2,400 projects in 43 states granted $13 million in funding for low-tek, high-yield pilot project that makes fresh fruit and vegetables available year round, boosts grower income First Lady Michelle Obama's South Lawn Kitchen Garden is covered with hoop houses to ensure that fresh vegetables can grow through the winter. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan joined White house assistant chef and Senior Policy Adviser for Healthy Foods Initiatives Sam Kass in early December to install the hoop houses, which are also known as high tunnels. They're made of simple aluminum hoops, covered with plastic, and boost the sun's warming energy as well as protect winter crops and ground soil. (Kass, above, in the Kitchen Garden)
In fiscal year 2010, USDA awarded $13 million to growers to fund high tunnels, as part of a three-year national pilot test project to determine effectiveness. Today Secretary Merrigan announced that more than 2,400 high tunnels are being used by farmers in 43 states, including Alaska. USDA released the video, below, which features Kass and Merrigan talking about the White House hoops and shows examples from growers.
"At night I cook and we take something from the garden every night," Kass said, standing by the Kitchen Garden, mid-installation. "And we put up the hoop house which obviously keep us able to grow the entire season. It's something that farmers are doing all across the country."
"By capturing solar energy, seasonal high tunnels create favorable conditions enabling farmers to grow vegetables, berries and other specialty crops in climates and at times of the year in which it would otherwise be impossible," Merrigan said.
Applying for funds...Merrigan said that more money will be available for growers in FY 2011.
"Farmers who sell their high tunnel produce locally benefit from the extra income, and the community benefits from the availability of fresh, locally grown food," Merrigan said.
The pilot is part of USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative, and funded by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service. It is intended to determine the effectiveness of hoop houses in conserving water, reducing pesticide use, maintaining vital soil nutrients, and increasing crop yields. (Above: The hoop houses in the Kitchen Garden)
For information on availability in a particular state and how to apply, visit your local USDA Service Center, found here.
Some examples of projects that are underway:
*The Local Food Hub, a Virginia community-supported nonprofit that provides distribution, education and marketing services to small farmers, installed a high tunnel at its educational farm in September. The farm is already growing high-demand crops such as baby lettuces (arugula, mizuna, romaine and green, red and speckled oak leaf) that could not otherwise be grown during the fall season. The farm managers are also using the newly constructed high tunnel as a teaching tool to engage producers in conservation and organic production.
*A family beef operation in Utah installed a high tunnel in the summer of 2010 and added tomatoes, peppers, herbs, watermelons, and sweet corn to its farm production. When the family set up a roadside stand, neighbors began purchasing the local produce. Surrounding farmers plan to add their own seasonal high tunnels, and interest is growing in Utah's buy local campaigns.
*A farmer in Alabama, who is committed to conservation and grows a broad assortment of crops using micro irrigation installed with USDA assistance, recently added a seasonal high tunnel to his operation. The high tunnel is enabling him to grow tomatoes well past the traditional growing season, and he expects it will also help reduce his energy use and improve both soil and water quality as a result of reduced pesticide and nutrient inputs.
*A new farmer in Montana installed a high tunnel in early June, and was able to grow tomatoes, lettuce, sweet corn, bean, peas, cantaloupe, cucumbers, cabbage, flowers, onions and radishes. The crops all germinated in less than than a week and grew rapidly. Neighbors, impressed with the high tunnel, visited weekly to monitor the crops' progress.
Related: The Kitchen Garden was covered with hoop houses last year, too. For a breakdown of FY 2010 high tunnel funding by state, go to http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/success-stories/hightunnels/2010tunneldollars.html.
*USDA video
