October 07, 2020

How to Install A Solar Panel in Your Farm?

October 07, 2020/ Better Farm

Every farm has its unique water and energy needs. Therefore, whenever people talk about using the sun as the primary power source, it’s essential to put a fine line between the needs of farms, commercial businesses, and residences.

There’s a great diversity of farm types available, and you need to break it further to know which solar panel solution would be the best fit. A livestock ranch or farm doesn’t require the same amount of water and energy as a poultry farm. It’s also important to distinguish if it’s a smaller local farm or a huge commercial one.

Consider all these things before deciding to make your farm a solar-powered one:

September 28, 2020

Improving Online Classes in 8 Easy Steps

September 28, 2020/ Better Farm

In a traditional face-to-face classroom setup, there's bound to be an uninvolved student sitting at the back. This lack of engagement causes problems such as alienation and low performance. It may even contribute to dropout rates in the long run.

Maintaining student engagement may become more challenging now that the global COVID-19 pandemic has pushed schools to revert to digital means of teaching. Teachers won't be physically around to keep students in check.You can take a couple approaches to ensure that no student is left behind in your virtual classes. These approaches are also helpful for teachers who have been teaching online even before the pandemic.

We'll show you some game-changing tricks and tools you can use today.

September 21, 2020

Keys to Running a Successful Farm

September 21, 2020/ Better Farm

You likely have a lot of questions when you’re first starting out in farming. You might know it’s what you want to be doing with your life but aren’t quite sure what’s going to ensure that you can run a successful farm.

The following tips will help you focus on the right areas so you can get and stay ahead. Go easy on yourself in the beginning and give yourself time to adjust and learn. View it as a challenge you can overcome if you concentrate and are dedicated to finding success. Most importantly, enjoy yourself and your days and look forward to the near future when you can call yourself a true farmer.

September 09, 2020

Things to Consider When You Want to Build Your Own Solar Panel System

September 09, 2020/ Nicole Caldwell

Homeowners and landlords are always looking for ways to save on utility bills, particularly when it comes to energy consumption. Thus, building a solar panel system can help bring the cost of running a home to manageable levels. Additionally, the system utilizes natural light from the sun, thus protecting the environment by reducing the demand for other sources of power that harm nature.

For various reasons, not all homes or buildings are ideal for a solar panel system. For it to produce sufficient power, it requires maximum exposure to sunlight. Homes or buildings located in places where sunlight is obstructed may not be the best candidates for a solar panel system as it may not generate enough power to justify the investment.

That said, below are some of the things to consider when you want to build your solar panel system.

1. Insolation Rating

Insolation rating pertains to the amount of solar power that a given area receives. Factors like latitude, altitude, and distance to the sea affect the amount of solar power or radiation to a given location.

Insolation is measured in KWh/M2/day. The higher the rate, the better. If your area has a high insulation rating, solar panels can generate more power. For the power to be sufficient, a building will require a few solar panels installed.

Areas with low insolation ratings would require far more solar panels to generate enough power. The insolation rating is, therefore, one of the key factors to determine whether investing in a solar panel system is economically feasible.

2. The Surroundings

A solar panel's efficiency depends on the total surface area exposed to the sun and the environmental temperature. For the panel to generate sufficient power, maximum exposure between 10 am and 2 pm is preferable. The whole day is even better.

A home situated near tall trees or towering buildings can be obscured by shade during the day. Depending on the type of the panel you’ve installed, shade can affect the solar panel system’s optimal performance or result in complete dysfunction. A homeowner may opt to cut down an obstructing tree to manage shade, though it would be difficult to deal with shade caused by tall buildings. Take these factors into account before deciding to install a solar panel system.

3. The Roofing Used

The roof system in the building is also a factor that can determine the level of effort needed and difficulty during installation. A slanting roof will require additional labor and equipment, making it more expensive. Some roofing systems may require additional attachments to fasten the solar panels.

Homes or buildings with standing seam roofs have allowances to clamp the panel system without penetrating it. The cost of installing a shed solar system on metal shingle or slate roof types are relatively expensive due to additional costs to install the attachments.

Additionally, the lifespan of the roof system should match with that of the solar system. Typically, a quality solar panel may last up to 30 years, while some roof systems only last up to 20 years. It's wise to plan with that in mind to avoid the associated reinstallation costs.

