Cornell Cooperative Extension To Host Workshop Saturday
Cornell Cooperative Extensions Associations of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Wyoming counties will host a workshop on high tunnel fruit and vegetable production starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, 115 E. Main St., Allegany, and ending at the Canticle Farms CSA, ending at 2 p.m.
High tunnels are low-cost, passive, solar greenhouses that use no fossil fuels for heating or venting and can provide benefits to horticulture crop producers. A high tunnel is a greenhouse-like structure that modifies the climate to create more favorable growing conditions for plants. Commercially available high tunnels are on the market in numerous widths and lengths. Many warm-season fruit and vegetable crops can be grown in a high tunnel.
The workshop will cover the advantages and disadvantages of high tunnels, tunnel selection, installation and management, plant recommendations and sources of information. Presenters will include Cornell University staff and growers using high tunnel production as part of thier farming enterprise. Morning sessions will be inside followed by the afternoon farm visit.
There is a cost for the workshop that includes morning refreshments and course materials. Anyone attending should bring a brown bag lunch. For more information, call Lynn Bliven at 585-268-7644, ext. 18.
