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
- Farmer’s Favorites: Shipping Containers and Their Use on Vegetable Farms
Farming requires lots of space. Space to grow vegetables, conditioned space to store harvested produce, and a secure space to house tools out of the weather. Barns and tool sheds can be expensive, and building takes time. If you’re farming on rented land, it’s even harder to justify the investment in a permanent building. Shipping …Continue reading “Farmer’s Favorites: Shipping Containers and Their Use on Vegetable Farms”
- Expanding Infrastructure and Maximizing its Potential at Jericho Settlers Farm
Mark Fasching and Christa Alexander run Jericho Settlers Farm where they grow “good food year round” in Jericho, Vermont. Like many, they started out with a garden and roadside stand and continually expanded to growing over 30 acres of vegetables with 18 greenhouses. As their business expanded over the years, so did their infrastructure needs. …Continue reading “Expanding Infrastructure and Maximizing its Potential at Jericho Settlers Farm”
- Natural Light in the Packshed at High Meadows Farm
Howard Prussack of High Meadows Farm in Westminster West, Vermont grows 7 acres of vegetables and wanted to improve his vegetable washing space. He imagined a bright and warm space instead of the dark and cool dairy barn they were working out of. With a goal of creating a fun and happy place to work, …Continue reading “Natural Light in the Packshed at High Meadows Farm”
- A Three-Season Structure Keeps the Momentum at Flywheel Farm
Ansel Ploog and Justin Cote run Flywheel Farm in Woodbury, Vermont. They wholesale 2 acres of organic vegetables to local co-op stores and through a regional distributor. When starting their farm in 2012, they understood they needed a spot to wash and pack their produce, undercover and off the ground. They chose to go with …Continue reading “A Three-Season Structure Keeps the Momentum at Flywheel Farm”
- Top 5: Working with Contractors on a Postharvest Project
Key Takeaways Introduction Construction projects are both exciting and daunting. There’s great joy in dreaming about a new space or a renovated work area, but there can be a long windy path full of dread and stress between what you have now and what you hope to have in the future. Working with a contractor …Continue reading “Top 5: Working with Contractors on a Postharvest Project”
- Managing Humidity and Condensation in Coolers
Many winter storage crops love high humidity and low temperatures. Others like low humidity and warmer temperatures. It can be a real challenge to achieve the right balance. As we make air cooler, it holds less water vapor so the difference between high humidity and condensation (rain) becomes less and less. So, it is not …Continue reading “Managing Humidity and Condensation in Coolers”
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ageng@uvm.edu
(802) 447-7582 x256
310 Main St, PO Box 559
Bennington, VT 05201-0559
