Organic Farm Now Harvests The Sun

Taking Advantage of Federal Grants for Commercial Buildings

Kevin and Annamarie show off their new globe solar systems.

In the heart of the scenic Similkameen Valley a family-run organic farm recently took their green business a step further by installing a solar hot water system on their drying facilities and apprenticeship suite.

"Every summer we take apprentices on the farm to teach them about organic farming and show them the different alternatives," says Kevin Klippenstein, owner of Klippers Organics, with his wife Annamarie. Their new drying facility will also take advantage of the solar hot water for the creation of dried goodies like apple crisps and tomatoes - the second of which the farm grows a whopping 168 varieties.

"Kevin and Annamarie are very progressive farmers," said Jennifer Stephenson, of Jenergy Technologies, who installed the system on the farm. "Their ‘organic’ policy permeates their lifestyle as well as their produce. They also have four active young kids... this couple doesn’t shy away from hard work! Kudos to them for successfully creating a wholesome family life."

The globe solar system will be up and running in the spring when the new apprentices come and the drying facilities are completed. Kevin said the process of applying for the grants and installing the system was simple, and has advice for other farms or wineries that may be interested in taking advantage of the grants. "Just get a good installer like Jen," he said. "We didn’t know anything about it and she told us what to do and what to get, feel more informed."

For more information on the incentives for solar hot water, available through the federal government, visit the grants and rebates for organizations page on their website here.