Most people are familiar in some way with solar-electric power for homes, but not so many know that a number of homesteaders and farmers are also using solar-electric powered tractors, lawn mowers and electric tools. They're quieter, cleaner and more efficient than their gas-powered counterparts. Not only better for the environment (and for those of us who live in it!), they provide independence from ever diminishing fossil fuel supplies and the corresponding hike in fuel prices.

There are many benefits to quiet and emission-free electric-powered equipment, and the transition with smaller implements isn't complicated. Farm implements powered by solar electricity can be equipped with solar panels to carry their own power source or run on rechargeable batteries. With a full charge, the equipment can run anywhere from 2 hours to a full day, depending on the task and the power it requires. The extra weight of the battery is actually an advantage on a tractor; the additional load improves its traction.

The construction of an electric motor is simpler than an engine, which makes maintenance easier. The usual work of a tractor demands high power and low speed, perfectly suited to electric motors, which produce more torque at lower rpm. And, you can now easily purchase solar-electric implements or simply retrofit an existing piece using a kit.

Riding mowers, electric push lawn mowers, solar-electric implements, electric towing vehicles and drill-drive tillers are a few of the options available. (For more information about each of these products and the names of companies that sell them, check out George DeVault and Charles Higginson's