Organic Farm Environmental Design

Organic farming has regulations for water and soil quality that must be met in order to become certified. A farm approximately 50 km from Kingston is trying to convert to a certified organic operation to supply Queen’s University with domestic produce. To ensure the farm can be certified, extensive testing of the water and soil is necessary to ascertain that the property is free from contaminants. Monitoring wells were installed on the property and water samples were tested to ensure they met regulations, as were soil samples. The soil was also classified for its suitability for agriculture. GPS and Geophysical surveys were implemented to model the bedrock and map the height of the water table to determine groundwater flow in the area. To promote sustainability, a literature review of alternative energy sources was completed including the applicability of wind, solar, and geothermal energy as well as biodiesel. This research in conjunction with field‐testing was used to decide on a final design for the farm, including water management, suggested energy sources, and agricultural land used