Nov 18, 2011

Penn State helps build Philadelphia high tunnels

The Department of Horticulture at Penn State University and Philadelphia County Cooperative Extension, through funding supplied by two USDA Specialty Crops Block Grants, is assisting with the purchase and/or construction of high tunnels. Hands-on training of the construction, production and operation of these high tunnels to produce vegetable crops for an extended season will be provided. The goal is to help eliminate the food deserts that exist in the city of Philadelphia and to provide fresh and nutritious vegetables and small fruits to the underserved populations.

Urban farming is a rapidly growing and expanding movement in the United States, and in particular Philadelphia. Half of the U.S. population resides in or around urban areas, and urban farming could contribute to increased food security, food safety, workforce development and entrepreneurship. Increased availability of fresh and nutritious vegetables and fruits especially to underserved populations in urban areas lacking retail food outlets is a high priority of decision makers at the federal, state and local level. It is viewed as a way to combat the alarming rise of obesity, especially in children, and thus reduce the potential ballooning health care costs in the United States. High tunnels have extended the growing season to year-round production of selected crops, have increased yields and improved the quality and shelf life of vegetables, small fruits and cut flowers, while reducing disease pressure and the need for pesticides.

Seven high tunnels have already been constructed in the city of Philadelphia. A second grant has allowed construction to begin on six additional high tunnels at the following sites. At Heritage Farms, we are assisting on the construction and operation of two high tunnels that will be used for the production of vegetables for the Methodist Home kitchen, and for sale to local communities. In addition, a nonprofit group, Tomorrow’s Promise, that trains young men and women in the building trades, is doing all the framing of the endwalls, attaching the baseboards and hipboards at that site and doing additional positive spinoff of the high tunnels.

The Nice Roots Farm SHARE Food Program is constructing and operating a second, smaller, high tunnel to be placed alongside the current tunnel. It will be used for the year-round production of vegetables for sale at its distribution center for the food pantries and soup kitchens of Philadelphia. The SHARE Food Program high tunnels offer a tremendous opportunity for a large number of people throughout the city to visit when they come to pick up their food and supplies and see how they could produce fresh produce back in their own communities.

Guild House West, a Friends Rehabilitation Program, is an independent living facility with 155 units for low-income elders. We are partnering with it on a high tunnel to expand the quantity and availability of produce utilized by the facility’s kitchen, and also to actively involve the senior residents.

Carson Valley Children’s Aid is a nonprofit child welfare agency with a distinguished history of service to children and families. It offers a comprehensive continuum of care and is committed to strengthening children, families and neighborhoods. We are partnering with the agency in constructing a 21-foot wide by 96-foot long high tunnel for its north Philadelphia farming project.

Due to overwhelming demand for food grown on Urban Tree Connection (UTC) sites, UTC is converting a two-thirds-acre parcel in Haddington into a farm that will be the central production site of a new venture: a mixed income CSA program named Neighborhood Foods. UTC will be partnering with us on constructing a high tunnel.

Teens for Good, part of the Federation of Neighborhood Centers, will be constructing another high tunnel located at the Carousel House in Fairmount Park. PepsiCo is supplying the money for the purchase of the high tunnel, and the produce will be marketed to the communities, as well as the ShopRite food store.

At each of these sites, our partners will teach and employ young people and members of the community in the production of fresh vegetables, small fruits and flowers using high tunnel technology.

By Bill Lamont, Penn State University