ANTLER The Entrepreneurial Center for Horticulture at Dakota College at Bottineau held a free workshop near Antler on May 18-19. Participants received hands-on experience constructing a high tunnel greenhouse and instruction from Michigan State University's outreach specialist, Adam Montri.
High tunnels are metal structures covered in a greenhouse plastic and are used to extend the growing season for vegetables and fruits. The tunnel was constructed on Tracie Thompson's farm.
Tracie has been receiving one-on-one training through the center. She is successfully expanding her farmers' market business to include the production and sale of salsa. This high tunnel will be used to grow the ingredients for salsa. It will enable her to have an earlier and longer lasting season.
Article Photos
Submitted Photo - - Shown above is an interior view of a high tunnel constructed by workshop participants near Antler. These kinds of tunnels are used to extend the growing season in this part of the country.
Montri, the instructor for the workshop, has extensive experience in high tunnel construction and operation. As an outreach specialist from Michigan State University, he provides his expertise for workshops like this across the region. He has also produced a series of videos on high tunnel construction that are available for viewing on YouTube.
The workshop was deemed successful with some 30 people in attendance. By the end of the second day of the workshop, the high tunnel was completed and ready for use.
Funding for this workshop was provided through a Rural Business Enterprise Grant.
The program provides grants for rural projects that finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses, helps fund business incubators, and helps fund employment-related adult education programs.