Grober Green

David Hamm

Hello, my name is David Hamm.  I am going into my 4^th year undergraduate studies of Kinesiology and Physical Education at Wilfrid Laurier University.  As with many students, a summer job was my top priority to make some money for school and to help pay off loans and other debt.  My father, Jake, has been an employee of Grober’s for many years now, as well has  operated a farm in Chatham-Kent from 2000 to 2005.  I asked him if there might be a potential summer job, and not long after I started the summer I was brought on board to help bring this Biogas project to the farm.  Aron, my older brother, was brought in to be overseeing the operation of the completed biogas project. 

The concept of turning farms into more environmentally friendly operations has been in the planning stages for years.  For ages, manure was burned to heat homes and to cook over, and some parts of the world are still practicing this.  Grober has brought the future to the present with the idea of using the manure produced by the livestock on the Corner Farm to fuel a biodigester, and in turn produce electricity and heat for the farm.  The process involves taking the manure out of the barns and collecting it into a container where living microscopic organisms feed.  The organisms break down the manure and produces methane gas which is collected and stored.  The methane gas is used to fuel an engine/generator combination, which produces all the electrical needs of the farm to power lights, fans, and equipment.  The left over substance after the microbes digest the manure is a pure fertilizer that is 100% organic. 

Over the next while, I will be posting updates and I will be going more in-depth into the processes and production of energy through the biogas process.

For more information, visit the website of the company PlanET (pronounced ‘Plan E.T.’) Biogas Solutions.  PlanET is constructing the digester at the Grober’s Corner Farm.