Field trip Saturday

Staff Reports

The Sustainable Living and Renewable Energy Roundup hosts a free field trip to the Northern Nevada Correctional Center prison farm in Carson City on Saturday to view the year-round organic vegetable and compost production, biomass plant, and wild horse program.

Tours from 10 a.m. to noon include presentations on year-round organic vegetable and compost production by Mark O'Farrell of Hungry Mother Organics and about the biomass plant and wild horse adoption program by farm manager Tim Bryant.

The prison farm's biomass plant uses waste wood to generate electricity to help heat the prison. The Full Circle Compost on-site composting facility uses food, paper and yard waste to create compost and worm castings to create fertilizer. The compost and fertilizer is used by Hungry Mother Organics to grow vegetables and herbs in the prison farm greenhouses. All of these activities help reduce the center's costs and give the inmates important vocational skills.

The bus loads at Douglas High School at 9:30 a.m. and returns at 12:30 p.m. There are 54 seats available and reservations are required. Sign up for the free trip by contacting Vicki Bates at vrbates@charter.net or 265-6827.

No blue jeans, blue shirts or cameras due to Northern Nevada Correctional Center rules.

Educational nonprofit Sustainable Living and Renewable Energy shares information with the community about sustainable practices and alternative energy. For information about upcoming field trips and the Green Living Fair on Sept. 12, go to www.cvsustainables.org