Polytunnels

Over the past couple of years, we’ve put our hearts (and a lot of hours) into building two polytunnels on site — each with its own story. The first came together the winter before last on plot 42, when we repurposed the frame of a disused trampoline that was otherwise destined for landfill. Using its arched structure to form a round roof, a good length of polytunnel plastic, and a heroic amount of duct tape, we created our very first sheltered growing space. It was hard work, especially in the cold and wet, but it made a huge difference. For the first time, we could start sowing seeds as early as February, getting a real head start on the season. By the time planting time arrived, we already had strong, healthy plants ready for the ground. That first little tunnel stretched our growing calendar and quickly became our plant nursery — and we still use it now for raising seedlings throughout the year.

Then, last winter, we took on a much bigger challenge: building an industrial-standard polytunnel we’ve affectionately named Hot Polly. This one was a real labour of love. Phil (chief constructor), his boys, Zach and Josh, Anu, Dave, Serina and Nabs, braved long, cold, damp days — with frost on the ground and hands too numb to grip bolts — piecing together the solid frame we hope will last for decades. It wasn’t easy, but the result is a robust, well-built tunnel that now houses a thriving collection of heat-loving crops: chilies, peppers, watermelons, cucumbers, courgettes, and tomatoes. It’s a space we’re really proud of, not just for the harvest it brings, but for the teamwork and determination it represents.