Four-Season Vegetable Production Utilizing High Tunnels, Floating Row Cover, and a Compost Heat Exchanger.

Project Overview

FNC10-835
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2010: $5,994.19
Projected End Date: 12/31/2013
Region: North Central
State: Illinois
Project Coordinator:
Phillip Swartz
beyondsustainable.farm

Annual Reports

Commodities

  • Vegetables: greens (leafy), turnips

Practices

  • Crop Production: crop rotation, cover crops, irrigation, multiple cropping
  • Education and Training: farmer to farmer, networking, on-farm/ranch research
  • Pest Management: row covers (for pests)
  • Production Systems: transitioning to organic
  • Soil Management: organic matter

    Summary:

    After the failure of the hoophouse plastic, I ordered replacement greenhouse film but it was never installed.

    Sometimes life gets in the way of the best laid plans. Though I had every intention of continuing with the project for reasons listed below it did not continue.

    As an inexperienced vegetable farmer combating two dry years in a row without adequate irrigation my financial resources became severely strained.

    I was forced to find additional part and full time work to supplement my income, thus leaving me with not enough time for the continuation of this project.

    A health issue that has now been rectified also contributed to my discontinuation of the project.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.