VIDEO: Keeping Things Green Year-Round at Newton Community Farm

The recently erected a moveable hoop house on their property. The hoop house is similar to a greenhouse, but can be moved to different spots along a track. 

According to Interim Farm Manager Megan Talley, the plastic on the hoop house helps insulate and keep crops warm during the winter, allowing the farm to grow greens like spinach and lettuce year-round. 

The warm soil also allows farmers to start planting some crops a little early, Talley added. For example, Talley could plant crops in April that would typically not go in until May or June.

Eventually, Talley said the Newton farm would like to offer produce at their farm stand year-round by supplementing the greens with winter fruits and veggies from other farms. 

Talley said the ability to move the hoop house also allows the farm to plant crops in different spots over the seasons. For example, if tomatoes are grown in the same spot season after season, disease and residue starts to build up in the soil.

As an organic farm, the farmers at Newton Community Farm do not want to use non-organic products/methods to keep the soil disease-free. With the ability to rotate crop locations, the farm can stay organic. 

The hoop house arrived on a flatbed truck last fall and was erected by Talley and Farm Manager Greg Maslowe throughout the month of November. 

The cost of the hoop house, which Talley estimated to be around $6,000, was covered by a grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The NRCS reimbursed the farm for the cost of the hoop house.