Field Day: Automated Season Extension and Diverse Production at Phelps Farm

At Phelps Farm, Andrew and Amy Phelps grow a lot of food. They’re also on their way to becoming a small-scale, year-round local food processor. On their 79-acre farm, Andrew and Amy raise hops, goats, ducks, honeybees and maple syrup, but their main focus is vegetables. Phelps Farm includes an acre of outdoor production and 15,000 square feet in five caterpillar tunnels and two Harnois high tunnels. The high tunnels are built for extreme weather and equipped with Orisha automation systems for dynamic environmental controls.

Using such technology is where their innovation – and Andrew’s IT background – shines brightly. An extensive wash-pack, kitted out with secondhand equipment, rounds out Andrew and Amy’s operation. With innovation and resourcefulness, they’re growing toward their goal of year-round local food availability.