Progress report for ONC23-122
Project Information
Weather patterns are becoming more erratic, making growing conditions increasingly difficult for farmers. In response, high tunnels and hoop houses are being used to extend growing seasons and moderate temperatures. These provide benefits, but they also make water management more challenging because they divert rainfall away from the soil within. Providing consistent water for crops is becoming a greater challenge given the drought that has been affecting the western U.S. and is now much of Kansas.
Further, high tunnels affect soil health through accumulation of salts when using municipal water instead of rain.
This project will demonstrate rainwater harvesting (RWH) techniques for high tunnels at three small farms in Wyandotte and Miami Counties in Kansas. The project will construct systems to collect runoff from high tunnels, storage using tanks or a basin, and a distribution system for use within the tunnels. Construction methods, costs, water use, and savings will be documented during the project. Educational workshops will share the knowledge with other farmers on design, construction, operation, efficiency, and costs. In addition, a small-scale system relatable to home or market growers will be installed at KC Farm School and used for outreach through their “Let’s Grow Wyandotte!” program.
- Construct three rainwater harvesting systems for typical high tunnel applications on farms, plus a small-scale community demonstration system applicable to backyard growers.
- Document all design steps, construction methods applicable to farm and residential use, and material costs to support educational outreach.
- Monitor and record the performance of each system
- Conduct 4 training workshops for farmers and backyard growers, to teach others how to do the same.
- Widely share knowledge and education on water conservation techniques to help growers adapt to increasingly challenging climate patterns.
Cooperators
- - Technical Advisor (Educator)
Research
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
The project team has been meeting monthly for the duration of the project period to date to plan the RWH materials procurement, design and logistics as well as developing the outreach plan and materials. Consultant, David Dods, has been providing technical support and ag professionals and farmers from the KC F.A.R.M.E.R.S coalition have been supporting the construction process.
Learning Outcomes
Rainwater harvesting system design
High tunnel construction
Educational outreach
Project Outcomes
Our project objectives are to:
- Construct three rainwater harvesting systems for typical high tunnel applications on farms, plus a small-scale community demonstration system applicable to backyard growers.
- Document all design steps, construction methods applicable to farm and residential use, and material costs to support educational outreach.
- Monitor and record the performance of each system
- Conduct 4 training workshops for farmers and backyard growers, to teach others how to do the same.
- Widely share knowledge and education on water conservation techniques to help growers adapt to increasingly challenging climate patterns.
Progress to date on each objective are as follows:
- All materials are purchased and plans have been made for all RWH installations. Construction is not quite complete as one farmer encountered damage to her high tunnel that had to be repaired before the system could be installed and another farmer in the project had to wait for city zoning to be complete before installing the high tunnel. Construction will be complete before Summer 2024.
- The project team is actively documenting app design steps, purchasing and construction methods to create outreach materials.
- No progress yet. Performance monitoring is expected to begin before Summer 2024.
- No workshops have been held yet but they are scheduled for Summer and Fall 2024.
- Outreach will begin in Summer 2024.