While the majestic trees on Willow Path have the power to warm people's hearts, a new 7½ -acre willow biomass farm on Hamilton Street will help heat the university.

Depending on the soil, weather, and overall conditions, last week's planting of 60,000 8-inch shrub willow shoots should yield about 900 dry tons of biomass over a 20-year period -- a drop in the proverbial bucket considering that Colgate currently burns about 100 tons of woodchips per day in its environmentally friendly steam-fired boiler.