We’ve been limping by on about 100 watts of solar panels and a small windcharger for the past few years. Yep, it worked, kind of. But we did have to use the generator more than we’d like. So since our seed business is busy right now with orders we’re real thankful for, we decided it was time to buy some larger solar panels and charge controller.

Will called a local manufacturer of solar panels and luckily they had two discontinued panels we could afford. Wow! I hopped in the car and in a little over an hour I was back with the two panels that would take us from 100 watts to 480 watts! Wow, are we happy! And guess what? The sun is shining brightly today and it’s 56 degrees out.

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On Saturday I got our tomatoes planted. All 380 plants. Guess we’ll be busy this spring, planting and mulching, huh? Of course every seed won’t germinate and I’ll be giving some plants to kids and friends. (Think I over-did it again this year?) But we found some way-cool varieties of tomatoes and some customers donated some of their heirloom seed to us, so off we went.

Will heard a red-winged blackbird this morning but I still haven’t heard one, even though I went down by the beaver pond and listened and listened. No dice. But soon! I did see a pair of trumpeter swans flying south on Friday. Boy, was I excited. Spring IS coming — my favorite time of the year. — Jackie

8 COMMENTS

  1. Patricia Rizzi,

    No we will be mounting them on the pole will cemented into the ground on the south side of our house. We’re way too old to be climbing up on a second story roof, mid winter, to clean snow off panels! As it is, it’s easy; we just sweep them off. From standing on the ground!

  2. I love the idea of solar panels. I was wondering if you mount them on your roof and how do you keep the snow from building up on them and reducing their energy production?

  3. Beth,

    With the new panels I won’t have to run the generator when I use the desk top computer for work. I can use my electric dehydrator any time, not just when the generator is on. I will be able to wash clothes without running the generator and Will can run more smaller power tools. That will save us not only a ton of gas but also let our generator last longer. Eventually we want to upgrade to about 2,000 watts of solar panels which will charge our batteries faster, even on partly cloudy days. But like everything, it’s pay-as-you-go, so we’ll be adding them one or two at a time.

  4. Rick,

    Thank you so much for your offer of rootstock and scion wood. Unfortunately, semi-dwarfing rootstock is not hardy here, nor is Oxford Black apple. Bummer. We’re Zone 3…barely…only 75 miles south of Canada.
    Glad to hear your seeds are doing well! Happy Spring!!

  5. Would like to hear how this changes your household routine… what you will be able to run more of etc.

  8. Miss Jackie, My bell peppers are coming along nicely. I think I’ll transplant the peat pellet grown tomatoes into bigger containers any day now as they are pretty leggy. I had near 100 percent germination of everything!!! The vicinity near the wood stove is a great boost to seed germination. It is finally warm enough on my south facing closed in porch for the seedlings to spend the days there and they get much more light than my window sills can provide.
    Those solar panels sound exciting….more of my neighbors are using them and they’re becoming noticeable on roofs or in backyards.. It is getting on my mind….
    Could you use a few home grown semi dwarfing apple root stocks and/or a few pieces of scion wood for the Oxford Black apple as sold by Fedco trees? Rick

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