So it’s Spring and the chickens are sleeping in the coop and are still in the sacrificial paddock when the fence keeps them in and free-ranging when it doesn’t. I prefer to think of it as a Sacrifice Zone but that’s because I’m a nerd.
The result is that we’ve got a mess of tomato starts potted up in 4″ soil blocks and a shortage of space in the greenhouse and a spare chicken tractor. In the best idea I’ve had in a long time, it occurred to me to remove the blue tarp covering the tractor and replace it with clear plastic. Ta-daaa! Instant greenhouse.
In use, the tractor is partially covered with a blue tarp to let the ladies to get out of the sun or rain, depending.
Because of the poultry cloth on the tractor we couldn’t clip the plastic to the PVC hoops as is our usual custom. Instead we attached the plastic by laying it on top and zig-zagging twine over the plastic in the manner we learned during the Tilth Producers farm walk at Terry’s Berries. This has proven to be faster and more reliable that the clips with the added bonus that the greenhouse can be vented by sliding the plastic up without fiddling with any clips and potentially tearing the plastic.
So, yeah, I’m pretty pleased with myself.
Here is the tractor greenhouse with the plastic fully deployed for maximum heat.
Here is the tractor cum greenhouse with the sides pushed up for venting. Noticing how much easier this is than farting around with clips?
Look how happy the tomatoes are in their roomy new soil blocks. I'm pretty sure we started them too late but, you know, first year farming.
Great multitasker there! Looks like a free-standing hoop cover that can be used for many different purposes. Great work! And your tomatoes started in the big soil blocks are a great idea. My soil block maker is tiny, too small for maters.
Funny though, my tomato plants are 2 feet tall and being transplanted tomorrow. Eek, hope yours catch up fast in that hoop cover! Careful though, in full sun it will be 30 to 40 degrees hotter than outside… Maybe the tomatoes will like it, but water them tons. My lettuce wilted under 109 temps one day a few weeks ago.
Great work and great idea!
Sweet! Could you imagine what would happen to those soil blocks if the chickens lost their jobs to due cutbacks at the Grade A plant, and instead of refinancing their mortgages, were forced to move back into their tractor owning only their allotments remitted by the bankruptcy court? Good thing your chickens are smart and capable of finding new markets for their high quality product. Otherwise, there certainly would be a lot of glassy old crows, digested seeds and bits of pot strewn about, bringing to mind a little spot we know of in Montana…
Last year was your first year. How is this year going? I love your chicken tractor/hoop house combo. I’ve been thinking of building some of these to put of over our raised beds.
Hi Andrew! This year is going better for sure. We cut way back, not trying to do produce for market at all. Last year we were in an awkward in-between spot, too much produce just for ourselves to eat but not enough to meet market demand. So this year we’re just keeping it simple, feeding ourselves and trying to pay attention and do it well.
Are you local to us? Your website is … interesting. :)