Canopy Solar Planned for Makepeace Canal

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PLYMOUTH – The A.D. Makepeace Company and Renewable Energy Development Partners LLC are proposing a plan for solar panel canopies installed over some two miles of agricultural canal in a remote section of Plymouth.

The proposal, which is subject to review and approval by the Plymouth Inspectional Services Department, is part of a multifaceted renewable energy initiative which also includes floating solar on an agricultural reservoir, ground-mounted solar arrays and additional canal canopy arrays.

The project is proposed under the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program. The SMART program encourages the development of new photovoltaic energy sources in a manner that is compatible with current and future agricultural practices. The canals are used for irrigation and bog flooding for harvest and pest management purposes, and will continue to be used as such after the solar canopies are installed.

“This is part of our ongoing effort to site innovative solar projects in areas with minimal impact on wildlife and our neighbors,” said James F. Kane, president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company. “In so doing, we are helping the Commonwealth make meaningful progress towards greenhouse gas reduction goals.”

Renewable Energy Development Partners submitted a proposal for the canal solar to the Town of Plymouth last week. The project will be the second canal canopy solar array that the A.D. Makepeace Company and REDP have partnered to construct.  The first project, roughly half the size of the proposed new project, is located nearby on a cranberry farm in Carver, MA and is expected to be operational by the end of the year.

“This project is an innovative approach to solar energy production that requires minimal land disturbance, creates an additional beneficial use of land already in agricultural use, and is fully compatible with the ongoing agricultural activities.   We hope it will be a model for similar types of projects done in partnership with other agricultural producers,” said Hank Ouimet, a managing partner at REDP.

The canopies require no tree cutting. The land is zoned for residential and agricultural uses.

Mr. Kane noted that the project site is zoned for residential development and Plymouth officials have long feared the prospect of having to provide municipal services to an area separated from the rest of the town by Myles Standish State Forest. In response, the company has explored options with minimal impact on services, such as agricultural and renewable energy uses.

The sites for the projects are in the area where the boundaries of Plymouth, Carver, and Wareham meet, all a mile or more from any publicly accessible roadway. The A.D. Makepeace Company has been growing cranberries there since the early 1900s.

Renewable Energy Development Partners is a boutique Massachusetts-based renewable energy project development firm specializing in innovative solar solutions. Visit redpllc.com for more information.

The 169-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is developer of the award-winning Redbrook, North America’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship. Visit admakepeace.com for more information.

Bog Renovations Underway

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Many of the A.D. Makepeace Company cranberry bog areas are decades old and still produce, year after year. As you might imagine, the way a bog was constructed before heavy equipment and other modern conveniences, was quite different than today.

Cranberry bog renovation is a common practice in Massachusetts as well as other growing regions. The A.D. Makepeace Company has a strong tradition of renovating older cranberry bogs showing not only a commitment to the industry but also a commitment to improving bog efficiencies. When an older cranberry bog is renovated a more level, more water-efficient, and higher-yielding bog is typically created within the same footprint of the previous bog.

Above is an image of the recent planting of a newly renovated cranberry bog in Carver. It will take approximately three years from the time of this investment to see the first full harvest.

Southeastern Massachusetts
June, 2023

Double Your Donation!

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Your year-end contribution to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth will be doubled due to a challenge grant to the organization from the A.D. Makepeace Company.

HfH is raising funds to rehabilitate this home in Carver for use by a deserving income-eligible family.

“Habitat does such a wonderful job supporting those in need in our communities, and we are pleased to see that military veterans will get preference for this home,” said James F. Kane, president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company. “We’re happy to be able to help financially, and we are hopeful that members of our staff can assist with the construction as well.”

Organizers want to make sure it’s clear that this is a “before” photo. Habitat will bring the home and its spacious yard to full code compliance, and a beautiful spot to raise a family.

Read more about the project here.

And donate to the challenge by clicking here.

Carver, Massachusetts
December, 2022

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year – the cranberry harvest season is upon us!

Interested in learning more about this photogenic, iconic display throughout Southeastern Massachusetts? We recommend starting with our friends at the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association. Their website offers information on how cranberries grow, where to catch a bog tour, and more.

Want to include a little shopping in your visit? Stop by Makepeace Farms for souvenirs of Cranberry Country, including fresh cranberries when available. The shop also offers some of the most delicious sandwiches and fresh baked treats!

For those who prefer a do-it-yourself approach and want to explore the area on their own, the CCCGA offers a map which will help you plan a self-guided tour. Our region’s harvest typically runs from mid-September through early November, and most growers don’t mind you watching the activity if you can park safely off the road and out of the way of truck traffic.

Southeastern Massachusetts
Fall, 2022

Summer on the Bogs

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The summer months see a wide variety of activity on the cranberry bogs. In the middle of July, the cranberry blossoms have been pollinated, fruit has set, and we see the bees disappear as quickly as they arrived in mid-June. The tiny cranberry flowers have dropped their petals and green cranberries have begun to grow.

