Tunneling Above Ground

Not all tunnels are dug, since mine are built from the ground up! The current ones are the low caterpillar tunnels ('low' because I can't walk in them, 'caterpillar' because they are cinched down over ear hoop and it creates the look of segments, just like a caterpillar).
They are very important for my ability to grow many things here as they protect the crops beneath them from my summer frosts. They are easy to vent by lifting the sides and the plastic gets all bunched up on the top which actually provides a little shade for the crops in the intense midday sun and they can be closed to also protect from hail or damaging winds!
I've put up enough now that it goes fast and smooth, even though I usually like to transplant the row first, and then cover it so I have to be careful to not drag the plastic over tender plants or drop a hoop onto them. 

With the weather evening out, the perennial flowers will soon bloom, the summer ones are getting tall and the little veggies are getting closer and closer to harvest size!

All those little rows within the row are single passes with this, the Jang seeder. It has different discs for different seeds sizes, gears and sprockets to adjust the spacing, a plate that makes a furrow, drops the seed in, and another roller to tamp it down! It makes direct seeding go soooo much faster than by hand and makes tidy, evenly spaced rows that don't require thinning. It's a good thing they painted it yellow because it is worth it's weight in gold!

With so many hoses around, I almost missed this little snake with a tubby belly (hopefully one of the many gophers)

Each post needs a scrap of drip tape poked over the end and a loop of string, which are necessary to tie down the plastic to.

Next the bent metal conduit is slipped over the posts. The tunnel is starting to take shape!

To tie down each end, the plastic is scrunched up and folded over a rod or bar, a u-bolt is put over it as a place for the ratchet strap to hook onto. The other end of the ratchet strap is anchored to a t-post and then you ratchet it nice and snug so no gusty wind can take it away!

The hens continue to enjoy their evening ramblings, each night they find new places to explore and look for yummy bugs!

What's available this week?

• Eggs!
  • dozen pasture-raised, rainbow chicken eggs 
  • half dozen pasture-raised duck eggs 
• Flowers!
  • Black Hero Tulips with Bleeding Hearts
  • Petal Power featuring edible Pansies
• Veggies!
  • Microgreens
    • Spicy Mix
    • Mild Mix
  • Baby Head Lettuce Mix