Four Wind Farm

Address: 158 Marabac Rd. Gardiner, NY 12525.
Website: http://users.bestweb.net/~fourwind/
Description: Jay and Polly Armour operate a 24 acre diversified organic farm. The farm raises produce, heirloom seedlings, grass-fed beef, pasture raised turkeys, and intermittently pasture-raised pork and eggs. The centerpiece of the operation is passive-solar heated and earth-cooled straw-bale vegetable barn with attached greenhouse. A 14-kw grid-intertied PV electric system is situated on the barn roof, which is being financed by a combination of a NYSERDA grant and a low-interest loan. A permanent raised bed system in the vegetable garden requires very little tractor time and hence very minimal fuel use. The Armours also transport vegetables to market in a diesel van converted to run on waste vegetable oil (WVO).
Photo Essay:

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Produce is washed and packed inside this passive-solar heated and earth-cooled straw-bale vegetable barn with attached greenhouse.


 
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A 14-kw grid-intertied PV electric system is situated on the barn roof, which is being financed by a combination of a NYSERDA grant and a low-interest loan.


 
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A permanent raised bed system in the vegetable garden requires very little tractor time and hence very minimal fuel use


 
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Animal manure and crop residues are composted and used for potting medium for Spring vegetable starts


 
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The Four Winds Farm greenhouse


 
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South facing view of the strawbale barn with the attached greenhouse


 
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The Armours transport vegetables to market in a diesel van converted to run on waste vegetable oil (WVO)


 

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Maryn Carlson

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