Farm Tour highlights innovation, local businesses

BONNERS FERRY — Innovation is thriving in Boundary County and local businesses are supporting each other.

Three businesses were featured during the annual Farm Tour hosted by the Boundary Soil Conservation District and the Farm Bureau in May.

More than 30 people toured Welco of Idaho, Moose Valley Farms and Green Gallon Solutions of Bonners Ferry to learn what entrepreneurial efforts are occurring in the county.

Participants enjoyed a lunch at Moose Valley Farms prepared by Chic-N-Chop. They were also treated to homemade vanilla ice cream churned on-site by William and Darlene Peachey. The Peachey’s churn five gallons at a time using their 1920’s John Deere hit and miss engine.

Welco of Idaho

A strong supporter of local loggers, Welco of Idaho buys cedar and white wood locally first. From the muddy log yard to the pallets of finished cedar fencing, Farm Tour participants observed the entire process.

Throughout the process, the entire log is utilized with minimal waste. Unsalvageable scraps and bark are hammered into small pieces to create beauty bark for mulching.

A computer analyzes each log to maximize the number of boards cut from it and to

create virtually no waste from the 60 million board feet of fencing the mill produces each year.

All the finished fencing products are stacked and banded on pallets when green. Welco aims for the product to be slightly green when the fence is installed and suggests a shelf life of six to eight months.

Even though they ship their fencing and mulching product across the United States, Welco of Idaho sells products locally. Some products are available at ProX Building Center and Badger Building Center, while others are available at the mill in Naples.

Locals looking for mulch for their landscaping projects can buy mulch by the pickup load at $10 per load at the mill. Bundles of cedar not suitable for fencing because of defects can be purchased for kindling, birdhouses and crafts at $5 per bundle.

Welco of Idaho is also a major contributor to the local economy with 125-130 employees when operating full shifts in the summer.

Moose Valley Farms

Ten years of experience has evolved into greenhouses and a garden center overflowing with flowers, shrubs and items for landscaping needs at Moose Valley Farms south of Naples.

Started by growing produce year-round, owner Cindy Kimball has expanded and become a knowledge source of what grows successfully locally.

“Bing cherries do amazing here,” said Kimball, who purchases them from local Apple Creek Propagators.

Boundary County is mainly Zone 5 but has micro climates of zone 6 and Zone 4, said Kimball. She suggests purchasing perennials rated for Zone 5 but if it is a large investment, such as a tree, it is better to go with Zone 4.

The edible alley at Moose Valley Farms features grapes, blueberry, raspberry and even huckleberry plants.

The University of Idaho has been working on growing huckleberry plants and is finally distributing them, said Kimball. She said they quickly sell out of the huckleberry plants.

Edible alley also contains hops which is unusual for a garden center in Idaho. Kimball said hops cannot be imported into Idaho because Anheuser-Busch petitioned restrictions on their import in the 1990’s.

However, there is one loophole that allows shipment of hops into Boundary County. Ornamental hops make a beautiful cover plant, said Kimball.

Green Gallon Solutions

of Bonners Ferry

Local innovation is located on Cow Creek Road at Fodge Pulp Mill.

Green Gallon Solutions of Bonners Ferry is producing biodiesel from used vegetable oil at quantities of over 1,000 gallons a day.

For two years, Fodge Pulp Mill has been using biodiesel produced at the plant in their equipment. Green Gallon Solutions began building the plant three years ago. After a lengthy process, Green Gallon Solutions became certified to sell biodiesel by the EPA, IRS and Department of Agriculture earlier this year.

“We sell some locally to loggers, Wood’s Crushing and Hauling, and to Canada brokers,” said Bill Munson, plant manager. “We take care of local people and farmers first.”

The benefits of biodiesel begin with the cost. The cost fluctuates with the market just like any other commodity and at the end of May, biodiesel was selling for $3.70 highway and $3.20 off-road.

Biodiesel reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 75 percent, increases mileage and horsepower, and helps motors last longer, said Munson.

No modifications are needed to diesel engines explained Munson. However, natural rubber lines deteriorate over time with biodiesel and will need to be replaced.

In the winter, biodiesel users need to splash mix the biodiesel with regular diesel in a 50/50 or 70/30 ratio because biodiesel gels at a higher temperature explained Munson.

Biodiesel is 100 percent biodegradable, non-hazardous and the process at Green Gallon Solutions produces zero waste.

The biodiesel begins as used French fry oil collected locally or shipped in by railcar. Green gallon solutions collects oil from the Bread Basket Bakery, 3-Mile Restaurant, Kootenai River Brewing Company and Arby’s in Sandpoint.

Local boy scouts are collecting used vegetable oil as a fundraiser at Jacob’s Automotive. Munson is also working with the FFA to collect used vegetable oil at the high school as a fundraiser for the group.

“Don’t throw it in the dump,” said Munson. “It’s a renewable energy source.”

The plant can hold over 20,000 gallons of incoming used vegetable oil and has the capability of producing up to 4,000 gallons per day. Each batch of biodiesel produced is tested for quality.

Throughout the process, water is used to wash the fuel and then flushed out. The water is then used for dust abatement at the mill.

Munson redesigned the process to use citric acid instead of hazardous sulfuric acid. Therefore, they purchase orange juice in 55 gallon drums.

Glycerin is a by-product that can be sold. If the methanol is boiled off of glycerin, glycerol is made and can be used to make soap.

Another by-product is sludge from screening the used vegetable oil. The sludge makes great cattle feed and is fed to Sam Fodge’s cows said Munson.

Green Gallon Solutions delivers biodiesel to local farmers in large quantities and sells biodiesel at the plants’ fuel pump.

They also offer tours for groups and can be contacted at 267-3323.