The West Hill Farm Compost Demonstration and Research Site
was established in the spring of 2004 in Hardwick, Vermont with the purpose of teaching and refining on-farm composting practices. The site stands as a “living laboratory” in which we research and test various aspects of on-farm composting in order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of compost management. It is our aim to reduce the costs and increase the value of producing compost on the farm.
This site is becoming an ever-developing tool for teaching the composting process and exploring various soil building and waste recycling related practices. In 2005 the Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District (CVSWMD) provided Highfields with a combined loan-grant that enabled us to make needed site improvements. We produce 200-500 yards of finished compost annually which we sell in bulk to area residents, landscapers and farmers.
For site information contact:
Tom Gilbert
Executive Director
802-472-5138 x205
or email at: tom@highfieldscomposting.org
West Hill Compost Site Services
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Assistance in carbon material disposal
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Assistance in manure disposal
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We accept a limited number of carcasses
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Tours and demonstrations, viewing by reservation
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Library and reference material lending
On-Site Demonstrations
Farm Scale Windrow Composting
The primary purpose of the compost demonstration and research site is to explore strategic management issues associated with managing composting systems on farms. These inquiries include efforts to improve pile construction and turning efficiencies, improve management responses to monitoring information, develop Best Management Practices for on-farm pile management, and assessing the economics of on-farm compost production. While the merits of composting livestock manures and other agricultural byproducts are generally appreciated throughout the farming community, the costs associated with management often inhibit the adoption of on-farm composting practices. Our efforts to improve composting efficiencies and the overall quality of on-farm composting aim to reduce the costs and increase the value of producing compost on the farm.
Slaughter Waste and Mortality Composting Demonstration Project
The Slaughter Waste and Mortality Composting Demonstration Project was developed to research, demonstrate and teach best practices in composting livestock carcasses and farm-generated butcher residuals.
Rammed-Earth Tire Construction Demonstration Project
The Rammed-Earth Tire Construction Demonstration Project was developed to increase awareness of options for recycling used tires. Rammed-earth tire construction is a simple, low-cost way to build farm infrastructure. The project involved partnering with high school students to build a 12’x20’ “commodity” shed for residential yard waste drop-offs such as leaves, lawn clippings, Christmas trees and other wood products.
Site Development
The Site Development Program seeks to build our infrastructure at the West Hill Farm Compost Demonstration and Research Site, while helping us explore and demonstrate various aspects of infrastructure development. This will enable us, in part, to study the economics of food waste recycling and compost production. We will attempt to make the site self-sustaining in the future with increased compost sales, educational functions, demonstrations and tours.
Wash Shed Development Project
The Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District and the Canaday Family Charitable Trust have made it possible to develop a food scrap receiving area at the West Hill Farm Compost Demonstration and Research Site. This grant was for the construction of a wash shed, which will improve our efficiencies in the receipt of food scraps from the USDA Inter-district waste-recycling program.
The primary purpose of the shed is for housing the necessary equipment and infrastructure for cleaning totes used for collecting food scraps, and secondarily provides our staff with an on-site office space for keeping records and storing tools. It is a fully insulated, 12’x20’ two room shed, equipped with a pressure washer, a storage area for clean totes and propane heat.
The use and development of this shed serves as an opportunity to explore the capital investment and the on-going costs required to develop the infrastructure for setting up similar programs in the future. The Wash shed was completed the first week in February 2007 and its dedication ceremony was held on February 9th, 2007.
Pad Development and Expansion Project
Through the generosity of the Canaday Family Charitable Trust, we have improved an additional 100’x75’ section in the northwest corner of the site to meet the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Categorical Composting Facility standards for receiving and composting food scraps. This entailed re-grading and adding gravel to the pad in order to improve workability and limit grade changes. We will also be installing a loading ramp to facilitate loading larger trucks with compost.
Compost Production
The Canaday Family Charitable Trust has made it possible to expand our compost research and production capability. This is a unique opportunity to expand our compost management research and demonstrations, and track the economics of various approaches to on-farm compost production.
Equipment modification and Compost Marketing Project
Because of the Canaday Family Charitable Trust we are able to explore further equipment modifications to standard farm equipment for compost production, and assess the impact of modified equipment on production economics and quality. |
