Season Extension Opportunity, Deadline Feb. 15th
rebecca@gorgegrown.com
541-490-6420
Dear Farmers-
Gorge Grown Food Network was awarded a USDA Specialty Crops Block Grant for the period of 2011-2013 entitled, "Growing through the seasons: Developing shoulder-season markets and growing techniques for Gorge vegetable producers". In the original proposal, we were going to be collaborating with the Hood River Parks and Recreation District to develop an agricultural demonstration component at their newly acquired Barrett Park property in Hood River. Unfortunately, the funding source for that park (State Lottery Board) just recently determined that agriculture is not an allowed component of the Park, thus we are looking into different options for a season-extension demonstration site.
The reason we are emailing you is that we would like to offer these season extension structures to a farmer in the Gorge at no cost as long as certain terms are met. These are the four components of our demonstration site:
Floating row covers with hoops (we have a budget to cover a total of 500 feet length of row with floating row cover & hoops). Should be used for early or late season extension but not for winter use. Must be stored properly in the winter. Portable.
One season 'temporary' WSU-developed hoop house model, 10ft. wide x 42ft. long. (made of rebar, PVC, wood, & plastic). This hoop house will probably only last one season, unless you take the plastic off for the winter months. Not portable.
One multi-season, snow & wind-resistant hoop house model, 20ft. wide x 48ft. long (see the link below for a potential style). This hoop house will last a long time and the plastic is guaranteed for 4 years. You still must manage the snow load or else the plastic could get damaged. Not portable.
Here's a potential model: FarmTek Premium Round Style 20x48 High Tunnel
http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/prod1;ft1_coldframes_hightunnels;pgpb01670r4c_PB01680R4C.html
One small cold frame unit (wood, corrugated plastic, hardware, based on WSU specs). These should last 2-4 years depending on how much the wood warps. Portable.
In order to receive these wonderful free season-extension assets for your farm, these are the terms you would have to agree to:
- Plant out all of the structures with vegetables, culinary herbs, and/or berries for at least the years of 2012 and 2013. Although you don't have to be certified organic, you must manage these season extension structures without any conventional pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, or fertilizers.
- Allowable crops: vegetables, culinary herbs, or berries. Not allowable: flowers, medicinal herbs or livestock/poultry, except maybe as part of vegetable rotation.
- Manage those structures for wind, snow, dust, etc. over the season so that the structures and material are kept in as good condition as possible. The floating row cover must be rolled up and put away for the winter out of the elements. The plastic on the temporary style hoop house must be removed at the end of the season, rolled up, and put away for the snowy months. The cold-frame lids cannot be allowed to fall apart in the winter due to snow load. It might be best to store them away in a barn as well. Snow removal on the multi-season hoop house must be a priority. Normal wear and tear of all the materials is to be expected but take precautions to maintain them so that they will serve you for many years.
- Maintain your crops over the season via weeding, harvesting, replanting, etc.
- Try to extend the season by at least one month at the beginning of the season or one month at the end of the season or both. Keep basic written records of what crops you were able to grow in the extended season, how they did, challenges, and yields if possible.
- Host two-four farmer workshops in both 2012 and 2013 at your farm that Gorge Grown will organize. Be present for those workshops, interact with farmer participants, share challenges and success to participants, etc. We will cap each workshop at 20 people so parking is not too much of an issue. Gorge Grown's sponsored events are covered under our liability policy, so the farmer will not be held liable for any issues that may occur during the workshops.
- Although the workshops in the spring of 2012 will be hands-on workshops to build and install these structures, you are responsible for completing the installation of all the structures in case we don't finish them up during the workshops. If you need to hire additional labor, that is your cost. All of the structures need to be completed no later than June 1, 2012.
- Allow Gorge Grown to take pictures of the installation, workshops, and ongoing use of the season extension structures over 2012-2013.
- After the two years is up, you are welcome to move the structures to new locations on your farm (which is especially important if you practice crop rotation) but we ask that you continue to use the structures for years to come until their useful life is over. If for any reason you sell your property or quit farming, we require that you return all of the materials to Gorge Grown.
We have approximately $4,500 to spend on materials and supplies for the above mentioned season-extension structures. Gorge Grown will order and pay for those materials and they will be delivered to your farm site.
If you are interested in hosting our season-extension structure demonstration site and agree to the terms above, please send us a short paragraph via email about where you are, what you grow, and what season-extension would mean to your farming business. Please apply no later than February 15th, 2012. We will make our decision by the end of February and notify the chosen applicant by then.
We look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Regards,
-Rebecca Thistlethwaite, Director
Gorge Grown Food Network
541-490-6420
