Post Content
This holiday season coincides with the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association’s (MNLA) 100 year anniversary. Over the years, MNLA has partnered with DAR in efforts to combat Asian Longhorned beetles and other invasive plants and diseases, and to maintain environmentally sustainable industry standards.
To the latter, a number of Massachusetts nurseries have been funded by DAR’s Agriculture Environmental Enhancement Program (AEEP) grant program, which supports the mitigation and/or prevention of negative impacts to natural resources that may result from agricultural practices. Farmers selected to participate are reimbursed for the approved costs of materials up to $30,000 used to “go greener” through implementation of best management practices.
Two examples are Volante Farm in Needham and Lakeview Nurseries in Lunenburg. In operation since 1917, Volante Farm recently installed energy efficient furnaces to help make its nursery and agricultural operation more cost effective and energy efficient. The new furnaces have improved efficiency by more than 10 percent!
Lakeview Nurseries is a garden center, nursery, and landscaping company. Lakeview has installed solar panels to reduce the electricity it buys from the grid, and also lessens its impact on the surrounding environment by composting on site and producing perennials in biodegradable pots. Another environmental conservation initiative includes working with its largest nursery stock vendor to return and recycle all of its nursery pots.
To find out more about these and other case histories, click here.
For more information on and locations of Massachusetts nurseries – including many offering holiday gifts and decorations, visit MassGrown & Fresher.
Recent Posts
Fish Need Clean Energy, Too posted on Feb 18
Running a fish farm is an intense operation, one that requires a lot of labor and a large amount of energy. Currently, the McLaughlin Hatchery uses a significant amount of oil to heat its facility. The facility is going to replace its oil furnace with a renewable energy heating system, a new high efficiency wood pellet boiler and pellet storage silo that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 92 percent, save an estimated $11,432 annually, and reduce annual oil use by more than 5,000 gallons.
Wood Pellets are the New Oil for Regional Schools Reducing Fuel Costs posted on Feb 12
Did you know that it is possible to heat buildings in the northeast using wood biomass, a renewable energy fuel? With nearly one-third of total energy costs going toward heating our buildings, it is no wonder that Massachusetts school districts are searching for cheaper and …Continue Reading Wood Pellets are the New Oil for Regional Schools Reducing Fuel Costs
Natural Wildlife Setting Enhanced by New Zero Net Energy Building posted on Feb 6
Constructing a commercial zero net energy building (ZNEB) is no easy task, especially one that is 45,000 square feet and sits in Massachusetts where the winters are cold and summers often hot and humid. This is why over 100 people gathered enthusiastically in December in …Continue Reading Natural Wildlife Setting Enhanced by New Zero Net Energy Building
2010