In this episode we talk with Taylor and Jake of Footprint Farm (footprintfarmvt.com) where we discuss their viewpoint on cat tunnels now that they’ve used them for several years.
Show Notes
- Some Farms like them and do them well, others not so much!
- The NRCS High tunnel grant enabled quick upgrades from these cheap structures to nicer infrastructure
- Leave 3-4 feet of extra plastic width-wise to not end up too short on the edges
- Cheap clamps work well for keeping the sides scrunched up
- Rolling (scrunching) the plastic up underneath helps water during rain events bead off the plastic rather than pulling down the sides
- PVC is too soft for Vermont wind, using EMT came out ahead
- End walls are worth the effort to build to ease getting in and out of the tunnel
Sources for Cat tunnels:
Farmer’s Friend
Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Considering a cat tunnel? Here is another post from Boostrap farmer to check out. HIGH TUNNEL VS CATERPILLAR TUNNEL: WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Harvesting kale under the hoops of an uncovered tunnel. “Pony tail” ends, notice one is not taught. Note the spring clamps holding the sides up on this Cat tunnel.