Any luck with winter tomatoes down south?
 

I know, sounds crazy, but we had a guy down here ( just outside of Houston ) that grew winter tomatoes in a hoop house. Did pretty well with it, but he more or less retired. Has any one tried with any luck? Thanks!

I recently was fortunate enough to score a 30x70 hoop house from the department of agriculture for my farm. I am trying to get the feel for timing so that I can extend my growing season. I think I will start my seed this next week (my normal start date is Feb 14th). I will update as I learn and post some pics.

You got an NRCS grant? My mom & step-dad just got theirs this year. Good for you.

If I could implore one word onto you it is this: ventilation! Absent some expensive fans, the ends and sides need to both open once the outside weather gets to about a sunny 90 degrees. And if you are going to grow in extended 90+ degree weather, shade cloth will serve you better than greenhouse plastic.

Yes, I did!! I was the only one in the county to apply! Crazy. I was awarded a few other practices like fencing, high use areas and a well! What a great program. I keep telling my friends to apply and they say stuff like " I don't want government in my business, or thats to much paperwork (it wasn't)! I paid for the upgraded vents to help with ventilation. Its going to be a bit tricky I think...

[QUOTE=Rena;604227]I recently was fortunate enough to score a 30x70 hoop house from the department of agriculture for my farm. I am trying to get the feel for timing so that I can extend my growing season. I think I will start my seed this next week (my normal start date is Feb 14th). I will update as I learn and post some pics.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Rena;604251]Yes, I did!! I was the only one in the county to apply! Crazy. I was awarded a few other practices like fencing, high use areas and a well! What a great program. I keep telling my friends to apply and they say stuff like " I don't want government in my business, or thats to much paperwork (it wasn't)! I paid for the upgraded vents to help with ventilation. Its going to be a bit tricky I think...[/QUOTE]

Do you have to be a business farm?

You do not have to be a business or farm. You can sign up as an individual.
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in your county has to recognize you as a Farm.
They will assign you a Farm and Tract number if you apply with them (if your land does not already have these numbers). You bring them documents to show that you own some land, and they will go onto the mapping system and find your parcel.
Then you have the beginnings of eligibility with the NRCS to apply for practices through the EQIP program.

You do not have to be zoned agriculture to get a Farm and Tract number. But you will have to be able to show that you were producing some type of crop prior to an NRCS planner coming out to do a site visit when you apply for a cost-share practice.
This could simply be a small plot in your yard/on your land where you had a personal garden last year. There used to be a requirement that you sold $1,000 worth of product in the past, but they did away with that.

[QUOTE=PureHarvest;604300]You do not have to be a business or farm. You can sign up as an individual.
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in your county has to recognize you as a Farm.
They will assign you a Farm and Tract number if you apply with them (if your land does not already have these numbers). You bring them documents to show that you own some land, and they will go onto the mapping system and find your parcel.
Then you have the beginnings of eligibility with the NRCS to apply for practices through the EQIP program.

You do not have to be zoned agriculture to get a Farm and Tract number. But you will have to be able to show that you were producing some type of crop prior to an NRCS planner coming out to do a site visit when you apply for a cost-share practice.
This could simply be a small plot in your yard/on your land where you had a personal garden last year. There used to be a requirement that you sold $1,000 worth of product in the past, but they did away with that.[/QUOTE]

YES to both of what has been said. From what I also understand you don't even have to own your own land... you can show a lease and get one. They started out in some states giving them to Veterans who had an interest in farming (Alabama) I think did that. I highly recommend contacting your NRCS office and having one of their people come out and talk with you. They are very helpful and that is what they are supposed to do. I also recommend getting in touch with your local agriculture extension office as they put out a wealth of info on a regular basis.
Not only did they pay for the hoop house on a 100 grant they paid for the irrigation system. They had an engineer come out and specifically design the system to my needs. I can't say enough about trying to apply and being the squeaky wheel. You are welcome to message me privately if you have more questions.
Rena

[QUOTE=agee12;604287]Do you have to be a business farm?[/QUOTE]


I am a farm. I have cattle, goats, chickens and bees. I know people who have gotten them that just sell veggies.

What county in Georgia are you in?

One fyi about the high tunnel grant - it says on the web site that you must purchase a kit from an approved manufacturer. But my family got the grant for our own design of an a-frame made of chain link top rail. The county agent said it was as good as any of the kits, and signed off on the grant.

[QUOTE=Rena;604373]I am a farm. I have cattle, goats, chickens and bees. I know people who have gotten them that just sell veggies.

What county in Georgia are you in?[/QUOTE]
I am actually in Atlanta and am a novice gardener. I was not asking on my behalf but the responses makes me wonder if serious city gardeners may also qualify.

Well in my opinion there are a lot of people who could benefit from such opportunities but never apply. If you have the land space... and think that you might sell at the market -why not? I have seen lots of local farmers apply and then get the grant not use it. YOU HAVE to build it with you own money first and then you get your money back when its inspected and approved. There are many programs in the government that are ridiculous but helping people grow food to me in not one of them.

I know one guy who got the grant to build his high tunnel on a leased urban lot.

The grant money is based on square footage. Some people come out ahead, especially when they build the structure themselves.

Where I am, you can build on leased land, but you still have to have FSA add you as 'Operator', or 'Other Tenant' on the owner's producer report. We also require that you have the land owner sign a 'Control of Land' form which is basically a permission slip from the owner saying they give you permission to do the practice for the lifespan of the practice (high tunnel is 5 years).