Low Tech Caribbean Crop Trials in Northern Vermont

Commodities

Practices

• Crop Production: high tunnels or hoop houses, season extension, seed saving, varieties and cultivars
• Education and Training: workshop
• Production Systems: agroecosystems

This farmer-led project will establish a low-tech, affordable hoop house at Plenty Enough Farm in West Danville, Vermont, to extend the growing season and test the production of selected Caribbean crops in a Zone 4b environment. Farmer Project Leader Jonas Kambire will lead the on-farm research in collaboration Technical Advisors Fatuma Emmad and Levi Cisneros of FrontLine Farming. Together, the team will evaluate whether a simple, farmer-built covered structure can reliably support the germination, growth, and yield of specialty crops that remain largely unavailable in northern New England markets. Volunteer Crop Marketability Advisor Nakasi Kambire will ensure marketability.

The project responds to two interconnected regional needs: farmers' need for dependable, low-cost season extension to buffer growing-season instability, and demand for specialty crops. Key components of the plan of work include: (1) construction of a low-tech hoop house designed for replicability by small farms; (2) soil preparation and installation of basic microclimate monitoring tools; (3) structured crop trials tracking germination, growth, yield, labor requirements, and temperature conditions; and (4) analysis of crop viability and system replicability for northern growers.

Outreach will center farmer-to-farmer learning and practical knowledge sharing. Plenty Enough will host an on-farm field day with co-located community learning non-profit otherWise, produce a written and visual project summary, publish a story-based blog post, and share findings through an otherGardens Circle session. These activities will support Northeast farmers exploring low-tech adaptation, season extension, and crop diversification.

Objective 1: Construct a low-cost, farmer-built hoop house to serve as a protected research environment.

Build a simple, affordable covered growing structure (dimensions and materials to be finalized with the Technical Advisors) to create a stable microclimate for testing Caribbean crops in a Zone 4b climate. Document construction steps, costs, and labor for replicability by other small farms.

Objective 2: Establish soil, bed, and microclimate conditions suitable for Caribbean crop trials.

Prepare and amend soil, set up internal bed layout, and install basic microclimate monitoring tools (e.g., soil temperature probes, air temperature loggers). Record baseline temperature and environmental data to assess the hoop house's protective function.

Objective 3: Evaluate the performance of selected Caribbean crops under protected cultivation in a northern, short-season climate.

Working with advisors, select crops and varieties. Conduct trials tracking germination, growth rate, vigor, pest pressure, labor requirements, harvest window, and yield. Compare crop performance to expected benchmarks from warmer regions.

Objective 4: Assess the viability and replicability of this low-tech protected system for small-scale Northeastern farmers.

Analyze crop performance data alongside labor inputs, microclimate data, and structural performance of the hoop house. Identify which crops, methods, and timing strategies demonstrate the greatest promise for northern growers.

Objective 5: Share findings with farmers, service providers, and regional stakeholders through farmer-centered outreach.

Host an on-farm field day; produce a written and visual report; publish a story-based blog post through otherWise; and host an otherGardens Circle virtual session. These activities will disseminate practical knowledge and invite further experimentation among Northeast farmers.