The new weather station installed at the Willits Energy Farm is able to collect a variety of metrological variables. This blog will discuss the three main hardware components of the system, namely, the Integrated Sensor Suite, the Vantage Pro 2 Console, and the data logger. These three parts work together to gather, transmit, store, interpret, and present data related to our on-site weather conditions. The Energy Farm network currently has two sites capable of broadcasting weather data-the Energy Farm site in Willits, California and another at the Energy Farm site at the University of British Columbia.

Close Up of Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS) on Willits Energy Farm

The Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS) is mounted eleven feet in the air in the northwestern section of the Willits Energy Farm. Notice that the unit is equipped with an anemometer. As you might guess, this device is used to capture wind speed and wind direction data. The large black surface is a rain collection bucket. The bucket has a conical shape that channels water down into a spout. This spout pours water onto what looks like two cups situated on a teeter-totter. Situated at the fulcrum of this teeter-totter is a digital sensor used to measure the amount of hourly precipitation. On top of the unit and to each side of the rain bucket are two gauges which measure Ultra Violet Radiation and Solar Insulation. In the picture you can only see one gauge- the UV detector. Many people quickly notice the mini solar panel mounted on the front of the unit. This does not collect specific variables of data, and instead powers the sensors, assists the transmission of the wireless data, and recharges the battery. The ISS uses a Nickel Cadmium battery, which, no doubt, serves as a back-up and nighttime power source. Most of the other devices are housed inside the white portion of the unit, under the rain collection bucket. This is a radiation shield and is where measurements of temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure are derived. The radiation shield is designed to protect the sensors from interference from direct solar radiation that may confound the accurate measurement of data.

 Vantage Pro 2 Wireless Console

The second aspect of this system is the Vantage Pro 2 Console. The console is mounted on the wall inside the computer lab and receives data from the ISS via wireless transmission. The Vantage Pro 2 Console was bundled with the ISS and is used to present the data in a means in which we can read it. It is capable of producing graphs, making forecasts based on its data, and simply displaying the data in real-time. It runs on three “C” batteries or can be plugged into an AC power source.

There is a small section in the Vantage Pro 2 box to insert a data logger (not pictured). The device is sold separately. Without this it is impossible to connect the weather station to the computer and therefore impossible to store a large amount of meaningful data. The data link connects to the computer with a USB cable and is packaged with Davis Instrument’s Weatherlink software. Weatherlink is the windows-based interface and can make colorful graphs, adjust the Vantage Pro 2 console settings from the computer, and share the data on the internet.

On Saturday I finished collecting my quota of 42 KG of what I can best describe as “clover-hay”. When I talk of clover-hay I am referring to the leafy tops of the clover with sections of attached stem. Pure clover tops are estimated to have a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 12:1 (pretty low). The clover-hay is estimated to be close to 15:1.

On the UBC Energy Farm we are certain that the collection and preparation of the clover for use in organic fertilizer and biogas digestion can be done without the use of petrol. It has now become a matter of finding the best means of doing this. In search of an appropriate methodology, researchers are interested in making the process easy to replicate, safe, and not impossibly labor intensive. As farm manager Mark Bomford puts it, “The goal is to find intermediate tools and methods that work at reducing a farmer’s dependence on petrol powered machines. At the same time, we also want to find ways of conserving needless physical labor and energy inputs.” So what are the intermediate tools?

I have used a push-style, human-powered, lawn mower. It cuts perfect clover tops without stems if the clover is about 5 inches tall. However, when the clover is very tall and dense the process becomes very time consuming and labor intensive, (because the mower is difficult to push). Furthermore, the quality of clover obtained is not as “pure” as only clover tops. I then tried to use a machete to cut tall dense clover and obtain clover-hay. This worked better than the mower but the process required that an individual bend over or kneel, putting strain on the legs and back. What’s more is that the clover-hay yield is low for the amount of time invested. Finally, I took a scythe to the same dense clover. BINGO! The scythe is able to cut large swaths of clover while standing in a comfortable way. When I am careful I can even go for only clover tops. I can level ten or more times as much clover in a fraction of the time.

The scythe is an example of an intermediate tool on the Energy Farm. It has a quick learning curve, is safe to use for an individual in an open field, and saves time and energy to obtain the same quality of cut clover. Further uses of the pole scythe at the Energy Farm include harvesting Flax and Canola for use in making biodiesel.

Feshly Cut Clover Hay

Mighty Scythe

Using the Scythe to Cut Clover (Dramatic Swing!)

 
Difficulty of Using Push Mower in Tall Clover