Purpose and Function
Incorporated in 1998, the Warrington Foundation is a nonprofit Maryland corporation with the purpose of supporting research and education in agricultural waste management. The initial primary goal is to foster sustainable solutions to the adverse environmental condition of nutrient accumulation in the poultry rearing areas of Maryland and Delaware. Current efforts aim to strengthen the capacity for the production and use of poultry manure-based compost. The Foundation will support projects that expand consumer knowledge of compost use in urban, nursery and agricultural applications. We believe that increased consumers' acceptance translates to increased product demand that will allow sustained economic transfer of excess nutrients from farms to viable use areas.
The foundation functions using funds developed through grants from public agencies and others, supplemented by income derived from equipment owned by the Foundation. Grants to the Foundation can be as cash or donations of surplus compost production equipment. Cash grants will be used to support demonstration projects or to purchase additional compost equipment. Foundation owned equipment will be leased to agriculture compost producers on a negotiated fee basis. Income to the Foundation from its equipment will be used to support the compost research and demonstration projects. The combined effect will be to strengthen compost markets while improving the infrastructure for compost production.
Board Members
Herbert L. Brodie, President & Treasurer
Warren K. Rich, Secretary
Francis R. Gouin
Larry E. Stewart
Warren K. Rich, Secretary
Francis R. Gouin
Larry E. Stewart
Contact Information
Warrington Foundation
4701 Cliff's City Road
Chestertown, MD 21620
4701 Cliff's City Road
Chestertown, MD 21620
Phone/FAX (410) 778-7676
Current Activities
Using US EPA grant funds, the Foundation has supported the construction of a compost bagging plant located at the New Earth Services compost production facility near Hurlock in Dorchester County, Maryland. The plant is available for bagging poultry litter based compost from any compost producer on Delmarva.
The Foundation has purchased compost spreading equipment for urban landscapes. A program for landscape contractors will be developed for demonstration of compost use on urban landscapes using the spreading equipment. The purpose of the program is to allow contractors to become knowledgeable and comfortable with compost and thereby increase potential compost sales.
Warrington Funds Granted for Demonstration Projects
The Warrington Foundation funded two demonstration projects for the year 2001. Both projects are currently being conducted by Maryland Cooperative Extension at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center. "The Utilization of Composted Manure and Yard Waste in Turfgrass Establishment and Maintenance" ($3,900) is the first year of a multi-year demonstration of the utilization of compost on urban lawns. Contact Wanda MacLachlan for additional information. "Demonstrating and Evaluating Animal Manure Composts for Growing Containerized Vegetables" ($3,200) is a demonstration of patio gardening with compost for urban homeowners. Contact Jon Traunfeld for additional information.
Warrington Grant Funds Still Available
The Warrington Foundation will provide funds for a limited number of small demonstration projects each year. Warrington's primary focus is to improve the utilization of Delmarva poultry litter nutrients as compost. Applicable projects must include the goal of consumer education to improve the market potential for poultry litter based compost. Activities can include exhibits, plots and gardens, meetings or other educational activities. Demonstrations showing plant response to compost use must include scientific measurements such as soil tests, compost quality and application rate, weather and other parameters to define the conditions of the demonstration. Projects should be located in the urban regions surrounding the Delmarva peninsula.
Warrington funds are available to any educational institution, agency, garden club or other organized non-profit group. Proposals should be no more than four pages in length and contain a concise description of the proposed activity including: how the activity will improve consumer knowledge; how the activity will be presented to consumers; what measurements will be made; a brief description of those conducting the activity; and itemized expected project expenditures. Requested budgets should be less than $1,500. The budgets of selected projects may be increased through negotiation for increased activity depending on the total number of projects funded.
Proposals will be accepted all during the year for review in January and July. Send proposals as an MS Word, Wordperfect or PDF file via e-mail to hlbrodie@bluecrab.org.
