THIS autumn, the off-grid Chagford based Chagfarm will be powered by solar energy thanks to partial funding from the Big Lottery’s Awards for All fund.

With sixteen 280 watt REC solar panels and a ten kilowatt Aquion salt water battery bank, the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) enterprise’s raw milk dairy products, free-range chicken, as well as woodland-reared pork and goat meat, will be fuelled by renewable electricity only.

Previously reliant on petrol and diesel generated power to milk its 14 nanny goats, the new installation will provide all of the farm’s electricity and complements its already established sustainable and low-impact farming methods.

Davon Friend, co-founder and director of Chagfarm, said: ‘We’re excited to be able to replace our noisy generator with a clean and silent form of energy. Not only will it reduce our carbon footprint and that of our members, but it will also help facilitate our growth in the short and long term. The timing couldn’t have been more ideal, as this year we’re installing further facilities on the farm, including a butchery, poultry processing unit and cheese cave.

‘All these facilities will have their own unique power demands and we are so grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for recognising the crucial role renewable energy will play in our mission to make Chagford’s, and indeed, its neighbouring parishes’ food supply, more resilient.’

The solar panels will generate a maximum of four kilowatts of power during sunlight hours and an additional four kilowatts will be available from the fully charged battery bank day or night — enough to fuel the farm’s future artisan cheese-making operation.

With this new infrastructure in place, 2016 is set to be a landmark year for the not-for-profit enterprise as it strides towards self-sufficiency, welcomes more members and champions rural living.