A High Tunnel is a semi–permanent arched plastic-covered structure used to extend the growing seasons. A Greenhouse is a more permanent structure, usually covered with glass, used to grow year-round.

This site will be a place for High Tunnel current and potential owners and those interested in a NRCS contract.

3F celebrates completion of huge hoop house

A Recent Article about 3F and NRCS High Tunnels

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Our non-profit purchased a 120 x 21 ft Guardian High Tunnel kit from Farmers Friend. We use the high tunnels to feed the hungry. Farmers Friend have been patient and educational to work with. When I first called, I did not even know what a "purlin" was.

With our NRCS contract, we are also getting the attractive Haven high tunnel for another property, where we have a Farm Number. It will be 40' x 16' and go onto a 1/3 acre in central Arizona.

In the Arizona climate, we often do not need roll-up sides and will use shade cloth interspersed between the plastic glazing to survive our desert temperatures. Return to this site soon for photos of the construction and planting, and I will share the mistakes that we make, so that you do not have to!

The Tale of Two High Tunnels

Veterans, Volunteers, and a Village: The Arrival of our High Tunnels at Austin's Urban Farm and the Future Forward Foundation (3F) Farm

My story begins with the notice that our two new and NRCS high tunnels recently shipped. The first delivery was to my urban farm in downtown Florence, Arizona. It was unloaded without incident by three great volunteers from Superior, Arizona.

When the delivery truck carrying 120 foot Guardian High Tunnel rolled into town, no one expected it would nearly bring the neighborhood to a halt. Literally. But that's exactly what happened when the driver of the semi brushed a little too close to abnormally low-hanging power lines just half a block from my house. Sparks flew and suddenly we had live power lines draped across the truck and the road.

The driver was trapped in place for over an hour and a half while APS, the police, and his own safety officer came to ensure everything was safe again. Meanwhile, the four hardworking volunteers I had lined up for unloading had to be released. With one delivery stopped in its tracks, we turned our attention to the next drop: our 3F Farm location.

Things didn’t get any easier there.

The truck’s lift gate simply couldn’t handle the 2,000 pound pallets packed with high tunnel components. These weren’t your average delivery boxes either—they were extra long and built for heavy-duty farm infrastructure. A second driver had to be called in from 15 miles away. I moved my van out of the narrow driveway to make room, and together—carefully, and with a healthy dose of teamwork—they managed to lower the pallets using both lift gates in tandem. (See the video above)

Then came the next snag: the pallet jacks couldn’t roll on the dirt driveway. The pallets had to be left just six inches from the pavement of Butte Road, a relatively busy rural street. That left me worried someone might mistake the expensive load for trash or—worse—road hazard. I called Doris, one of our amazing local supporters, and she came over right away. Together we tarped the entire shipment to protect it.

With my two dogs fed and a few more phone calls made, I was lucky to track down two veteran volunteers from our local American Legion. They arrived in minutes. For nearly two hours, they broke down the heavy shipment and moved everything piece by piece inside our locking fence. Thanks to them, our $16,500 investment in this critical high tunnel project was saved.

Two veterans answered the call — Jose “Moe” Maldano, a Town Councilman and Derek Hulsebus from the Army National Guard base worked 2.5 hours, past dark to unload these two 2,000 pound pallets inside of the fence around our small farm.