Hoop-Housing: November 2010

One sunny day in November, Matt & Sara visited Wilson Elementary during recess to build hoophouses (aka cold frames) over the vegetable beds. The hoophouses work just like mini-greenhouses by trapping in the sun's heat. This allows the cool weather vegetable crops to grow happily throughout the cold winter.

Here's Matt installing the demonstration hoophouse. We purchased PVC pipe to make the frames and covered them with thick plastic sheeting:

Then we had small groups of Wilson Elementary students help us cover the other 4 of 9 raised beds. Three of the beds are planted in cover crops (Austrian peas, winter wheat, and clover) that can withstand the cold weather. In the spring, we will turn these cover crops under for green manure! The final bed still had a beautiful sunflower plant still blooming, so we left it there.

Pushing the PVC pipes into the soil was hard work, but these third grade boys make it look easy!

Next we rolled out the plastic sheeting...

Here's the garden with all the hoophouses in place. Reminds me of a circle of covered wagons, very appropriate for the Sooner State!

One side of the plastic sheeting is affixed into the bed itself, but the other side can easily be lifted over to access the beds.The ends are closed with strong clamps.

Later that day, several other students came out to explore the garden. Kindergarteners ask the best questions! We even got to harvest and taste some veggies. The cherry bell radishes were perfect...

What a great way to spend a recess! Imagine if every child got to connect with his or her food this way!