Parachutes that once helped lower heavy military equipment safely to the ground work just as well to protect equipment and grain on the ground, according to Gordon Cumming, owner of Crown Surplus Stores in Calgary, Alta.

“We’ve been in business 59 years and have sold parachutes most of those years to farmers to cover grain,” he explains. “You can just throw the parachute over the grain, or we recommend that it be mounted or suspended on a central pole. They are not waterproof, but they are water repellant. If you have a good slope, rain and snow will run off. But if water is allowed to pool on top, it will eventually drip through.” Many customers place tires or big round bales around the perimeter to hold the parachute down.

He sells a variety of sizes to cover various diameters from 20 ft.  to 100 ft.  The 55-ft.  and 35-ft.  diameters are popular sizes, Cumming says.

Rural customers have used them to create horse arenas and shade for cattle. Construction companies use them to cover heavy equipment or shelter for pouring concrete in cold weather.