The High Tunnel Project: Part 2

We have battled more winter weather since we last left-off, the snow wasn't too bad but the wind sure gave us a beating.

After we put the plastic up on the frame we waited for a warm day to readjust and tighten everything up. Thanks for the help Cam and Spencer!

Next, we installed a blower for the double layer of plastic. The blower adds air between the layers and creates an air pocket to act as a type of insulation. With the inflated layers it retains more heat when the weather is colder.

Now that we had adequate warmth, we switched gears and put some actual farming into play! We started a cover crop! With the help of a few friends we subsoiled the ground intensely to break up the hard pan we created from leveling the land.

Side view of subsoiling

Jake helping get the subsoiler deeper

Subsoiled land

Rototilled before seeding

After seeding in cover crop

Germination!

We rototilled the soil and seeded "Peas, Oats, and Radish" into the ground along with some fertilizer and lime. Within a few weeks we had germination and it's looking great!

Ok back to the actual high tunnel... we spent a few days working on the roll up sides, installing the eyebolts, and adding rope to keep the sides from moving. 

After that was complete, we came back to the end walls. My dad and I attached final trim board and fastened the plastic with wiggle wire for extra protection. A huge thank you to my father (who still thinks we are building a house and everything has to be precise) for giving it the classic farm look in barn red. To say the least it came out better than imagined!

Role for roll upsides

Putting up trim board with my father

Blown up plastic and all up sides

The end wall doors and vents were the project finishing pieces. We fabricated the doors in the shop by cutting, mounting, and fastening polycarbonate sheet to them. We also built the vent windows in the shop as well, painted them up and attached polycarbonate. Everything came out perfect! 

Window vents painted

Trim for windows!

Pulley system for vent

My father drilling holes to to mount doors

Getting ready to mount polycarbonate to doors

Finished product

Hanging doors

Inside view of doors

The finished product!

Lastly, we mounted the vents and doors to the end walls with the hinges. This took some expertise because of the slight ground movement from the frost over the winter. The structure finally looks complete.

Happy to be moving forward with irrigation, and electrical. Soon we will be planting... we are counting the days and it can't come soon enough!

​Stay tuned to Part 3 of the High Tunnel Project. As always thank you for reading and all of your support!