He Built His Own "High Tunnel" For $600
Market gardener Jay Sleichter recognized the benefits of high tunnels for expanding the growing season, but couldn't justify buying a new one. So he built his own for a fraction of the cost using wood and 1-in. pvc pipe. New, the materials cost about $600 for an 18 by 40-ft. high tunnel. Sleichter did even better than that by finding local deals and reusing material.
Sleichter and his wife, Linda, secured the structures to the ground with 4 by 4-in. posts buried 3 to 4 ft. in the ground every 10 ft. on the sidewalls. A 2 by 4 runs across the top and bottom of each post to create 4-ft. tall sidewalls. Every 3 ft. a piece of pvc pipe runs from the top of the sidewall down into the ground about 18 in. A 45-degree coupling slips onto the top of each pipe and is secured with metal strapping to the 2 by 4 on top of the wall. A 20-ft. long pvc pipe fits into the coupling and bows at the center over a 2 by 4 ridgepole and slips into a coupling on the other wall. The PVC stringers are placed every 3 ft., and two 2 by 4 posts support the ridgepole.
"You can go longer, but I think 18 ft. is as wide as you can go," Sleichter says. "If you use connectors (on the bowed stringers) it doesn't work. It's a weak point and you lose strength."
The two high tunnels Sleichter built in 2009 are on a hill and have survived winds up to 60 mph. As an extra measure, this year he replaced every third pvc pipe with flexible steel pipes (the type used across the top of chainlink fences).
"That will add even more strength and rigidity," he says.
Sleichter closed off the north end of the high tunnels with plywood and a 4-ft. door that can expand to an 8-ft. door. The other end is closed in.
Greenhouse 6 mil plastic is used to cover the whole facility and is secured with furring strips and 1 5/8-in. screws every 15 to 18 in. on the top 2 by 4 on the sidewalls. A second furring strip below the first one securely locks the plastic into place.
The plastic hangs down to the bottom 2 by 4. Twine ties attach to screws on the bottom furring strip. The plastic can be pulled up part or all the way up the wall for ventilation ů which is necessary when it gets hot. The plastic is held up with a short piece of twine that's tied inside and loops over a screw head on the outside.
"I don't have roll-up sides because my young girls aren't strong enough to roll them up," Sleichter says. "They can walk down the side of the building and pull up the plastic and hook it over a screw head, or they can easily slip it off the screw head and let it fall to the ground."
The Sleichters removed the plastic last winter, but may leave it on at the end of this year. The plastic is rated to last about four years.
"The No. 1 mistake of high tunnel builders is they buy 6 mil plastic at the hardware store. It won't last more than 6 mos. because it doesn't have the UV inhibitor. You have to use better stuff," Sleichter says.
Sleichter and his family had plants growing in their high tunnels all season long and were able to grow food into late fall, long after other market gardeners were finished.
The Sleichters kept one small high tunnel in use and enjoyed fresh spinach all winter.
This year they have 6 high tunnels and were able to start more vegetables early. The family hopes to repeat past years' successes. They had some vegetables to sell by May, with cherry tomatoes as early as May 28 and full-size tomatoes in June.
The payback of building a high tunnel is worth the effort, Sleichter says. But he has a warning for growers.
"You can't build just one," he says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jay Sleichter, Jay's Jellies, Produce and More, 1282 21st Rd., Clay Center, Kan. 67432 (ph 785 632-5711; www.highfarming.blogspot.com).
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He Built His Own High Tunnel For $600 BUILDINGS Miscellaneous Market gardener Jay Sleichter recognized the benefits of high tunnels for expanding the growing season but couldn t justify buying a new one So he built his own for a fraction of the cost using wood and 1-in pvc pipe New the materials cost about $600 for an 18 by 40-ft high tunnel Sleichter did even better than that by finding local deals and reusing material
Sleichter and his wife Linda secured the structures to the ground with 4 by 4-in posts buried 3 to 4 ft in the ground every 10 ft on the sidewalls A 2 by 4 runs across the top and bottom of each post to create 4-ft tall sidewalls Every 3 ft a piece of pvc pipe runs from the top of the sidewall down into the ground about 18 in A 45-degree coupling slips onto the top of each pipe and is secured with metal strapping to the 2 by 4 on top of the wall A 20-ft long pvc pipe fits into the coupling and bows at the center over a 2 by 4 ridgepole and slips into a coupling on the other wall The PVC stringers are placed every 3 ft and two 2 by 4 posts support the ridgepole
You can go longer but I think 18 ft is as wide as you can go Sleichter says If you use connectors on the bowed stringers it doesn t work It s a weak point and you lose strength
The two high tunnels Sleichter built in 2009 are on a hill and have survived winds up to 60 mph As an extra measure this year he replaced every third pvc pipe with flexible steel pipes the type used across the top of chainlink fences
That will add even more strength and rigidity he says
Sleichter closed off the north end of the high tunnels with plywood and a 4-ft door that can expand to an 8-ft door The other end is closed in
Greenhouse 6 mil plastic is used to cover the whole facility and is secured with furring strips and 1 5/8-in screws every 15 to 18 in on the top 2 by 4 on the sidewalls A second furring strip below the first one securely locks the plastic into place
The plastic hangs down to the bottom 2 by 4 Twine ties attach to screws on the bottom furring strip The plastic can be pulled up part or all the way up the wall for ventilation ů which is necessary when it gets hot The plastic is held up with a short piece of twine that s tied inside and loops over a screw head on the outside
I don t have roll-up sides because my young girls aren t strong enough to roll them up Sleichter says They can walk down the side of the building and pull up the plastic and hook it over a screw head or they can easily slip it off the screw head and let it fall to the ground
The Sleichters removed the plastic last winter but may leave it on at the end of this year The plastic is rated to last about four years
The No 1 mistake of high tunnel builders is they buy 6 mil plastic at the hardware store It won t last more than 6 mos because it doesn t have the UV inhibitor You have to use better stuff Sleichter says
Sleichter and his family had plants growing in their high tunnels all season long and were able to grow food into late fall long after other market gardeners were finished
The Sleichters kept one small high tunnel in use and enjoyed fresh spinach all winter
This year they have 6 high tunnels and were able to start more vegetables early The family hopes to repeat past years successes They had some vegetables to sell by May with cherry tomatoes as early as May 28 and full-size tomatoes in June
The payback of building a high tunnel is worth the effort Sleichter says But he has a warning for growers
You can t build just one he says
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jay Sleichter Jay s Jellies Produce and More 1282 21st Rd Clay Center Kan 67432 ph 785 632-5711; www highfarming blogspot com
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