FLORENCE — Three handyman, four food bank volunteers, a prison warden and a National Guard veteran gathered on the morning of May 29 for the all-important final step of sometimes-difficult, week-long construction process. The local reporter who had come to watch also joined in.

Mother Nature cooperated with a pleasantly overcast and windless day. Soon everyone was pulling the high-strength plastic glazing over the top of a mammoth 13-foot-high hoop house that will be growing food at 886 W. Butte Ave.

"I can't believe I pulled this off," Future Forward Foundation, or 3F, Executive Director Lina Austin said later. " I can't believe I built this thing."

Technically known as a "gothic peak, high tunnel," the steel structure is 21 feet wide and 120 feet long. Austin applied to the U.S. National Resources Conservation Service nearly 18 months ago for a contract for a large hoop house.

When it finally arrived several weeks ago, it was 2,000 pounds of pieces packed onto pallets and delivered on the side of the road outside 3F's "4F" far on West Butte Avenue. Austin thought she might have to sit outside with them overnight to keep them from being looted for parts. But two Florence American Legion post members Derek Hulsebus and Jose "Mo" Maldonado, quickly responded and spent 2 1/2 hours breaking the pallets apart and hauling them inside the farm's fence.

They returned several more times over the next five weekends to work with other volunteers to start building it. Hulsebus was also there on May 29 for the final step.

Other volunteers included Henry Harris — a graduate of many 3F's Beginning Farmer and Rancher classes and a 15-year 3F volunteer — and Kelvin Johnson, a 3F board member. Bill Fischlein came from Queen Valley and brought a couple of his neighbors.

Austin qualified as a "new female farmer" and also received a smaller 40-by-16-foot tunnel for her backyard. She eventually hired Will Burke's Team Handyman to work the last 10 days to get both tunnels finished. Florence Copper Community Foundation donated $2.000, a third of the labor cost.

Austin said 100% of the grown in the "4F" high tunnel, and 95% of what she grows in her backyard hoop house, will feed the hungry. "The best way we can serve our fellow residents is to get better at growing food for the people of Florence."

The public will have a chance to enjoy the inside and attend a class perhaps in the fall. Austin said she hopes it will be another way for residents to learn about 3F and the town.

She also has a contract to help others obtain a farm number and apply for NRCS projects. More information is available at futureforwardfoundation.com.