High Tunnel Management Workshop in Massachusetts

Guiding Star Grange
401 Chapman St
Greenfield, MA 01760

Cost:
NOFA/Mass Member – $60 & Non-member – $75

Pre-Registration is highly recommended. Click here to sign up now!

Northeast farmers who want to maximize production in the shoulder season and serve their markets year round are increasingly relying on high tunnels to extend the growing season. The techniques for successful long term high tunnel production differ greatly from field crops. In this day-long workshop we will discuss common high tunnel production challenges and how to address them.

Judson Reid, Senior Extension Associate with the Cornell Vegetable Program, will share results from intensive sampling of high tunnel soil and crop nutrient levels. He will discuss management practices that have an impact on soil and crop nutrient levels, such as crop choice, variety selection, rotation and cultural management. This session will be informed by Judson’s work over several years with over twenty high tunnel tomato growers in New York looking at nutrient profiles over time/seasons.

Ed Person, of Ledgewood Farm Greenhouse Frames, will be joining us to share best practices for siting, planning and installing a high tunnel, as well as how to improve the infrastructure of an already installed high tunnel.  Ed has many years of experience and is extremely knowledgeable; his Q&A session is sure to be extremely informative.

We will also be joined by independent farm consultant and educator,

Mark Fulford.  Mark consults with many high tunnel growers. He will share his insight into improved long term nutrient management practices, discussing soil amendments, crop timing, pest management, PH levels, Nitrogen management, reading high tunnel soil tests, compost use and management, and much more.

A panel of growers will also share some of their high tunnel growing experiences.

More Info about the High Tunnel Management Workshop:

Lunch will be potluck style from 12:15pm – 1:15pm. Bring a dish to share. Coffee and tea will be available during the workshop.

We anticipate the workshop to fill up, pre-registration is recommended.  For more information contact Dan Bensonoff, Education Events Organizer, at dan@nofamass.org or 860-716-5122.

Pre-Registration for the high tunnel management workshop is highly recommended. Click here to sign up now!

See other upcoming on-farm NOFA/Mass events across Massachusetts.