By Angie Wotton
You may have noticed high tunnels (greenhouses) popping up in and around Southern Aroostook over the past couple of years, a combination of participation in the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service’s cost-sharing program and market and home gardeners wanting to expand and diversify their vegetable crops. The SASWCD decided to tap into that interest with a “Four Season Forward” workshop
that focused on extending the growing season using high and low tunnels and other, inexpensive season extension tools such as Quick-hoops and coldframes. Conveying all of this information to the 50 or so people who attended the Littleton workshop was Clara Coleman, daughter of renowned farming pioneer Eliot Coleman. Her petite stature belies the energy and passion she has for small farm production in every season. While she continues to collaborate with her dad on various projects, Clara is carving her own path in the world of four-season farming by sharing her knowledge to groups like ours. Growing up on her dad’s farm afforded her much hands-on knowledge and she expanded on that by growing and experimenting with her own farm in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado where she produced year-round vegetable crops under harsh winter conditions, using unheated and minimally heated moveable high tunnels.
Contributed photo
PROVEN METHODS — Clara Coleman demonstrated how the broadfork works for soil aeration during a recent workshop in Littleton.
Upon her return to Maine, Clara has focused her attention on consulting and collaborating with various farmers. For the SASWCD workshop, Clara stopped at Johnny’s Selected Seeds where they generously loaded up her car with tools specific for small farms. Clara demonstrated many different tools like the Quick Greens Harvester, pipe benders for Quick-Hoops construction, seed planters, soil block makers and many more. Akin to the feeling of excitement on a Christmas morning, participants got to try out the tools and see how they worked. Quite a few wish lists were mentally drawn up as well including my own with the four-row pinpoint seeder being a personal favorite. Anyone?
After demonstrating various tools, low tunnel construction, pipe bending, harvesting techniques and much more at several different stations and in the on-site high tunnel, the workshop ended with a question and answer period that covered such topics as “What do I plant now for fall production?” to “When do I use drip or overhead watering systems in a high tunnel?” A lot of information was given to help gardeners be more efficient in their production, especially when growing for market. Personally, I left excited to try some new things in terms of fall planting and have plans to also make some changes with my seed starting next spring. Did I mention that my wish also includes soil block makers? You can check out Clara’s website at www.claracoleman.com and view the tools mentioned at www.johnnyseeds.com.
Angie Wotton loves her work as district manager for the Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District. She also raises pastured pork and vegetables with her husband on their small West Berry Farm in Hammond. She can be reached 532-9407 or via e-mail at angela.wotton@me.nacdnet.net.