4. The Cost Of Building The Solar Panel System

A solar panel is an alternative energy source to the main grid system, and it should at least make some financial sense to plan before the installation. Factors like eventual savings, the national grid's reliability, or high monthly power bills can sway your decision.

Below are some of the factors that determine the total cost of a solar panel system:

Building Watt Requirement: The energy needs of the home determine the size of the system. Unlike in the early '50s, when the cost per watt was constraining, the cost per watt is now USD 10 or below. This element correspondingly rises with huge power demand.
Installation Cost: The installation cost will be determined by the total panels, distance to the home, roofing system, and discounts associated with the firm.
Solar Panel Rebate: The federal solar tax credit allows you to deduct 26% of the total installation cost. The tax credit works for people with sufficient tax liability, although you roll-it over into future years. You must also purchase the system and a lease agreement to be eligible for the rebate.
Electricity Connection Point: The solar system has to be eventually connected to the home or building electricity circuit. A long distance means extra cables and insulation, which all add up to the total cost.

The cost of installing the solar system is a big investment, though its eventual benefits or savings are recovered over a long period. Some firms allow clients to lease a solar system, which allows users to pay a monthly fee. This has made owning the system more affordable.

Conclusion

Building a solar panel system helps homeowners tap energy from natural light and reduce their carbon footprint. However, they must consider factors like installation cost, physical obstacles, the type of roofing the building has, and the insolation rating of the area.

The success of installing a solar panel system is based on its financial feasibility and the system’s ability to produce sufficient power in the home.

September 09, 2020

Running an Agriculture Business & Coping After a Serious Accident

September 09, 2020/ Better Farm

You took a leap of faith and chose to launch your very own agricultural business - whether it’s a farm or a smallholding you chose to do something that you loved. Until recently, everything had most probably been going really well, and you had loved every single second of the work that you needed to put into your business to make it a success. However, you were recently involved in a rather serious accident, and you’ve now been left in a place of worry, stress, and concern about how you will manage your business while you heal and recover from the accident.

September 02, 2020

How to Maintain the Trees in Your Yard

September 02, 2020/ Better Farm

Trees play a key role in our landscape’s aesthetic. They not only add beauty and shade to our homes, but they also help cut energy costs, reduce air pollution, reduce soil erosion, and helps add value to your property. However, to enjoy all these, you need to properly maintain your trees.

Since trees don’t need regular maintenance, it’s easy for you to forget that they need your care to properly develop. But to enjoy all the benefits brought by trees, we need to take proper care of them.

Here are tips you can use to maintain your trees.

August 20, 2020

How New Farmers Can Prepare for Common Challenges in the First Year of Farming

August 20, 2020/ Better Farm

More young people are getting into farming, and many do not come from farming families. Family farms make up a large percentage of farms in the United States, but most are concentrated in the realm of commodity crop production, or dairy and livestock. New and beginning farmers tend to embrace farming on a smaller scale, and many seek to support a more sustainable type of agriculture.

Because most individuals do not inherit land or the basic knowledge of how to run a farm, many new farmers face overwhelming challenges in their first year of farming. Here are some ways new farmers can prepare for and overcome these challenges.

August 20, 2020

Motivating Reasons to Start Your Own Farm

August 20, 2020/ Better Farm

Have you ever considered running your own farm? It might be that you have, because why else would you read this article? Farming can be a very rewarding career, despite the hard work involved. We have lots of blog posts on our website that can guide you, and most farmers will offer you advice if you are keen to get started.

But if you're in need of that extra motivation to set out on a farming career, consider the following. These are the reasons why many people decide to follow the farming path.

August 18, 2020

Anatomy of an Agrihood: 5 Popular Features (INFOGRAPHIC)

August 18, 2020/ Nicole Caldwell

Living a sustainable life is becoming a priority for many, and new mixed development communities called agrihoods are making this dream easier to achieve. Today, 28 U.S. states are home to more than 200 of these unique communities that prioritize farm-to-table living, communal experiences, and time spent outdoors.

An agrihood is a community built around a working farm – but moving to one doesn’t suddenly make you a farmer. In fact, mostly all of the agrihoods in the U.S. leave the farming to the professionals, but unique learning opportunities are often offered onsite. For example, families can learn how to clean a hen house or weed the fields.

