Tunnel Tumbledown

What a week! While I was driving home, the big wind storm hit the area and destroyed almost 4 structures. No chickies were harmed as it hit during the night when they are all locked up tight and snug! But one of my poor high tunnels which I was so looking forward to using this year is gone, as is one chicken run, the storage garage, and the old shed roof became some flying metal panels.

I had to hold back from starting to clean up and break down the rubble so the insurance agent can get a good look. It's amazing to see how easily metal pipes were bent in two and rebar was flung out of 2' deep anchors. The power was out so my weather station wasn't receiving but we estimate 70mph gusts through our little valley. 

Glad to say the 100 year old cabin and 60 year old barn are looking good and holding strong (the new carport probably helps hold the barn down).

After planning and re-assessing this weekend, the clean up will begin! And I already have plans for modifying the high tunnel construction so it can withstand this kind of onslaught, especially if it happens when there are precious crops inside so I don't lose both tunnel and crops.

Most people know or talk about how much farmers are at the mercy of mother nature, and until you watch as a 10 second downpour washes away 100 freshly planted seedlings, or rush around while getting pelted by gravel-sized hail and 30mph winds to rescue potted up transplants, or watch as a wind gust flattens a stand of wheat it can be hard to explain. People may wonder why I often stop and watch the sky or the tree tops or how a bird is flying on thermals or listen to see if the birds stop singing or if the deer are eating lazily in the field but all these things and more help me learn, understand, and predict mother natures patterns. 

It's not mother natures fault for being harsh, as a former climate geologist, I know just how much of a hard time she's had the last 100+ years. It's my job as a farmer to stay on her good side and know when to play in the sunshine and when to duck and cover.

There will still be eggs this week as nothing gets my girls down! Stop by Fireman's Park parking lot Friday, February 7th from 12-1230pm to pick up some yummy rainbow chicken eggs or big squatty duck eggs!

Just a pile of rubble. At first I thought a good portion might be salvageable but on a closer look only a few pieces are and not enough to justify it.

The uncovered tunnel survived just fine, but it (and the replacement for the other one) will need to be converted to a different style that can hold up to higher winds. In winter it means the loss of a tunnel, in summer it means the loss of a tunnel and crops.

The original shed also got hit and lost half of one side of the roof. The extra light in side is nice since it was always very dark, but I don't think I want this large of a skylight. Note the Dragon Dome™ is completely unscathed. Yay!

The barn run also got the flattening treatment as it is more turned into the wind than the other runs. No chickies were harmed!!! The storm was forecast for saturday afternoon but struck us friday night/saturday morning so all hens, and roosters, and drakes were safe in their huts which were built and designed to withstand a lion attack which I guess also counts as 70mph winds. The sawhorse was inside the run as a daytime perch and the run lifted straight over it!

​The rainbow hut row is safely locked in position thanks to t-posts with rope going over all in the row, otherwise they probably would ALL look like the barn run. The hens don't seem to know what hit em and are happily beggin for food and treats at all times.

What's available this week?

• Eggs!
  • dozen pasture-raised, rainbow chicken eggs $5
  • half dozen pasture-raised duck eggs $4

Where to find it all?
The winter egg/microgreen delivery is every Friday from 12-1230pm at the Fireman's Park Parking Lot. I'll be there rain, snow, shine, or freeze!