nursery is exploring many more projects to help meet its goals of protecting natural resources while improving efficiencies.
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