Tunnel Vision

A few weeks ago I went to bed just as 30mph winds picked up in my valley and lasted through the night. I didn't sleep well knowing that I might find a mess in the morning. Winds aren't uncommon in my valley but sustained speeds that high are unusual (I can track this now thanks to my fancy shmancy weather station). Upon waking the hens, who all made it through just fine, I found a few scattered pots and a squished in corner on my temporary garage/storage shed. The most disheartening was that the one high tunnel plastic that was up had broken a rope and slipped down. The upside was that I found and developed a way to get it up and over by myself and had some great friends willing to come out to help me tie it down.

Of course, there will be eggs and microgreens available this Friday at the weekly winter egg/microgreen delivery from 12-1230!

The aftermath doesn't look like too much since the top ropes keep the plastic from completely flying away but it needs to be lifted back over. Not usually an easy or fun job but less easy and fun when it is cold, wet, and frozen. The ground covering tarps were scattered about as well but that is nothing new.

​The first step of lifting the plastic by myself was to tie it up like a long burrito. Next I used the side curtain clips (which help to raise & hold the sides up to ventilate) as an elevator to lift the entire roll about ¾ of the way up. Next I started to pull one side up and over the peak, clipping the ties as I went. Since the plastic was held by the clips and ties, I was able to wait for an absolute 0 wind day to unfurl it all!

​I continued down lifting the edge up and over the ridge as far as I could reach from the ladder until it was all over. Then walked that side and pulled it all the way to the ground. I adjusted to make sure it was pretty squared up before releasing the side curtain clips to bring down the original side.

The key to holding it in place is the wiggle wire channels. They go on the ends and lock the plastic from slipping or lifting.These weren't in place originally as it was a breezy day when the plastic was put on then and we had to tie it down quick. But with this in place it ain't goin anywhere!

The chickens don't mind the damp chilliness as long as there is dirt to scratch and things to peck at.

A handful of microgreens atop leftover meat sauce and a soft boiled duck egg is a warm and filling meal on a cold mushy day!

Where to find it all?
 
The winter egg/microgreen delivery is every Friday from 12-1230pm at the Fireman's Park Parking Lot.