At this stage, our top priority is to keep the crop healthy and growing. It is essential to feed, weed, water, protect, and support the growing fruit.

As the berries begin to grow, they need nourishment. We fertilize with precision to encourage fruit growth over vine growth.

Weeds that are deemed detrimental to a crop’s progress are typically hand weeded. Weeds that are not disturbing the crop’s progress are often left alone.

The traditional rule of thumb is that cranberries need an average of one inch of water per week during the growing season. Our pumps are equipped with auto-start technology that make it easy to set a watering schedule that ensures sufficient irrigation without waste.

Consistent with industry best management practices, we use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques as an ecological approach to pest control. IPM includes a combination of biological, cultural, or chemical control methods. Pesticides are only used when necessary and are applied by state-certified applicators.

With our constant support and Mother Nature’s help, our summertime efforts will result in a bountiful fall harvest!

Southeastern Massachusetts
Summer, 2022

Give Blood

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In recent years, the A.D. Makepeace Company has hosted numerous blood drives at Rosebrook, our mixed-use campus in Wareham.

Following our 12 drives in 2021, our contact at the American Red Cross wrote, “I know you know how important blood is, but the effort that you always put in to ensure we are successful is truly amazing!!” Our drives collected 305 pints of blood, which made a difference to potentially 915 patients.

We’re happy to be able to continue that effort, with monthly blood drives scheduled through 2022.

Click here to learn more about the dire need for blood donations, and to schedule your appointment.

Wareham, Massachusetts
February, 2022

Cheers for Wareham Cheerleaders!

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The Wareham Tigers Cheer Athletics team have received a $5,000 challenge grant from the A.D. Makepeace Company.

The grant will match dollar-for-dollar all donations for the teams’ quest to attend the Recreational Championship in Disney World through February 5, Wareham Tigers Athletic Association’s Cheer Coordinator, Damon Solomon, announced today.

Flights, passes, and accommodations for the team and coaches are expected to total $35,000.

“We are pleased to be able to support this great organization and recognize the talent of these young ladies,” said Jim Kane, president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company.

Click here to learn more, and click here to donate.

Wareham, Massachusetts
January, 2022

It’s Cranberry Harvest Season!

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year – the cranberry harvest season is upon us!

Interested in learning more about this photogenic, iconic display throughout Southeastern Massachusetts? We recommend starting with our friends at the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association. Their website offers information on how cranberries grow, where to catch a bog tour, and more.

Want to include a little shopping in your visit? Stop by Makepeace Farms for souvenirs of Cranberry Country, including fresh cranberries when available. The shop also offers some of the most delicious sandwiches and fresh baked treats!

For those who prefer a do-it-yourself approach and want to explore the area on their own, the CCCGA offers a map which will help you plan a self-guided tour. Our region’s harvest typically runs from mid-September through early November, and most growers don’t mind you watching the activity if you can park safely off the road and out of the way of truck traffic.

Plymouth County, Massachusetts
September, 2021

Soil Solutions for Urban Heat Islands

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As temperatures throughout the Northeast reached dangerously high levels already this summer, our Read Custom Soils division is delivering record amounts of Cornell University’s proprietary blend of custom soils designed specifically to protect urban trees.

RCS is a licensed supplier of this special blend of crushed stone, clay loam, and a material that promotes nutrient and water retention. The result is trees that thrive in an urban setting where soil compaction is required to support sidewalks, parking lots, or permeable pavers.

In recent days, the Boston Globe has reported extensively on the problem of urban “heat islands,” a phenomenon that disproportionately affects lower-income neighborhoods.

We encourage urban developers to consider specifying CU Structural Soil in their landscape plan to help reduce this inequity. Learn more here.

Plymouth County, Massachusetts
July, 2021

Blossom Season on the Bogs

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The bees are back!

While many think of cranberries as a fall fruit requiring much care and attention during the cooler months, the real work begins long before the autumn air arrives.

During this time of year, the tender vines are developing buds that will turn into tiny cranberry blossoms. As the bud and blossom develop, it is crucial to protect them from frost damage, provide adequate nutrients, and establish a healthy environment for growth. This phase of care and protection leads to the next critical element of crop success: pollination.

Typically, blossom time extends from mid-June through mid-July. As the tiny buds begins to open, its outer pink petals reveal a white flower. This is a unique time of year when the thousands of tiny white flowers cover the bog’s surface, resembling a light dusting of winter snow. The sheer volume of flowers that require pollination vastly outweighs the number of native pollinators in a given bog area.

This year, the bees we acquire for agricultural purposes begin arriving during the week of June 7. It takes about a week for them to be placed around the property. Needless to say, some areas that are typically accessible will be closed off during that time, and we urge everyone to use caution throughout cranberry country.

The rule of thumb is approximately two honeybee hives per acre of cranberries or one bumble bee box per acre. While the two varieties of bees cannot be in close proximity to each other, each has its own strengths and characteristics. Although the cranberry industry has long debated the most beneficial bee, today the honeybee remains the primary bee of choice throughout the industry.

Plymouth County, Massachusetts
June, 2021