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Funded! This project successfully raised its funding goal on November 18, 2012.

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      Creator Vermont Switchel Company on November 9, 2012

      Highfields Center for Composting plays an important role in all aspects of food scrap diversion and utilization in a way that supports a robust local food system. Let's help them capture those kilocalories generated from the respiration of trillions of microbes and use it to keep the red worms wriggling. Pony up and be part of something innovative to maintain a healthy working landscape.

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      Creator Brian O'Toole on October 13, 2012

      I have been composting for several years and have general practiced a medium temperature (mesophelic) approach to preserve nitrogen. However, the weed seeds rarely break down unless you get to higher heat. So I now put my compost pile in the chicken pen. The girls love it and I get very high heat without very much mass. I think that polycultural farming the the farming of the future. Get a wide variety of crops and animals going that complement each other. Finding a use for the excess heat is just another element of zero waste on a farm. I wish you all the best.

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      Creator Erica Spiegel on September 27, 2012

      I encourage others to join me in supporting this important R&D work in Vermont. The Highfields team is a talented, passionate and forward-thinking group who will advance our collective knowledge about composting and heat recovery systems.

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      Creator Scott S. on September 22, 2012

      While I don't run a large foundation or have a huge greenhouse in my backyard, composting is something I have found interesting for sometime. The concept of using it as a heat source for late autumn / early winter food production is an amazing concept that I would love to explore further for personal use as well as possible community application since I live on the outskirts of Detroit and would be interested in exploring the feasability of implementing this within the city. Thank you for taking the time to present this.

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      Creator Green Mountain Girls Farm on September 20, 2012

      Thanks Highfields Composting for your great work for communities and farms! Your technical advice has helped us create good compost for our farm! Thanks for continuing to expand your offerings. Our farm has signed up as a backer and we look forward to the learning from the heat recovery systems research!
      Green Mountain Girls Farm - www.eatstayfarm.com

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      Creator Vermont Commons on September 20, 2012

      People please consider supporting this project in a big way.

      There are a bunch of successful examples of capturing huge amounts of energy from compost, in Vermont and elsewhere. CompostPower.org is a volunteer network of composters, tinkers and engineers have been experimenting and partnering with Highfields and sharing info with the public on small-scale applications of the concept that Agri-labs has built at Jasper Hill Farm in Greensboro. This concept works, but there are many ways to optimize it depending on the situation. This R&D is all we need to really empower people everywhere to use this concept for small and large scale, homes-businesses-farms.

      We can get all the heat and hot water we need while making high value organic compost, all with minimal fossil fuels. In October, CompostPower is helping the University of Vermont build a small scale compost-heat system to heat the Slade greenhouse this winter.

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      Creator Noah Fishman on September 19, 2012

      I am so proud to be part of this organization with such a dedicated and passionate group of rotstars!!

310
Backers
$40,336
pledged of $40,000 goal
0
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Funding period
Sep 19, 2012 - Nov 18, 2012 (60 days)

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  • Pledge $5 or more

    40 backers

    You will be recognized as a supporter of the HCC thermal recovery system in our printed materials and we will send you a "Close the Loop" fridge magnet, featuring a list of what you can compost. Help friends and family keep composting front and center in the home!

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2012
  • Pledge $15 or more

    27 backers

    You will be invited to participate in an exclusive home composting webinar. Join us for a one-hour composting workshop on the basics of good composting practices. The workshop will be followed by a Q&A with Highfields staff. You will be recognized as a project supporter and we'll send you a "Close the Loop" magnet.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $25 or more

    38 backers

    Join us for a tour of the Highfields Compost Research & Education site. We host a monthly site tour, so you can choose a date that fits your schedule. You will learn about community composting, systems and technology, and compost biology. You can also gift the tour to a friend if you don't live in the area. You will also receive recognition for supporting the project, an invite the the exclusive home composting webinar, and either a "Close the Loop" magnet or our "Compost Only!" bumper sticker.

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2012
  • Pledge $25 or more

    25 backers All gone!

    We will send you a kit to make vermicomost-tea. The tea will have magical results with your house and garden plants. You can also use the vermicompost -an extra high quality compost created by worms- on its own to top-dress house and garden plants. Kit includes one U.S.-made muslin brew bag, one compostable U.S.-made measuring/mixing spoon, one quart Vermont-made vermicompost, and directions on how to brew your vermi-tea, the miracle tea of tomorrow. Don't drink it. This kit is sure to please all of the plants and plant-loving people in your family!

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $35 or more

    4 backers All gone!

    Full 2013 calendar featuring the "Hotties of Humus," a calendar just as steamy as our compost piles. Gift them for the holidays, get one for yourself or buy one for your mechanic so that his garage has some more tasteful decoration. See our new update for a preview. See mechanic special reward package below.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $50 or more

    45 backers

    Join us at the Highfields Compost Research & Education site for an in-depth workshop on compost heat recovery. You will have an opportunity to learn how this technology can be practically applied to your home or farm facility. You will also be recognized as a project supporter, receive an invitation to our home composting webinar, and get a "Close the Loop" magnet or the "Compost Only!" bumper sticker.

    Estimated delivery: Jun 2013
  • Pledge $50 or more

    7 backers Limited (18 of 25 left)

    We will send you a vermicomost-tea triple kit. Results are even more magical than the single kit. Don't drink this one either - you might start fruiting tomatoes. Kit includes one U.S.-made muslin brew bag, one compostable U.S.-made measuring/mixing spoon, three quarts Vermont-made vermicompost, and directions on how to brew your vermi-tea, the miracle tea of tomorrow.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    30 backers

    You will receive one quart of our power-packed HCC double-screened vermicompost, an invite to our home composting webinar, a site tour of the Highfields Compost Research & Education facility, recognition as a project supporter, a "Close the Loop" magnet and the "Compost Only!" bumper sticker.

    Estimated delivery: May 2013
  • Pledge $250 or more

    12 backers

    Same as above, plus all three workshops (webinar, site tour and heat recovery workshop) and a limited edition Highfields Composting t-shirt.

    Estimated delivery: Jun 2013
  • Pledge $500 or more

    4 backers

    Same as above, and you will be recognized as a Program Sponsor of Highfields Compost Research and Education facility on our printed and online materials. Additionally, we'll provide an hour of free phone technical assistance in composting to your favorite school.

    Estimated delivery: Jun 2013
  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    5 backers

    Same as above, but you will be recognized as a Program Leader, and we will provide 2 hours of free technical services to you, your favorite school or business, or your local farmer. If you are within 35 miles of Hardwick, we'd be happy to provide the service in person, otherwise by phone or skype.

    Estimated delivery: Jun 2013