Agrihoods can help revitalize local farms that are struggling. Crops can be sold to residents in addition to farmers markets and other nearby vendors such as restaurants and grocers. In addition, onsite kitchens let farmers lead cooking workshops and demonstrations, and some agrihoods even have restaurants where chefs prepare the farm ingredients for residents to enjoy.

These are some benefits of living in an agrihood:

Farm-fresh ingredients

Tracing ingredients to the source has never been easier for most residents of an agrihood. You can buy and eat the crops that grow in your planned community, all while supporting a local farm.

The desire to eat local and fresh is universal: 73% of Americans consider access to fresh, healthy foods a top priority when looking to buy a home.

Residents also get VIP access to the farm through onsite workshops and events. For parents looking to teach their children about cultivating their own food, an agrihood is the perfect setting.

Communal experiences

Agrihoods feature shared amenities so homeowners can create meaningful experiences with neighbors. You can learn how to cook ingredients grown on the farm alongside friends and family at cooking workshops, or spend a sunny Saturday afternoon exploring the trails built into the development.

Other amenities also encourage communal living, such as pavilions, grilling areas, local shops and more. The agrihood Olivette in Asheville, North Caroline is even building a school onsite!

Eco-friendly housing

Another aspect of agrihoods is green housing. Since most of these communities are new builds striving for sustainability, they are outfitted with new energy efficient solutions. Many residential housing in agrihoods is LEED certified and has Energy Star ratings. In addition, onsite solar farms are popular agrihood features!

In addition to the many environmental benefits of green housing, this will also save you money on utilities each month.

Green spaces

Enjoying the fresh air and beauty of our natural world is what farming is all about. Many agrihoods take this commitment to the outdoors a step further by outfitting communities with walking trails, parks and more.

This helps encourage residents to live an active lifestyle and unplug from technology. Some agrihoods even have water and lake access.
Interested in learning more about agrihoods? Check out this visual from The Zebra below!

anatomy-of-an-agrihood-infographic.1a_1-1-1.png

August 18, 2020

Can You Get Your Finances (And Your Life) Back Under Control?

August 18, 2020/ Better Farm

Let's face it, modern life can be pretty stressful at the best of times. From trying to manage your home to keeping your kids out of trouble when they're stuck in the house to the pressures of work, the modern world often feels precision-engineered to make life complicated and difficult. However, there's one thing that can make you feel as though your life is spiraling out of control more than just about anything else: money. It can feel impossible for a lot of people to take control of their finances. However, there are things that you can do. Here are just a few ways to get your finances back under control.

August 10, 2020

Farm Essentials You Need to Get Right as Much as Possible

August 10, 2020/ Better Farm

Running a farm is wonderfully exciting and something a little bit different to what you might come to expect these days. However, there is also a lot of work involved, and there are so many aspects of running a farm that you might not have considered before. That’s why it is important to make sure you try to do as much as possible to make the best of this, and that means considering the essentials of running a farm.

If you want to achieve success with this, there are so many things that play a part in helping you try to improve the process, and there are a lot of considerations to keep in mind here. Thinking about the right ways of achieving this is so crucial, and you don’t want your farm to be left behind by rivals who are doing things better than you. So this is why you have to make sure you do as much as possible to get this right moving forward, and there are a lot of aspects of this that you need to start getting right.

August 07, 2020

Healthy Activities for Your Kids During Quarantine

August 07, 2020/ Better Farm

As quarantine continues, many kids have transitioned to homeschooling, and lots of parents are starting to feel the strain. All this extra time at home is safer, but can also easily mean your kids begin to fall into a slump as you get more overwhelmed. Even if you're busy with working from home or have limited supplies available, here are some easy and productive activities that you can get your kids into.

July 21, 2020

Guide to Buying Crop Care Equipment for First-Time Farmers

July 21, 2020/ Better Farm

When it comes to farm equipment, the long lists of needed machinery can seem overwhelming for a first-timer. Most crop care equipment is quite expensive, and if you're just getting started, the high price tag on a tractor attachment may be daunting.

There are a few key items that are essential to almost any agricultural operation. A compact tractor, pick-up truck and sprayers are just a few necessities. Still, what else will you require? Regardless of whether you're raising livestock, row crops or a specialized product, here is your guide to buying crop care equipment.