Winter Projects
- Wednesday, 15 February 2012 2:57pm
The mild, snowless winter has given us an opportunity to complete major work in the fields and greenhouses. Peter and Arliss installed a tile line or drainage line to help the wettest spots in the fields drain and not hold water. The drainage pipe is buried about two feet underground. First an 8” layer of gravel, the pipe and then another 8” of gravel, then covered again with soil. They had a little help with the initial digging of the trenches through out the field, but then layered the gravel and pipe and then gravel by hand. It looked like a giant gopher had occupied the fields.
A couple of years ago we also applied for a grant that would help to pay for about 65% of the cost of a new greenhouse structure to be used for season extension. The intention was to have a season extending structure that would enable us to produce crops earlier and also crops later into the season. Out of the blue, we were informed that we were awarded the grant. We had actually forgotten about the application thinking that we did not get the grant, but years later came to news.
Peter and Arliss erected the greenhouse and have the inside posts and beds ready for planting this spring. We are planning to grow cucumbers and cherry tomatoes in the unheated greenhouse. Careful tracking of the production will be important to see if the cost of the structure is offset by the benefits of the season extension. We have all been attending conferences and classes this winter to keep up with the latest research. There has been a lot of interest and research around season extension structures and now we will have first hand knowledge of the process and possibilities.
Peter and Arliss erected the greenhouse and have the inside posts and beds ready for planting this spring. We are planning to grow cucumbers and cherry tomatoes in the unheated greenhouse. Careful tracking of the production will be important to see if the cost of the structure is offset by the benefits of the season extension. We have all been attending conferences and classes this winter to keep up with the latest research. There has been a lot of interest and research around season extension structures and now we will have first hand knowledge of the process and possibilities.
I guess winter is a time of rest, but our plans never stop and take a rest. We will start up the greenhouses starting the last week in February. There is nothing like getting back in the dirt.-Deborah
