Our Mission: To conduct research, education, and outreach dedicated to enhancing our food systems with a focus on infrastructure, technology, and equipment that meet the needs of producers and processors.
Our Work Areas
Post Harvest
Handling of crops after harvest including washing, packing, curing, drying, storage, and produce safety.
View Post Harvest Resources
Protected Culture
Growing in areas protected from the environment such as high tunnels, greenhouses, and indoor growing.
View Protected Culture Resources
Sustainable Agriculture
Farm-based energy sources and practices supporting agriculture for today and tomorrow.
View Sustainable Agriculture Resources
Find a Resource
Tools and Information
Calculators & Tools
- Bean Counter – A Simple Counting App
- Crop Storage Planning Tool in Excel
- Heating and Cooling Load Calculator for Produce Coolers and Warm Rooms
- High Tunnel and Greenhouse Heating and Cooling Calculator
- Hops Moisture Calculator
- Pump and Pipe Pressure Excel Calculator
- PsychroCalc Excel Add-in
- Sanitizer Dose Calculator
- Wall Thermal Calculator
Events (Workshops, Webinar’s & Presentations)
Other Projects
Our team is Chris Callahan and Andy Chamberlin. Our common motivations are problem solving in agriculture, the community of people who grow and make food, the environment, dogs, and coffee.
The SCRUB Project is a multi-state team creating and sharing educational resources to improve produce safety and efficiency on your farm.
A behind the scenes podcast where we visit with farmers and learn what it takes to be a sustainable produce grower across people, profits and our planet.
Recent Posts
- Duijndam Machines – Used Equipment from Europe
Way back in 2019, we visited Duijndam Machines in The Netherlands. We had heard from growers in the northeast about this fantastical place where used equipment from European growers goes, not to die, but to be reborn. We had to see it for ourselves. And to bring home some video of our tour. The video …Continue reading “Duijndam Machines – Used Equipment from Europe”
- Easy Breezy Three Season Packshed at Stout Oak Farm
Kate Donald began farming at Stout Oak Farm in Brentwood, NH in 2012. As the farm grew she quickly realized they could only handle one, or maybe two infrastructure projects at a time. Much of these improvements went into production practices, and greenhouses that clearly penciled out to be wise investments in the farm. Now, …Continue reading “Easy Breezy Three Season Packshed at Stout Oak Farm “
- New Metal Building from Scratch at Hall Brook Farm
Pheonix and Megan O’Brien of Hall Brook Farm purchased their farm in Thorndike, Maine in 2016, and are growing over 20 acres of vegetables with over ⅓ acre in high tunnels. They have experienced rapid growth of the business in the last few years. In 2020 they had gross sales over $250,000 which expanded in …Continue reading “New Metal Building from Scratch at Hall Brook Farm”
- The Next Chapter: Renovating a Barn to Sustain Indian Line Farm
Elizabeth Keen and her husband Al have been farming at Indian Line Farm in Great Barrington, MA for over 25 years. After taking a sabbatical in 2016, they had the realization that after 10-15 years “just running the farm” it was time that some things needed to change to make the farm more sustainable in …Continue reading “The Next Chapter: Renovating a Barn to Sustain Indian Line Farm “
- Detergents for Farm Food Contact Surfaces
Key Points An unscented, dye-free dish detergent is generally appropriate for food contact surface cleaning. Use just enough to see suds and get the surface visually clean; you know what clean looks like. Rinse off detergents unless the instructions say otherwise. Not sure about a product? Contact the manufacturer. Related posts: Repairing Cracks and Pitting …Continue reading “Detergents for Farm Food Contact Surfaces”
- “Dry Cleaning” on Produce Farms: Alternatives to Using Water & Detergents
Key points: Introducing water to a produce line or other food contact surface that is generally dry can introduce new hazards. Not all cleaning needs to include water. Handling and packing areas that are generally dry, may benefit from “dry” cleaning. Brushes, brooms, & vacuums may be used to complete necessary cleaning. Waterless cleaning products …Continue reading ““Dry Cleaning” on Produce Farms: Alternatives to Using Water & Detergents”
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ageng@uvm.edu
(802) 447-7582 x256
310 Main St, PO Box 559
Bennington, VT 05201-0559
