Idaho farmers growing vegetables with geothermal energy

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BOISE, Idaho -- Most people know about the geothermal system in Boise's Downtown and Warm Springs area. It's one of the oldest in the country.

But one group of local farmers uses geothermal water to enhance their growing season - and folks enjoy the fruits of their efforts at one of the 40 local restaurants they supply.

Sweet Valley Organics north of Emmett, Idaho, is the only farm operation in the area that uses the naturally occurring hot water for growing vegetables, said partner Geoff Neyman.

But the geothermal greenhouse and outdoor water pipes are only one aspect of their commitment to sustainability, Neyman said.

The farmers also collect about 100 gallons of cooking oil a week from their contracted restaurants, which they use as biofuel in their tractor, Neyman said.

What is Sweet Valley Organics? Chris Florence decided to try farming after 12 years of cooking in restaurants.

"It was always a pipe dream of mine to grow heirloom tomatoes," he said.

He teamed up with Chance Morgan, who grew up in the Sweet Valley ranching cattle and growing hay, and had been laid off from his construction job. They met Geoff Neyman last winter.

Neyman had been making biofuel with a partner in Eagle for about 3 years. After his partner moved to Europe, he joined Florence and Morgan, who also were interested in making biofuel.

"I've always done organic farming in my backyard, but doing it for production is really fun," he said.

The three partners hired two Nepalese farmers from a refugee program to help them.

They answered a few questions about how they do it.

How long have they been growing organic vegetables? Three years.

How do they use the geothermal water? In two ways: In water lines along the outdoor vegetable beds and under the greenhouse



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