1	Cooley Family Farm Welcome to our farm !
2	Lafayette Indiana Established 2001 Farming for our Family’s Future
3	What We Grow
4	Season Extensions High Tunnels Temporary Low Tunnels Row Covers
5	Sales Avenues Farmers’ Markets Harvest Baskets (Subscription/CSA) Internet Sales On-Farm
6	Harvest Madness Monday Harvest Baskets Tuesday Farmers’ Market Wednesday Farmers’ Market, Harvest Baskets Thursday Farmers’ Market, Internet Sales Delivery Saturday Farmers’ Market, Harvest Baskets
7	Problems Multiple harvest days with multiple crops Too much time setting up for harvesting Several trips to and from fields and plots Produce handled multiple times Transfer produce to different containers Not enough space for transporting Additional labor needed
8	Idea !!!!! Reduce trips to and from fields Reduce unproductive handling Reduce space requirements everywhere Reduce damage to produce Reduce labor needed STOP UNNEEDED OVER HANDLING !!!
9	Our SARE Project Create processes and equipment that will allow for harvesting, cleaning, cooling, transporting and displaying produce from the same container. Center the project around the idea that a reusable plastic crate can be used to accomplish this goal “Innovative Field to Market Processes for Small Produce Farms” ……. Our SARE Project
10	Application Based on an idea that I strongly felt would help our farm to be more sustainable !! Completed the application the best I could using the information provided by SARE Secured two solid references Mailed in time to make the deadline
11	Activities Looked for crates that would fit our project needs Ran trials (simulated washer actions) Drew up plans for equipment Started building washer Ran trials on washer Trialed different crates and methods
12	Lets Pretend! We started off by trialing crates and experimenting with different harvesting and washing methods
13	Plunging vs. Spraying We found that in most cases plunging was as effective as spray washing. When needed we could soak using the crates. Spray rinsing was also possible through the crates.
14	Main Components Crates To be used from field to market Washer Frees up hands, allows for multi tasking Cooler / Storage Better space utilization Transportation Standardized crate sizes saves space and time Display No need to transfer to baskets or boxes, less bulk
15	Crates Thin grates can cause damage Holes, what size & how many? Handles or no handles? Stacking, nesting or both? Displace or transfer water? One size or many sizes?
16	Our Washer
17	How it works
18	Washer Specs Frame….4x6x6 Motor….3/4hp, 1725rpm Transmission….low 3to1 ratio, high 2to1 Pulley sizes… motor 2”, trans 12” Sprockets… trans 7 tooth, jack shaft 18 Arm..24”, pivots 9” back Jack shaft / pumping disc….16”
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20	Cooler / Storage
21	Dry Storage, Not Cooled
22	Transportation
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24	Display
25	From Baskets to CRATES!
26	The Numbers You can save time washing Potatoes save as much as 90% Beans reduce wash time up to 50% Squash (summer and winter), Cucumbers, Peppers 25% to 50% time savings Root crops wash time reduced, pick time may be increased can be washed with or without tops greatest time savings if really muddy saves 25% to 75 % on hand washing
27	Field To Market $aving$
28	Outreach This Farmers’ Forum Farm Tours Other farmers Ag Groups Universities Field Day Internet Webpage Video, Grant Writing Workshop Magazine article, “Vegetable Growers News”
29	Checking It Out
30	200 plus have seen our SARE project on the Farm
31	Others Benefiting Other Farmers’ Market vendors have started to use crates Amazing Feedback
32	From Teresa in Williamsville, Illinois “Your operation made perfect sense to me…I’m always looking for shortcuts…. And your wash stand afforded me the time to do more to cut the total time of harvest, wash, transport, set up. I went from working too hard to working smart. Thanks”
33	Hurdles & Considerations Hard to break old habits The SARE grant provides silent prodding Time is valuable… no lack of things to do Remember why you applied in the first place! Many components Simulated and improvised Original design caused delay Built wooden prototype Needed time to evaluate full season of crops Applied and received a one year extension
34	Budget Labor $2268 Build equipment Conduct trials Record data Do evaluations Gather Supplies Labor $600 Web page Mailers Data entry Photos
35	"Crates" Crates $500 Supplies for washer $1550 Supplies for crate cooler $305 Demonstration day $175 Postage $60 Plumbing supplies $130 Scales @50% $137 Harvest cart @50% $150 Total $5901
36	Important Note…………..
37	Cooley Family Farm Thank You SARE For this opportunity to share!