[HCCN] Spring Celebration with family activities, WRITE-THRU

[Donna Gold]

Editors, this has corrections to Paragraphs 4-6; Sorry for the
inconvenience - Donna

RELEASE
COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC OFFERS MAY 1 FARM ENERGY DEMONSTRATION
Maypole, solar energy explanation featured at Beech Hill Farm
CONTACT: Donna Gold, Public Relations: 207-801-5623, 207-266-4470,
dgold at coa.edu 
	
BAR HARBOR, ME-To welcome both spring and a set of new solar panels at
Beech Hill Farm, College of the Atlantic faculty, staff, and students
are preparing a Spring Celebration at the farm. Families and those
interested in alternative energy are welcome to come to the farm between
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 1. Beech Hill Farm is located in the
town of Mt. Desert, ME.

The Beech Hill Farm Spring Celebration will include a maypole dance
with music by Ruth Grierson and members of the Big Moose Band, face
painting, storytelling and other children’s activities, such as visits
with farm animals. There will also be a tour and informal talk about the
alternative energy demonstration work going on at Beech Hill. Guests are
encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy at the farm.

The current energy work is the result of a $48,000 grant COA received
from Efficiency Maine Trust to establish a Renewable Energy
Demonstration Project at Beech Hill Farm. The project explores the
viability of various alternative energy approaches for powering
traditional Maine farms. In addition to showing what might work for
traditional farms, the project examines reasonable incremental energy
improvements that might be affordable to farms, businesses, or
homeowners. 

With the help of volunteer Robert Parker, a civilian worker for the
United States Coast Guard who led the coast guard renewable energy
housing project in Southwest Harbor, the college mounted solar panels on
the roof of the farmhouse last November. COA also hired alumnus Curry
Caputo ’95 of Sustainable Structures to conduct an energy audit for
the farm, and recently installed a solar panel at one of the irrigation
pumps. Since most irrigation happens when the sun is shining, the energy
will go directly to power the irrigation system, allowing for the most
efficient use of the solar-generated electricity. Students participated
in all aspects of the project. 

Other renewable energy projects include the wind turbine installed at
the farm in 2009 and a wood pellet boiler which is planned for the
farm's greenhouse. Meanwhile, students are examining the farm’s budget
to determine the cost effectiveness of additional energy improvements
such as insulation for the house, solar hot water, and geothermal heat
that could use shafts from farm wells. 

Anna Demeo, project director and COA lecturer in physics, is pleased
with the learning students have achieved by helping to mount the panels
and run the numbers on the various energy possibilities and needs. She
is also delighted with the performance of the farm’s solar panels.
Since late November, the10-panel array has generated a megawatt of
energy in four of the darkest months. This much electricity would power
an average Maine home for 2.5 months. 

For more information about Beech Hill Farm’s Spring Celebration
contact the farm at 244-5204, BeechHillFarm at coa.edu. 

CALENDAR ITEM: CELEBRATION: Sunday, May 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Beech
Hill Farm Celebration: Celebrate spring, and new solar panels at the
farm with Maypole dance, live music, and children’s activities. Beech
Hill Farm, Mt. Desert. 244-5204, BeechHillFarm at coa.edu. 
DIRECTIONS: To get to Beech Hill Farm, Follow route 102 into
Somesville, heading towards Southwest Harbor. Turn right onto Pretty
Marsh Rd, at the blinking yellow light, next to the fire station.
Proceed to Beech Hill Road (less than .25 mile on your left). In
approximately 1.5 miles greenhouses and fencing will alert you to the
farm. A sign is posted in front of the farm stand.





Donna Gold
Director of Public Relations,
Editor, COA Magazine
College of the Atlantic
105 Eden Street
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
207-801-5623, office
207-266-4470, cell
dgold at coa.edu 
www.coa.edu