As part of the international research collaboration with Iberoamericana University, Cowichan Energy Alternatives Society and Vancouver Island University, we had the opportunity to interview and collect testimonials from co-op members on their experiences since joining the co-op. We received an incredible response from Zachary Brown, owner at Alderlea Vineyards.
We've included Alderlea Vineyard's testimonial below:
We've included Alderlea Vineyard's testimonial below:
“I have been using bio-diesel in my 1994 Kubota tractor for almost 2 years now and have not had any issues with the fuel. We have just bought a 2018 B2650 Kubota Tractor and have begun bio-diesel trials with it.
I have previous experience working with bio-diesel in the mining industry from before I arrived in the Cowichan Valley. I heard about the Cowichan Biodiesel Co-op on social media and then saw the pump at Bings Creek when I was dropping off recycling.
I chose to switch my tractor to bio-diesel in order to help reduce pollutants on my farm. The fuel change reduces any chances of petroleum exhaust potentially impacting the flavours of my grapes and wine and reduces the potential environmental damage to my vineyard if there is a spill while refueling in the field. At my winery both the vines and workers are near the emissions from the tractor so reducing the toxins released from my tractor is a priority.
I used B20 for the first four months. This is due to bio-diesel removing build up in the tractor, if this happens too quickly the fuel filter can clog and cause performance issues for the tractor. To avoid mechanical issues caused by the filter clogging I changed my fuel filter regularly and changed the oil in the tractor more often. After 4 months I switch to B50 for the winter before switching to B100 last April. The only cost to switch from fossil fuel to biodiesel was the additional fuel filters and oil changes in the first four months.
I noticed no change in the fuel efficiency of my tractor but, I have found that the tractor runs cooler which allows the driver to stay cooler when they are working in hot weather. I’ve also found that if the driver accidentally hits a bird net the net does not melt immediately from the heat of the engine. This reduces how much I spend on bird nets.
Another reason to consume biodiesel is to support a local fuel source rather than using fuel from the conventional oil& gas sector , which has environmental and social negative aspects."
- Zachary Brown (Owner, Alderlea Vineyard)
I have previous experience working with bio-diesel in the mining industry from before I arrived in the Cowichan Valley. I heard about the Cowichan Biodiesel Co-op on social media and then saw the pump at Bings Creek when I was dropping off recycling.
I chose to switch my tractor to bio-diesel in order to help reduce pollutants on my farm. The fuel change reduces any chances of petroleum exhaust potentially impacting the flavours of my grapes and wine and reduces the potential environmental damage to my vineyard if there is a spill while refueling in the field. At my winery both the vines and workers are near the emissions from the tractor so reducing the toxins released from my tractor is a priority.
I used B20 for the first four months. This is due to bio-diesel removing build up in the tractor, if this happens too quickly the fuel filter can clog and cause performance issues for the tractor. To avoid mechanical issues caused by the filter clogging I changed my fuel filter regularly and changed the oil in the tractor more often. After 4 months I switch to B50 for the winter before switching to B100 last April. The only cost to switch from fossil fuel to biodiesel was the additional fuel filters and oil changes in the first four months.
I noticed no change in the fuel efficiency of my tractor but, I have found that the tractor runs cooler which allows the driver to stay cooler when they are working in hot weather. I’ve also found that if the driver accidentally hits a bird net the net does not melt immediately from the heat of the engine. This reduces how much I spend on bird nets.
Another reason to consume biodiesel is to support a local fuel source rather than using fuel from the conventional oil& gas sector , which has environmental and social negative aspects."
- Zachary Brown (Owner, Alderlea Vineyard)
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