Bil Thorn of Sky Island Farm
The timber framed tunnel at Sky Island Farm.
Which crops will pay back your investment in a hoophouse or greenhouse? How does managing a greenhouse through the Winter differ from Summer growing, and which crops can just be overwintered in the field? Learn all that and more by subscribing to Growing for Market magazine. Their writers aren’t professional writers, they are farmers. They won’t tell you how TO grow, they’ll tell you how THEY grow, so you can decide what works for your farm. Growing for Market is celebrating 30 years of helping local food & flower growers succeed with articles written by experienced farmers from around North America. Since 1992, Growing for Market is by farmers, for farmers. Plus, subscriptions start at only $30 per year! Whether you do farmers markets, local wholesaling, a CSA, or dream of starting a farm; check them out today at GrowingForMarket.com! Request a free sample print or digital copy from the website.
Tunnel Vision Hoops designs and manufactures Do-It-Yourself high tunnels, hoop houses, and greenhouses. In addition, they are a national distributor of parts and accessories needed to build, maintain, or upgrade your existing tunnel or hoop house. Tunnel Vision Hoops has an extensive array of products to help both large and small scale growers become more productive in their efforts. Tunnel Vision Hoops has eleven different tunnel widths to fit any need and they design their structures to stand up to though weather conditions from coast to coast. Tunnel Vision wants to help you grow more food, make more money, and—as a result—live a less stressful and more enjoyable #farmlife. “Your vision is our vision.” Check out the Tunnel Vision Hoops YouTube Channel for instructional “How-To” videos that will help you build a great tunnel.
Since 1973, Johnny’s Selected Seeds—an employee owned company—has collaborated with innovative farmers and gardeners to offer seeds tool and information that will help growers be successful and feed their communities. Johnny’s 40-acre research farm is the heart of the company and it is where they trial thousands of varieties and tools every year. Growers are always facing new challenges from plant disease to changing markets and our research team is dedicated to finding solutions. Please visit the growers library at the Johnny’s website to find technical resources like the winter growing guide, which has tips on how to plant and harvest into the shortest days of the year. You can also find variety comparison charts and extensive Jang roller trial results. The folks at Johnny’s are working hard to make 2021 a great year and they look forward to growing with you!
Bil Thorn of Sky Island Farm joins Clara to talk about his journey from homesteading to farming, providing CSA memberships to institutional buyers like hospitals, leaning on an already robust CSA system through the pandemic, Winter growing in a temperate rain forest, his timber-framed tunnel, using a CO2 injected grow box for early transplants, low-tech caterpillar tunnels “just to keep the rain off” for better quality produce, and getting into the wreath and garland business utilizing resources he has on-farm for a substantial source of Winter income. Follow Sky Island Farm and farmer-host Clara Coleman on the Instagram.