Hoop house...high tunnel...cold frame..."What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet".
Shakespeare's Romeo said it well.
I am getting ready for adding one of these beauties to my farm through my local NRCS; Natural Resource Conservation Services of SC. Every farmer can apply for a "free"one during their project timeline. "Free" meaning, you buy it up front, then they reimburse you if you follow the practice guidelines for 3 years, and if they have the funds. Still worth it, if you ask me. It is a great way to lengthen your growing season in a controlled environment. This is a national NRCS initiative. I learned about it from someone's blog! Where I live I may be able to put it to use all year round considering I had many plants winter over and survive. The big question is, where to put it?
I have learned a thing or two this summer because it has been wet...no, let me rephrase...we have had torrential downpours about every few days, sometimes for days at a time. The problem with living nearly at sea level is that the rainwater has no where to go. I am told that my area of SC used to be ocean. So, if I dig about 12-20" under the loamy sandy soil I find hard clay or basically really hard, packed sand. Ocean is still here.
I always thought I could use my back 2 acres for farmland but have learned that it has the potential to stay very wet and drowned under about 6"of water, killing everything I plant there. My decision for hoop house placement has changed to a place much closer to the barn.
Good decision, Juliet. Good decision.
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