Some photos from a recent gathering at
Alchemy Gardens in West Rutland last week.
NOFA Vermont and
RAFFL (Rutland Area Farm and Food Link) hosted
Johnny's Seeds representatives to demonstrate techniques and to let farmers get their hands on some useful small tools. Row seeders, hoes, rakes, bed forks...
Later, they gave a demo on setting up an affordable high tunnel, including tips on small efficiencies to help with setup, like...
Using 6' T-posts to help with spacing
Using two 6' T-posts, with teeth-nobbins pointed at each other for gripping the plastic at either end of the house. T-posts are simultaneously hammered in at a forty-five degree angle, then stretched apart to accept the plastic that has been pulled taut over the steel skeleton. Once all is tight with the plastic, everything is tied securely with P-cord up the length of the T-posts.
How to blindly chuck the 500' spool of P-cord at your partner on the other side of the house without ended friendships, nasty knots, and concussions? Before you tie off the beginning of your P-cord, run the loose end through a spool of duct tape. Then place the spool of P-cord on a long-nosed screwdriver, using the screwdriver as an axle. Pull off some slack off the P-cord spool, and toss the duct-tape roll as a (less concussive) counterweight over the ridge to your partner. Ta-da!
Clever idea-- let your plastic roll easily off the spool on an axle created by two garden forks and an extra piece of steel.
Don't forget to cover the bolt-ends with duct tape to prevent tears in the plastic.
With several dozen farmers and friends in attendance, the event was a great success in what is increasingly a steady stream of workshops down in Southern Vermont. Thanks so much to the generous hosts and presenters, and be sure to check out NOFA's, RAFFL's and Johnny's websites for more upcoming events.
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